In comic books, superheroes like Batman, Spiderman and Superman use their special powers to protect cities and the people within them from harm. Similarly, the human body is constantly on the defensive to protect itself from things like free radicals. This is where antioxidants have the opportunity to swoop in and save the day.
“Every one of us is permanently exposed to oxidation,” says Gary Vorsheim, vice president of extract sales for Secaucus, N.J.-based Martin Bauer Inc., a division of the Martin Bauer Group. “This is a natural process that may have undesirable consequences for the human body: Free radicals form and cause damage to cells and the human genetic material.”