Before discussing their role in maintaining good health, let Alice first clarify what antioxidants are. Together as antioxidants, these substances are thought to be effective in helping to prevent cancer, heart disease, and stroke. At the molecular and cellular levels, antioxidants serve to deactivate certain particles called free radicals. In humans, free radicals usually come in the form of O2, the oxygen molecule.
Free radicals are the natural by-products of many processes within and among cells.
They are also created by exposure to various environmental factors, tobacco smoke and radiation, for instance. If allowed to go their merry way, these free radicals can cause damage to cell walls, certain cell structures, and genetic material within the cells. This is where antioxidants come into play. Researchers have postulated that antioxidants prevent the possible carcinogenic effects of oxidation. Despite numerous studies carried out on the role of antioxidants in cancer and heart disease prevention, the jury is still out as to which groups of people, if any, benefit from taking antioxidant supplements.