Why are antioxidants important nutrients?
Antioxidants play a role in protecting cells against damage by free radicals, which are reactive by-products of the normal activity of cells. Free radicals are thought to contribute to such disorders as heart disease and cancer.

Antioxidants are the bodies natural self-defense against the damage caused by free radicals. Antioxidants are a general label for the vitamins, enzymes and minerals that help prevent free radical damage and/or reverse damage done by free radicals. Basically an antioxidant is able to provide a free electron to a free radical and does not become a free radical itself after losing that electron. When it gives this extra electron to a free radical, the free radical is inactivated since it has now regained it's normal set of 4 paired electrons.

How do Antioxidants Work?
When antioxidants step in, they have the following three ways of counteraction free radicals:

1. They can prevent damage by trapping free radicals, before they have a chance to wreck healthy cells.
2. They provide the missing electron to the free radical, which stops the free radical from attacking and damaging a healthy cell.
3. They are able to repair molecules that have already been damaged by free radicals, preventing the chain reaction of destruction to healthy cells.

Why are "Free Radicals" detrimental to your health and youthfulness?
One major connection to all degenerative diseases and their associated pain is the "Free Radical" molecule. Free radicals are extremely reactive molecules that are so destructive, that they can actually damage the DNA in our cells.

This damaged DNA is believed to be responsible for the initiation of premature aging and decay of body tissues and organs. Free radical damage to our cells is scientifically referred to as "oxidative stress." Hence the term "antioxidant" referring to the type of molecules that reverse or neutralize both the destructive effects of free radicals and the free radicals themselves.

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