As you consider ways to stay out of the doctors' office and enjoy your life to the fullest, you may want to give serious thought to antioxidant vitamins. These vitamins help your body to fight off the free radicals that cause inflammation and aging at the cellular level. By taking the time to include a few of these supplements in your regular health care system, you will be able to reap the benefits of all that science has been learning about antioxidant vitamins over the last few years. Antioxidant vitamins can be key in preventing heart disease, Alzheimer's, senility, Parkinson's, rheumatoid arthritis, and a whole host of other diseases that have come to be associated with getting older. Many of these diseases could be eliminated or slowed in your body with the addition of antioxidant vitamins. To help you understand which vitamins will be best able to help you achieve your goals of life-long health and wellness, here is a quick overview of the key antioxidant vitamins.

Vitamin C You may associate vitamin C with many of the homeopathic remedies for the common cold. However, as one of the antioxidant vitamins, vitamin C does a lot more than just help your immune system. It is a reducing agent in the oxidation process and can help to reduce and neutralize free radicals in the body. Vitamin C Is commonly found in leafy greens and citrus fruits, as well as over the counter supplements. Glutathione Glutathione is found in most living organisms and is made by your body from existing amino acids. Like Vitamin V it is a reducing agent. What makes this member of the antioxidant vitamins group so important is that it works as a chain agent-when it starts reducing free radicals, other cells and compounds follow suit. Because it is so potent, it is highly prized as an antioxidant, and additional amounts can be obtained through supplements. Melatonin Melatonin is familiar to many as a sleep aid, but it is also counted as one of the antioxidant vitamins even though it is a hormone.

It works just once, however, to reduce oxidation as it crosses both cell membranes and the blood-brain barrier. Unlike the other antioxidant vitamins, it can't go back to its original form after reacting with free radicals, and so it is best to supplement your natural melatonin levels with pill and capsules if you find you are low. Vitamin B6 also helps increase melatonin productions. Vitamin E While vitamin E has been used for years as an ingredient in cosmetics due to its skin repairing and skin softening properties, it seems that those properties occur because vitamin E is one of the antioxidant vitamins. Skin health can be improved with antioxidant treatment, so it is no wonder cosmetic firms love it! As an antioxidant, vitamin E works by stopping oxidation reactions once they have begun and repairing cell membranes. Vitamin E is found in nuts, eggs, and fish, although many prefer to get their vitamin E boost from taking supplements.