antioxidants

this info on antioxidants, also from this book!

Antioxidants:

Antioxidants are natural substances in plant-quality foods that possess health gving benefits. WHole grains, vegetables, and fruits contain a variety of active phytochemicals known as antioxidants that help control the oxidation of free radicals, normal but highly reactive substances which in excess can injure cell membranes. Natural antioxidants include phenolic compounds, terpenoids, pignments, and some forms of vitamins a, carotenoids, vitamin c, vitamin e, and selenium. foods with the highest antioxidant activity include soybeans, cabbage, ginger, garlic, licorice, umbelliferous vegetables, and citrus fruits. antioxidants reduce the rik of cardiovascular disease, hypertensions, diabetes and several forms of cancer.