Millions of people take vitamins to supplement their diet. One type of vitamin, antioxidants, including familiar vitamins such as C, E, beta-carotene and melatonin, has become especially popular and equally controversial. Oxidants are naturally occurring chemicals in our bodies that are derived from oxygen to facilitate essential biochemical operations. Antioxidants counteract oxidative stress, which is the overproduction of these otherwise useful chemicals or failure of normal antioxidant mechanisms. Oxidative stress has been linked to the development of many chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, coronary heart disease, Alzheimers, asthma, schizophrenia and AIDs. Smythies surveys and evaluates the current scientific work on this subject in detail and suggests that a high proportion of these diseases can be prevented, or their onset delayed, by attention to the proper intake of antioxidants in the diet. He examines the debate over whether this necessary intake can be achieved by increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables in the diet or whether supplements are needed, and discusses the toxicity of antioxidants and under what circumstances they should be given with caution or not at all. John Smythies’ book is important reading for anyone interested in maintaining or improving their health, as well as healthcare professionals.