Antioxidants act like scavengers in the body, wiping out those free-radicals, minimizing the damage to your body’s cells. What are free-radicals? Free radicals are a group of chemical substances that have unpaired electrons formed due to loss or gain of electrons. When the damage by the free radicals continues for a long time, it may lead to cancer. Cigarette smoke, our food and water also harbor free radicals in the form of pesticides and other toxins. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol also triggers substantial free radical production.

“The problem is, free radicals often injure the cell, damaging the DNA, which creates the seed for disease,” according to researcher Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD, professor of nutrition at Tufts University in Boston. “When a cell’s DNA changes, the cell becomes mutated. It grows abnormally and reproduces abnormally — and quickly.”

As we age, we become more susceptible to the long-term effects of oxidative stress (a condition where the body basically has too many free radicals) and inflammation on the cellular level. The theory is that antioxidants and other age-defying compounds help cells ward off damage from free radicals and minimize the impact of aging.

Antioxidants can help reverse the damage caused by oxidation. They mainly contain nutritional substances like vitamins and minerals, as well as some enzymes.

According to Dr. Perricone, board certified clinical and research dermatologist and New York Times bestselling author, you can help to slow aging at the cellular level by choosing foods that are anti-inflammatory and rich in antioxidants.

These are his top ten superfoods:

1. Acai Fruit: a high energy berry from the Amazon.
2. Allium Family: garlic, onion, leeks, and chives.
3. Barley: most beneficial grain.
4. Green Foods: blue green algae, barley grass, wheat grass.
5. Buckwheat Seed: more protein than rice or wheat.
6. Beans & Lentils: high fiber.
7. Hot Peppers: anti-inflammatory analgesic.
8. Nuts & Seeds
9. Sprouts
10. Yogurt and Kefir