Final answer:
Antioxidants function by reacting with free radicals in the body to prevent damage. Vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene are important antioxidants that work by forming stable molecules or less reactive free radicals when they react with free radicals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Antioxidants play an important role in the body by preventing damage caused by free radicals, which are highly reactive molecules. Free radicals are formed through metabolic reactions involving oxygen as well as environmental factors like radiation and pollution. Vitamins C and E, as well as beta-carotene (which can be converted to vitamin A), act as antioxidants in the body.
These vitamins work by reacting with free radicals to stop the chain reaction of oxidation. Vitamin C, for example, forms a more stable molecule when it reacts with a free radical. Similarly, vitamin E converts into a less reactive free radical when it reacts with a free radical. This helps prevent the oxidative degradation of important compounds in the body.