What is an antioxidant?  You have probably heard this term repeated over and over and are not sure what exactly it is or how it is found. 

Antioxidants are found in a variety of different foods that we eat, some more so than others.  There are certain fruits and vegetables that are very high in antioxidants which, in effect, give the immune system a boost.  The value of the antioxidant in the health system is that it helps to not only give the immune system a boost, but also control free radical cell growth which is thought to be a contributory factor to cancer. 

Most of the foods that are high in antioxidants are dark colored fruits and vegetables.  The antioxidant power in a blueberry, for example, is much higher than in a grape.   Most fruits and vegetables contain some antioxidant factor, but some are higher than others. 

The Acai berry is found in South America and is the berry that is known as the super berry because it is so high in antioxidant properties.  It cannot be shipped to the United States because it would spoil before it could arrive in any supermarket, although Acai juice is available in some health food stores. 

Although not well liked by many, broccoli has powerful antioxidant qualities, the consumption of which is said to ward off certain diseases including cancer.  Many health professionals will advise you to consume broccoli at least once a week to ward off disease. 

The pomegranate is a fruit that is notoriously difficult to eat but has powerful antioxidant qualities and has made a surge in popularity over the recent years.  A seasonal fruit that usually gets on the fruit stands in the fall, the pomegranate consists of mostly pulp that is not edible and seeds that are surrounded by red juice.  The seed juice is extracted for pomegranate juice which is sold in grocery stores throughout the country as an antioxidant.

Most antioxidants are very high in Vitamin C.  The super fruits, such Acai, Pomegranate, Goji Berries and others are all very high in Vitamin C which is thought to help the immune system of the body.  So in addition to controlling free radical cell growth, the antioxidant properties also boost the immune system. 

Many in the medical community feel that certain diseases, such as cancer, are the result of an infection due to a weakened immune system.  Medical science knows what cancer is - it is the uncontrolled growth of cells.  However, they have no idea why the cells decide to divide and start mutating or how to stop them from doing so. 

It makes sense that the consumption of antioxidants can help you keep your immune system healthy and possibly prevent uncontrolled cell growth.  Although there are a lot of other factors that contribute to disease such as cancer (such as genetic makeup and environmental factors) it certainly will not do anyone any harm to indulge in foods that are rich in antioxidant properties such as some of those that have been mentioned on this page.