An antioxidant is a molecule that helps to mitigate the damage cause by free radical oxygen molecules. Free radicals are molecules that are lacking an electron. They steal electrons from other molecules, thereby damaging the gene, the chromosome, the DNA or the cell the molecule belongs to. Antioxidants have “too many” electrons and give the free radical one of theirs. This makes the free radical molecule “happy” -- this is actually a scientific term -- and allows it to leave other molecules alone.Common antioxidants include vitamins such as vitamin A, C and E. Here are 10 foods rich in these antioxidants:
