What Are Antioxidants? | Types of Antioxidants | The Link to
Cancer, Heart Disease, and Aging | Other Conditions | What Does
This Mean to You? In the 1990s, "antioxidants" became famous as
the nutritional equivalent of the fountain of youth. Even
doctors jumped on the bandwagon. Increasing your intake of
vitamin E, beta-carotene, and was touted as an easy and painless
way to prevent heart disease, vision problems, arthritis, and
practically every other illness. Unfortunately, an accumulating
body of research has tended to put the damper on this
excitement. It now appears that antioxidant proponents had
jumped the gun; in fact, these supplements may have little
benefit for these purposes. Worse still, some may even risk of
cancer and heart disease. What Are Antioxidants? Antioxidants
are chemical substances naturally found in foods. They function
as a protective "shield" against harmful, unstable molecules
known as "free radicals." Free radicals are produced throughout
the body as a result of normal body funct