Eat Well
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Adding antioxidants to your diet We may take them for granted somewhat as we go about our daily business, but our bodies are essentially like hard-working little factories.

We put small portions of food in our bodies every few hours , which are rapidly converted to the fuel we need to run for an hour at the gym or give that presentation at work.

However, just as factories produce by-products and are affected by outside factors, we have to face up to a daily onslaught from free radicals which can cause illness.

In order to fight against them, it's worth considering antioxidants.

These are substances found in some foods and vitamins that help protect the body from damage caused by free radicals - you have probably already seen them on food labels without registering them.

The main antioxidants include Vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, selenium, Coenzyme Q10 and lycopene and they act to protect the body's cells from damage and repair harm that has already been done.

As they are found in foods such as asparagus, peppers, broccoli, sprouts, oranges, kiwi, tomatoes, nuts, seeds, sweet potato and whole grains, the chances are you're already getting quite a lot already.

However, the Carrot Museum states that the amount of antioxidants we can produce declines with age, so you may need to pack in more to repair the damage that comes with having a few birthdays under your belt.

The Department of Nutrition and Dietetics states that although you can take supplements to up your antioxidant levels, the easiest way to do this and the most beneficial to your body in the long run is by eating a varied diet with lots of colourful fruit and vegetables.

If you know you don't eat as much fresh produce as you could, you may also be pleased to know that berries, nuts and spices including oregano, cloves, cinnamon and turmeric are also rich in antioxidants, so can be easily consumed through healthy snacks and adding seasoning to foods.

As with most things, you don't actually have to do very much to significantly raise your antioxidant levels, namely just make sure you get your five portions of fruit and vegetables a day, or as many as you can manage.

Of course, you can also help your body become more efficient from the inside too, by exercising regularly, limiting sun exposure, not smoking and not drinking to excess.

This will ensure your own little factory keeps operating smoothly into the future.