A health food product containing a first component in the form of a discrete portion from a second component provides enhanced in vivo oxidative defense indices and prevents or attenuates exercise-induced in vivo oxidative stress as indicated by cellular and/or tissue modification. The first component includes an antioxidant mixture containing a blend of antioxidants selected from all-trans beta-carotene, a mixture of cis beta-carotenes, all-trans alpha-carotene, a mixture of cis alpha-carotenes, all-trans lycopene, a mixture of cis lycopenes, all-trans gamma-carotene, a mixture of cis gamma-carotenes, zeta-carotene, phytofluene, phytoene, vitamin C, vitamin E and curcumin. The process includes co-extruding the first component and second component to deliver the first component as an internalized core within the second component or layering the components or surrounding the first component with the second component.