Anti-oxidants are phytochemicals, vitamins and other nutrients that protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Studies have shown that anti-oxidants help prevent the free radical damage that is associated with heart disease and other degenerative disorders.

Anti-oxidants can be found in most fruits and vegetables but also culinary herbs and medicinal herbs can contain high levels of anti-oxidants. Free radicals are formed as part of your natural metabolism but also by environmental factors, including smoking, pesticides, pollution and radiation. Free radicals are unstable molecules which react easily with essential molecules of your body, including DNA, fat and proteins.
When a free radical attacks a molecule, it will then become a free radical itself, causing a chain reaction, which can result in the destruction of a cell. Anti-oxidants have the ability to
neutralise free radicals. However, when the anti-oxidant neutralises a free radical it becomes inactive. Therefore you need to continuously supply your body with anti-oxidants.
Numerous diseases are induced by free radicals via lipid peroxidation, protein peroxidation and DNA damage. It has been known that a variety of plant extracts have anti-oxidant
activities to scavenge free radicals.

A recent study published in Biological Research (Vol 40: 13-21, 2007) set out to investigate whether Polygonum cuspidatum (Japanese knotweed) has anti-oxidant activity; the results
indicated clearly that this herb has anti-oxidant effects.
Polygonum cuspidatum contains resveratrol, a compound that is also found in red wine and grapes. It has been reported to help maintain a healthy heart and immune system.

Individuals concerned about living in the 21st century environment and wanting something to protect against the damages of air pollution, smoking etc