Antioxidants from Berries: An Overview of Flavonoids, Functionality, and Formulation

When Americans think of berries, typically antioxidants also spring to mind. This is because stakeholders have done a wonderful job over the years establishing the association between berries—such as blueberries—and their antioxidant health and wellness benefits. Who would have thought that part of the anti-aging “Fountain of Youth” that has captivated peoples’ imaginations might have been growing on shrubs in our backyards this entire time? In Praise of Antioxidants By now, most of us know that antioxidants are molecules that neutralize free radicals, a byproduct of normal cell function. Antioxidant activity as a health benefit is mostly associated with anti-aging—or better yet, “healthy aging” claims—but it is also an integral part of well-balanced health and disease prevention across nearly every system in the body. On the plus side, the body possesses its own antioxidant enzymes and mechanisms to offset free radicals resu