Antioxidants

Antioxidants protect against harmful free radicals in the body, which can build up and contribute to health conditions such as cancer, tissue damage, and heart disease [25].

Free radicals are molecules that contain oxygen and have an uneven number of electrons, which allows them to interact easily with other molecules by "stealing" electrons from them. They are derived from both normal metabolic processes and external sources, such as exposure to radiation, industrial chemicals, cigarette smoking, and air pollutants. Their formation also occurs continuously in cellular processes. The imbalance between free radical activity and antioxidant activity in the body causes oxidative stress [31].