Which of the following nutrients helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals?

The correct answer is antioxidants because they play a critical role in neutralizing harmful free radicals in the body. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage cells, proteins, and DNA, contributing to the aging process and various diseases, including cancer and heart disease. Antioxidants work by donating electrons to free radicals, which stabilizes them and prevents them from causing cellular damage.

While vitamins and minerals can have various functions in the body and some, like vitamins C and E, act as antioxidants, they are not collectively referred to as antioxidants. Antioxidants encompass a broader range of compounds found in fruits and vegetables, including not only vitamins but also substances such as flavonoids and selenium, which specifically target oxidative stress. Proteins, on the other hand, are essential for building and repairing tissues and do not have a direct role in protecting the body from free radicals. Thus, antioxidants are the primary defenders against oxidative damage.