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Explain antioxidants as you would to a capable student, in 3-4 sentences.

Antioxidants are molecules that protect your cells from damage caused by reactive molecules called free radicals, which are produced during normal metabolism and increased by factors like pollution or UV radiation. Free radicals are unstable because they have unpaired electrons, so they "steal" electrons from other molecules in your cells, potentially damaging DNA, proteins, and cell membranes in a chain reaction called oxidative stress. Antioxidants work by safely donating electrons to free radicals without becoming unstable themselves, effectively neutralizing the threat. Common antioxidants include vitamins C and E, and your body also produces its own antioxidant enzymes like catalase and superoxide dismutase.