Antioxidants play a crucial role in protecting your cells from damage caused by harmful molecules called Free Radicals. Free radicals are produced naturally in the body as a byproduct of metabolism. But they can also be generated in the body through sun exposure, cigarette smoke, stress, injury, poor diet, aging, infection, pesticides, fried food, alcohol, to mention a few.

 Free radicals are unstable molecules and go rogue damaging cells to steal electrons so they can become stable. Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals, preventing them from causing damage to your cells. They essentially act as a defense system, keeping your cells healthy and functioning properly.

 Without antioxidants, free radicals would cause serious harm very quickly. To prevent or reverse this very destructive process, the body constantly needs a reserve of antioxidant molecules. The body does produce some antioxidants of its own, but the amount reduces with age. Frequent health dosages of a variety of antioxidants ensure this destructive oxidation process will be minimized-reducing the potential for cancer, heart disease, auto immune disease, diabetes, not to mention their importance in anti-aging.

Antioxidants are also said to offer many health-promoting properties. Your immune cells use free radicals to fight infections. As a result, your body needs to maintain a certain balance of free radicals and antioxidants…When free radicals outnumber the antioxidants, it can lead to a state called oxidative stress which is linked to various health problems. Antioxidants help to protect the body against damaging effects of free radicals by neutralizing and reducing the amount of oxidative stress on the body.

There are many different types of antioxidants including vitamins, minerals, plant-based compounds to mention a few. Aronia Berries are considered one of the riches sources of plant antioxidants, which are said to offer many health-promoting properties.