Antioxidants help stave off a host of health problems – but figuring out how much you’re getting can be tricky

Many fruits and vegetables are high in antioxidants. istetiana/Moment via Getty Images

When it comes to describing what an antioxidant is, it’s all in the name: Antioxidants counter oxidants.

And that’s a good thing. Oxidants can damage the structure and function of the chemicals in your body critical to life – like the proteins and lipids within your cells, and your DNA, which stores genetic information. A special class of oxidants, free radicals, are even more reactive and dangerous.