The Giver. The Antioxidant.

Antioxidants stop the chain reaction of free radicals from creating more free radicals. Though "antioxidant" is often used as a marketing buzz word, it's important to properly understand them.

Antioxidants are like little firemen that put out the free radical “fires” happening in your body. Antioxidant atoms are stable enough to donate electrons to free radicals, thereby neutralising their damaging effects.
Free radicals are destroyed by antioxidants, which act as a neutraliser by breaking the chain reaction that affects other molecules in the body.
Antioxidants stop the chain reaction of free radicals but are 1:1. When a free radical steals an electron from an antioxidant, the antioxidant does not behave like a typical molecule and become a free radical itself. Rather it is slow to react and stops the damaging chain of free radicals.

Antioxidant micronutrients are not produced by the body and must be supplied through diet. Making sure to get an adequate amount of antioxidants every day can combat the effects of free radicals.

When an antioxidant neutralises a free radical, it essentially stops being an antioxidant and can no longer neutralise. Therefore antioxidant resources must be constantly restored in the body.

Endogenous antioxidants can be produced by the body but must be supported by diet. For example, glutathione, your body’s most potent antioxidant, is supported by protein and vitamin C.