Antioxidants play a role in absorbing free radicals, which are unpaired electrons sitting on organic compounds inside the cell.<p>Free radicals are not entirely stable, and are mutagenic when they attach and break the phosphate molecules in the backbone of DNA (possibly leading to cancer).[1]  These are dangerous because they can form reaction chains, which break molecule after molecule before finding a resting state.  The antioxidants tend to give a more-stable resting state for the free radical, which makes it easier for your body to clear it.<p>Hence if your body has enough free-radical fighting antioxidants, it is more equipped to metabolize cancer-causing compounds.<p>[1] <a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.ijpsr.info&#x2F;docs&#x2F;IJPSR10-01-03-04.pdf" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.ijpsr.info&#x2F;docs&#x2F;IJPSR10-01-03-04.pdf</a>