More and more we are learning that the best way to fight disease is through exercise, healthy eating and sensible nutrition instead of popping pills, powders, fad diets and other fast fixes. Scientists, dieticians and nutritionists are still discovering different components in natural foods which are being tested, examined, and retested to make sure we follow the right path.

Many of us are seeking sensible lifestyle solutions after bouts of illness, topsy-turvy weight gain and loss, lethargy and general malaise. We are all works in progress and will derail off the ideal healthy track now and then. Personally, I have suffered from all of the above and am seriously trying to become more disciplined and conscious of what I put in my mouth and ultimately my body.

Learning more about the pros and cons of certain foods is half the battle won, and if I can do it, so can you. We all need to follow this lesson and go back to the basics by affecting balance in our lives and ignoring extreme quick fixes which are frequently too good to be true.

Antioxidants have become the new "it group" in the food world. Just as we have the "in" celebrities/personalities that we admire, the additional facts learnt about this group of substances are being embraced in life-changing diets. Basically, antioxidants are agents which fight and eradicate free radicals which damage healthy cells.

Free radicals can be carcinogenic that is, cancerous, and are naturally produced in the body or formed from external factors such as cigarette smoke, environmental pollutants and radioactive material exposure. Therefore, antioxidants are being studied constantly in the battle against cancer, heart disease and stroke.

As in all scientific studies, the jury is still out debating the efficacy of their benefits and what daily levels are needed to be consumed in countering preventable illnesses. So far it is looking positive, so a diet rich in antioxidants is encouraged in the promotion of healthy living. Vitamin A which contains beta carotene, selenium and carotenoids which makes our fruits and vegetables colourful, plus C and E are antioxidant rich.

Some foods rich in antioxidants are green tea, summer fruits such as cherries, blueberries, raspberries and strawberries, mango, vegetables such as carrots, spinach/callaloo, sweet peppers, garlic, onions and shallots, the latter three rich in flavonoids.

This latter antioxidant is found also in red wine, certainly a glass a day is good for your heart - observe how those folks living in the Mediterranean have the least incidence of heart disease on the planet.

Chocolate, the dark kind, so yummy, fellow chocoholics smile, you do not have to deprave yourselves, but nibble in moderation of course! Phenolic acid, a type of antioxidant which forms protective enzymes in cells, is found in tomatoes, one of today's featured fruits; and another powerful antioxidant, lycopene which protects against certain cancers, especially prostate, especially when cooked. Therefore, the tomato is a super food in health benefits either cooked or raw.

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