Antioxidants: Antidote to Aging? The secret to lasting youth may
not lie in a pill or potion, but in produce! Carrots, spinach,
and broccoli—among other vegetables—contain compounds known as
antioxidants. Antioxidants and Free Radicals in the Body As the
body uses oxygen, free radicals—oxygen molecules that are
missing electrons—are formed. These free radicals are unstable
molecules that can cause damage to cells. This cell damage is
thought to build up over time and may lead to aging and disease.
Everything from cancer and heart disease to wrinkles and
cataracts may be attributed to the action of free radicals.
Environmental factors such as exposure to radiation and tobacco
smoke may also increase the number of free radicals in the body.
Antioxidants are compounds that work to deactivate free
radicals. The best known antioxidants are vitamins A, E, C and
beta-carotene, but there are many others, including selenium,
lutein, and lycopene. Research Shows Mixed Results The ability
of antioxidant supplements to p