In January, Engeseth and Jason McKibben, a researcher with Anheuser Busch in Santa Monica, CA, reported in the same journal that the dietary antioxidants in honey were more effective compared to traditional preservatives, such as butylated hydroxytoluene and tocopherol in slowing oxidation in cooked, refrigerated ground turkey. The small red bean was dubbed the food with the highest concentration of disease-fighting antioxidant compounds per serving. Antioxidants are the heroes in an epic struggle against villain molecules called "free radicals." Free radicals do nothing but assault cells, turning them into molecules like themselves. Recently, scientists have discovered the substance responsible for many of the health benefits we've been receiving from plants. Fruits and vegetables it seemed contain chemical substances that act on specific, harmful molecules inside our bodies to stop them from damaging our cells. Because these substances work on oxygen by-products called free radicals, they have since come to be known as natural antioxidants. Now, this is where antioxidant support comes in. Antioxidant support plays a key role in the defense mechanisms of the body. The most common antioxidant supports are in the form of vitamins, specifically vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. In addition, there is good evidence that bilirubin and uric acid can act as antioxidant support to help neutralize certain free radicals. Blueberries and cranberries are usually the fruits that are often touted by nutrition scientists as the top antioxidant rich foods. In the vegetable variety, russet potatoes, red beans, and red cabbage are topping the list as well. However, there are also other fruits and vegetables that may contain more essential benefits to our health. The function of antioxidant foods is to hunt down free radicals and destroy them. What are Free Radicals? Free radicals are highly reactive chemical substances that are produced when the body undergoes the process of oxidation. The reason that free radicals are highly reactive is that they lack electrons, which cause them to be highly unstable.