One of the primary causes of aging and disease is damage to our cells caused by free radicals. This damage occurs every day in our cell’s “mitochondria,” or tiny energy producers.When the mitochondria burn oxygen to make energy for your cells, byproducts called oxygen free radicals are produced. These harmful byproducts attack the walls of the mitochondria and the cells themselves. As we age, the damage caused by free radicals accumulates in the cells and causes reduced energy production.

In nerve cells, the free radicals damage the dendrites and synapses  the connectors and junctions between cells. The damage causes the dendrites to shrink and the synapses to disappear, reducing the ability of brain cells to communicate with other brain cells.As we age, free radicals destroy more and more cells, causing brain damage, which can alter our mental functions. Eventually, enough neurons are destroyed to cause Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and other degenerative brain diseases.

According to medical experts, free radical damage can be prevented or reduced, and you can avoid memory loss and other brain deficits. The best way to accomplish this is to supply your body with plenty of antioxidants to neutralize the free radicals.When an antioxidant meets a free radical, it destroys it, helping to save your brain. Medical researchers have even been able to reverse memory loss and slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease with antioxidants. Antioxidants are one of the the best ways to prevent Alzheimer’s.

The best place to find natural antioxidants is in the food you eat. Most fruits and vegetables are full of antioxidants. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has even developed a test to measure the antioxidant capacity of common foods. Each food gets an O.R.A.C. (oxygen radical absorbing capacity) score, so it’s easy to see which are most effective.At the top of the ORAC list: prunes, raisins, blueberries, blackberries, garlic, kale, cranberries, strawberries and spinach. Note that most have bright colors, as the pigment in many fruits and vegetables is a powerful antioxidant. To see a complete list of ORAC values for hundreds of foods, visit: oracvalues.com.

Because supplements can provide a concentrated supply of antioxidants, consider adding them to your daily diet, in addition to high ORAC foods. Researchers have found that free radical damage can cause cognitive decline as early as age 25, so it’s never too early to boost your defenses with daily antioxidants.