Consumption Pattern Of Antioxidants Rich Foods By Middle Aged Adults (45-65 Years) In Igbo-Etiti Local Government Area, Enugu State

ABSTRACT

Antioxidant is any substance that delays, prevents or removes oxidative damage to a large molecule (1 Halliwell. 2007) Oxidative reactions produce free radicals that can start multiply in reactions that eventually ciue damnee 01 dith to the cell. AccOrdiiL to 1 tn-ncr .O02) antioxidanl.s are phylochemicals produced by plants to Pght against viruses. Ilingi md bacteria. They are substances that counteract the actions of free radicals in the body nJ assist to prevent extreme broad spectrum of disease (Fne-Ohong. 200 1). Accordi ig to h. inted States I)epartment of Agriculture. antioxidants remove free radicals from the bod\ \\llichcan run rampant and actually damage cells, causing serious illness. It is i substance that when present at a low concentration compared with that of an oXicli/abic substrate, inhibits oxidation of the substrate (I Talliwell and Gutteridge. 2007).