Antioxidants inhibit oxidative damage caused by the harmful byproducts (free radicals) your body produces during energy production. Free radicals are chemicals that threaten the body and damage cells and genetic material. Free radicals are found in the food you eat, introduced by the air you breath and other environmental factors, and created by our bodies as byproducts of digestion. Free radicals are unstable atoms that steal electrons from your body's cells. Antioxidants are free-radical fighters that give electrons to free radicals. While there are hundreds of different substances that act as antioxidants, the most familiar ones are vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, selenium, manganese, glutathione, coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid, flavonoids, phenols, polyphenols, and phytoestrogens. But don't buy foods, drinks, and supplements just because they claim to be "high in antioxidants." Many processed foods, such as breakfast cereals, sports bars, and energy drinks contain synthetic "antioxidants" that do nothing to protect you from free radical damage. Instead, focus on consuming natural, unprocessed sources of antioxidants from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to prevent a variety of chronic diseases resulting in part from free radical damage.¹