Final answer:
Food groups are indeed excellent sources of the minerals needed to combat oxidative damage in the body. Minerals help to prevent the harmful effects of free radicals and cannot be synthesized biologically.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is true that food groups tend to be excellent sources of the minerals needed by the body for combatting oxidative damage. Vitamins such as C and E, and provitamin ß-carotene, function as antioxidants in the body by preventing free radical damage. Free radicals, which are formed through metabolic reactions and environmental factors such as radiation and pollution, have unpaired electrons that make them highly reactive. To counteract these free radicals, our diets must include essential minerals.
Minerals, critical inorganic compounds, work alongside other nutrients to ensure proper body functions. They cannot be synthesized biologically and must be obtained from our diet. Some minerals, like selenium and zinc, play a direct role in the body's antioxidant defense mechanisms. Consuming a varied and balanced diet including meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains typically supplies most of the minerals required for health.