Ever notice how as adults, our ears perk up when someone talks about the fountain of youth? In a recent post, I shared five science-based ways to live longer, you may recall them:  a heart-healthy diet, exercising, maintaining average body weight, drinking in moderation, and not smoking.  Today’s post, I want to drill down to How Do Antioxidants Keep Us Youthful?

First of all, what are antioxidants?
Antioxidants are natural components that help protect the body from harmful free radicals. The antioxidant enzymes help protect and prevent diseases in the body.  The term antioxidant refers to molecules that fight or slow down the oxidation process of harmful and damaging chemicals in the air and materials in our environment. Bottom line, antioxidants inhibit oxidation.
(more…)