Antioxidants are molecules that rescue your cells from free radical destruction. Free radicals are unstable molecules that the body creates as a response to internal and external stress. Eventually, too many free radicals will create oxidative stress, a state that is linked with chronic disease like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. By destroying these unsightly molecules, antioxidants are part of your overall health. Having explained why they are required, let us move on to how to get antioxidants from your diet, i.e., food and drink which cause the maximum good.
Foods High in Antioxidants
Foodstuffs differ in the amount of antioxidant they have. Some of the best foodstuffs with extremely high antioxidant capacity are some of the fruits like berries, blueberries, strawberries, and goji berries. Blueberries have anthocyanins, which are powerful antioxidants that also make the fruit so highly coloured. In addition to preventing the oxidation, they also improve mental functions and avoid heart disease.
Dark chocolate is an antioxidant dessert, too. Dark chocolate flavonoids not only guard your cells, but your heart and blood pressure. Use dark chocolate foods with a minimum of 70% cocoa solids for maximum benefit.
Vegetables are also antioxidant-dense, like dark greens such as kale and spinach. Beta-carotene-rich sweet potatoes and carrots aren’t far behind. Even small old artichokes are an antioxidant powerhouse food.
We also can’t forget seeds and nuts, walnuts and almonds, and sunflower seeds. Full of vitamin E and other useful antioxidants, they’re quick, fast-food snack foods that nourish healthy skin and calm inflammation.
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Antioxidant-Packed Drinks
Beverages also make excellent antioxidants, and they begin with green tea. The planet’s favourite drink is full of catechins, disease-fighting antioxidants. Green tea or matcha powder contains even greater amounts of those great molecules.
Another ideal option is vibrant hibiscus tea, rich in antioxidants. Sweet and tarty tasting and red-coloured, the herb tea is rich in polyphenols to combat oxidative damage and actually reduces blood pressure.
For those who drink coffee, some glad tidings. Coffee contains a blend of antioxidants like chlorogenic acid that have been shown to enhance metabolic health. Science has proven that individuals who drink coffee are less prone to develop Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Cranberry, orange, and pomegranate fruit juices contain a lot of antioxidants. Pomegranate juice, for example, is long known to be high in polyphenols and has also proven to be very good for the cardiovascular system. Keep in mind, though, that fruit juices need to be consumed in very small amounts because they are high in sugars.
Benefits of Antioxidant Consumption
It’s not a health fad of sorts to consume more foods and liquids with antioxidants in them; the return on investment is worthwhile and a true one. Foods and liquids high in antioxidants indeed have been found, research says, to cut your chances for chronic illness such as type 2 diabetes and some forms of cancer. Antioxidants reverse aging by stopping oxidative stress, and offering tighter, smoother skin and hair.
Antioxidants also play a crucial role with your immune system. They protect your white blood cells and chase away inflammation, enabling your body to combat infection more effectively. Daily antioxidants have also been found to be associated with a healthy heart, improved circulation, and reduced cholesterol.
While your own system is capable of generating some antioxidants internally, nutrition is available in order to give your system a jump in the right direction as much as to the levels that your system requires. With today’s entire range of foods and beverages products with real loads of antioxidants, now it is faster and better tasting than ever before to introduce them to your repertoire. Whether it’s snacking on a cup of blueberries, drinking a glass of hibiscus tea, or indulging in a little bit of dark chocolate, your body will thank you.
