Your body is under constant attack--not only from pathogens of all kinds--but also, at molecular level, from "free radicals." Free radicals are unstable molecules that result inevitably from oxidation of nutrients in your body to produce energy. If they are not effectively counteracted, they systematically damage cells of your body. This accelerates aging and can ultimately lead to many chronic degenerative diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, cataracts, and arthritis.

Just as your immune system defends your body against various kinds of pathogens, your main defense against free radical damage is antioxidant defense system. This consists of a group of compounds that effectively disarm free radicals before they attack your tissues.

They accomplish this disarming action by engulfing free radicals and then joining their molecular structure. Although this results in new molecule becoming a free radical itself, it is much weaker than original free radical and is, thus, much less likely to cause harm to cells of your body. So this is a classic instance of "when you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Dr. Lester Packer spent his entire career researching details of this process. He, along with a team of colleagues and other scientists, have established that it involves a dynamic interplay among five key antioxidants: vitamins C and E, Coenzyme Q10, lipoic acid, and glutathione. These key substances work together in such a way that they bolster each other and maintain a balance of overall system that they comprise. By systematically rejuvenating each other, they are said to work "synergistically." Collectively, they are called "the antioxidant network."

You can read about all details of how free radicals--if they are not quelled--damage body, and also learn specifics of how antioxidant network works to protect you in Dr. Packer's recently-published, enlightening book, "The Antioxidant Miracle."

One very important conclusion of his work, which is stressed in his book, is that modern diet does NOT provide an adequate intake of key antioxidants and that it is, therefore, crucially important for EVERYONE to supplement their diets with high quality antioxidants in order to slow down aging and help prevent development of degenerative disease. As he points out very cogently, research evidence indicates that some of these diseases, such as cataracts, can be prevented COMPLETELY through effective supplementation.

How To Get The Most Potent Antioxidant Available

However, it is not always possible to eat enough of foods in proper form, e.g. raw, and we never know if food in question has enough of essentials we need (maybe due to soil depletion) so taking supplements is still necessary.

Here is list of dietary sources. Try to include some of foods missing from your diet right now in your meals. You will find that many of these foods contain more than one essential vitamin or mineral and in many cases contain quite a few nutrients.

Also note that some substances, such as Alpha Lipoic Acid and Acetyl L-Carnitine, have no specific dietary sources and must be taken as supplements, although someone with a healthy diet, concentrated on foods listed here is not likely to have a deficiency.

Dietary Sources for Antioxidants and Vitamins

Vitamin A: liver, dairy products, darkly colored fruits, leafy vegetables (broccoli, spinach, kale, watercress), red bell peppers, halibut and cod.

Vitamin B Complex: brewer’s yeast, wild Alaskan salmon, raw nuts (almonds, walnuts, hazelnuts, sunflower seeds), beans (pinto, soy, black, lentils, chick peas, kidney), dairy products (yogurt, milk, cottage cheese – preferably low-fat), vegetables (asparagus, avocado, cauliflower, spinach), chicken and turkey breast, melons and oranges.

Vitamin C: citrus fruits, tomatoes, bell peppers, broccoli.