More than 1,110 different families of free radicals have been identified, so isn’t it unrealistic to expect just one or two antioxidants to protect you against all free radicals, the cause of disease and aging? Health professionals advocate eating a wide variety of foods which are rich in antioxidants to get as many types of antioxidants into you as possible. Include brightly-coloured fruits and vegetables in your diet as they generally have high antioxidant levels. See food as your medicine.

Some people find it difficult to consume all the vegetables, fruits, seeds and grains necessary to obtain a broad spectrum of free-radical fighting antioxidants. They may have poor appetite due to illness or they may simply find eating so much fibre inconvenient. If you want to take an antioxidant supplement, make sure it packs in a wide range of antioxidants – just like in a healthy and balanced diet – for optimal protection from free radical attacks.

Why isn’t it enough to take just one or two antioxidants, say selenium or Vitamin A, to fight free radical damage? Well, antioxidants act in very different ways. Some may act upon cellular cytoplasm (the jelly-like substance that fills the cell), while others work in the cell nuclei (the “brain” of the cell which helps control growth, reproduction, eating and movement). Other antioxidants work in the liquid portion of the bloodstream or within particles of lipoprotein (molecules made of proteins and fat) in the blood. As one antioxidant binds and defeats a free radical, another is attacking a different free-radical enemy.

Rally the troops! Send the posse after free radicals!