These compounds reduce the oxidative damage caused by free radicals, which are charged ions emitted by the body's natural cellular processes. A study appearing in the journal Food Chemistry announced that organically grown tomatoes tend to be richer in polyphenols due to differences in cultivation.

Specifically, researchers pointed to the nitrogen content of the soil used to grow tomatoes. Without fertilizer or manure to increase the amount of this element in the earth, tomato plants react by producing more polyphenols as a natural defense mechanism, the group theorized.

"As a result, conventionally grown plants can lose resistance to disease and present lower levels of nutrients, minerals and secondary metabolites," lead author Anna Vallverdu-Queralt wrote.

Besides in organically grown tomatoes, polyphenols and other beneficial antioxidants may be found in vitamin supplements, as can dozens of important nutrients and minerals.

Conducted by scientists at the UK's Imperial College and King's College London, the investigation associated low vitamin D levels with more severe symptoms among youths with respiratory challenges.

While the mechanism behind this association is unclear, researchers suggested that consuming too little vitamin D may cause cell-level changes to the tissue of the trachea and lungs.

This report is not the first to posit a connection between vitamin D deficiency and the increased severity of respiratory conditions. A 2007 paper published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology noted that increasing time spent indoors may lessen synthesis of vitamin D3 in the skin, which in turn may be contributing to the rising prevalence of respiratory difficulties.

How does one get vitamin D, if not through foods or exposure to sunlight? One simple method is to consume dietary supplements or multivitamins each day.

Scientists have known for some time that chocolate contains antioxidants, which can reduce inflammation or even prevent oxidative damage caused by free radicals in the body. However, unlike dietary supplements, chocolate often contains plenty of sugar and saturated fats.

How best to get the anti-inflammatory benefits of chocolate while avoiding some if its fats content? Researchers determined that more cocoa powder in a product indicates more antioxidants.

They emphasized that chocolate should be eaten in strict moderation, even the dark or baker's varieties. Still, an occasional square of high-cocoa chocolate may give the body an invigorating dose of antioxidants and other nutrients.

If you cannot conscience eating chocolate for your health, try sticking to herbal supplements and multivitamins, as part of a complete and balanced diet.

This might sound like a nightmare for some – after all, who'd want every meal to taste like garlic? – but researchers from Washington State University said that's not exactly how the process would work.

The key to preservation is the organic sulfur compounds found in the bulb, which are also responsible for its unique smell and taste.

Scientists already knew that garlic appears to have some anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. They did not know that one molecule derived from the bulb may also act as a natural antibacterial additive for food.

"The novelty of this paper is that we found that diallyl sulfides contribute more to antimicrobial activity of garlic extract than do phenolic compounds," co-author Xiaonan Lu concluded.

A study appearing in the journal Environmental and Experimental Botany announced that when tomatoes are invaded by certain bacteria, they produce an antioxidant in response, one that is 14 times stronger than resveratrol, the oxidative-damage-fighting compound found in red wine.

Scientists also noted that this substance can be synthesized in laboratories. They added that it may have applications in agriculture and food preservation, since the antioxidant could be used to naturally preserve fruits and vegetables.

Researchers also stated that the newly discovered compound is 10 times more effective at preventing oxidative cellular damage than the vitamin C found in foods and herbal supplements, and four-and-a-half times stronger than vitamin E.

Researchers from Beijing’s Gunag’anmen Hospital stated that a traditional herbal medicine called Xiao Chuan (XCP) appears to support healthy lungs, even when breathing is affected by winter weather.

Coming to this conclusion involved administering the herb or a placebo daily to more than 140 adult participants over an eight-week period. Investigators noted that a paste made from XCP muted the effects of a condition that causes breathing problems related to an overabundance of pulmonary mucus.

"XCP patients experienced statistically significant reductions in steroid use and episodes of shortness of breath," lead author Yongjun Bian, M.D., said, adding that "XCP patients also reported an improved quality of life compared to those treated with placebo."

Millions of Americans suffer from lung health issues, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Research published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that of more than 600 varieties of the berry growing in Mexico and other Central and South American regions, two in particular are bursting with antioxidants.

These species, which are called Anthopterus wardii and Cavendishia grandifolia, are less common than those grown in the United States but contain much higher concentrations of two healthful antioxidants.

As chemical reactions take place in the body, highly charged ions can be created as products. These molecules, called free radicals, can do damage to genetic material. Antioxidants neutralize these ions, preventing cellular damage that would otherwise accelerate aging and contribute to less-than-optimal health.

By taking a daily herbal supplement, individuals who have limited access to exotic fruits may still get all the antioxidants they want.

Research published in the journal ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters recently pointed to another potential benefit of resveratrol-like compounds. Besides protecting cells from oxidative damage these molecules may reduce the extent of radiation sickness.

The authors, who hail from the University of Pittsburgh, explained that following the Fukushima nuclear reactor disaster, scientists are searching for more ways to protect humans from radiation poisoning.

They stated that in laboratory tests, a compound called acetyl resveratrol protected mice from some of the more severe effects of irradiation. While the group did not suggest that downing red wine can prevent radiation sickness, they did express hope that this finding will one day contribute to more effective preventative measures against the harm caused by nuclear fallout.

In day-to-day life, consuming plenty of resveratrol may have anti-aging and anti-carcinogenic properties, according to dozens of recent studies. 

A team of Belgian scientists announced this phenomenon at the American Thoracic Society's 2011 International Conference in Denver, Colorado.

In the U.S., more than 12 million individuals suffer from COPD, which is a progressive disease that causes excess mucus production and breathing difficulties, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute.

Researchers from the Katholieke Universiteit in Leuven, Belgium, stated that based on analyses of blood taken from hundreds of patients with COPD, many people with the disease have vitamin D deficiencies, probably due to poor diet and little time spent walking or exercising outdoors.

The team also noted that among 50 individuals treated with vitamin D, those that took a 100,000-international-unit monthly doses were better able to exercise.

"These results support the idea that correcting vitamin D deficiency by adding vitamin D supplements to training programs allows COPD patients to achieve better results from rehabilitation," team member Miek Hornikx said.

Taking dietary supplements is an effective way to get the vitamin D that may be missing from one's diet.

Over the course of seven years, blood samples were taken from a total of 271 individuals aged 65 to 79 years who showed no signs of memory complications at the start of the study.

The researchers monitored the levels of homocysteine, an amino acid that is linked to vitamin B12, and holotranscobalamin, an active nutrient found in the vitamin, in each sample. The team followed the concentration of this amino acid because unhealthy levels can lead to brain complications and stroke.

The results showed that unhealthy levels of homocysteine increased one's risk of Alzheimer's disease by 16 percent, but also found the active form of vitamin B12 slowed the brain's aging process by 2 percent.

According to researchers, these findings "show the need for further research on the role of vitamin B12 as a marker for identifying people who are at increased risk of Alzheimer's disease." They added that "low levels of vitamin B12 are surprisingly common in the elderly, however, the few studies that have investigated the usefulness of vitamin B12 supplements to reduce the risk of memory loss have had mixed results."

Individuals who are interested in increasing their vitamin B12 intake can benefit from eating eggs, fish, poultry and shellfish.