By now I’m sure you’ve heard that fruits and vegetables are beneficial to consume because of the high antioxidant capacity, right?. What you still might be thinking though is, “what exactly are antioxidants anyway and why should I eat them?”.
Antioxidants fight free radicals throughout your body so it’s important to incorporate them into your diet. Your body produces free radicals normally from healthy processes, but trouble occurs when the free radical levels are out of balance. This can happen as a consequence from exposure to toxins, the environment, bad diet, or chronic stress. Free radicals can cause harm to your cells, stopping them from working optimally. Damage to DNA, proteins and lipids are just a few things that can happen with an overabundance of free radicals. Antioxidants, however, neutralize those free radicals to keep your cells and organs healthy.
Now that you know the importance, do you know which foods have the highest antioxidant levels?
Here are rare and powerful antioxidants you should incorporate into your diet.
Red Orange
Red Oranges are commonly grown in Spain, California and eastern Sicily. These nutrient packed oranges contain loads of antioxidants in their juice. Blood oranges contain ascorbic acid, flavonoids, carotenoids, and anthocyanins. These all help to fight oxidative stress that builds up in our bodies over time due to daily stressors mentioned above.This is extremely important since antioxidants in these oranges play a role in halting the development of diseases like diabetes, cancer and atherosclerosis.
It has also been shown that consuming red orange juice for only 7 days improved endothelial (blood vessel lining) function and reduced inflammation in individuals with cardiovascular risk.
Goji Berries
Goji berries are an exotic fruit which are found in the northwest region of China. They are usually eaten after they have been dried and used in teas or toppings on meals. These little berries provide tons of antioxidants to your body. The Goji berry is especially high in zeaxanthin which is an antioxidant known to benefit vision. This specific antioxidant can protect the retina from ganglion cells which are blamed for glaucoma. If you want to give these a try, sprinkle some in your morning oatmeal for some extra health benefits!
Pomegranate
Powerful antioxidants, like tannins and anthocyanins, are abundant in pomegranates. These are also considered to be anti-atherogenic agents- which means they prevent the buildup of plaque in the body. Pomegranate’s antioxidants have also shown to reduce blood pressure as well. There’s no doubt that this bright red infused fruit has benefits for your entire body, especially for your heart health.
However, if you want to give it a try, be mindful if you drink pomegranate juice because of the high sugar content. Pomegranate extract would be a better route to go if you want to receive these health benefits. Pomeracontains 300mg of pomegranate extract. Taking this supplement every morning could be a super easy way to get in the extra antioxidants that pomegranates have to offer.
Turmeric
This yellow root, which is used in Indian cuisine, has thousands of scientific studies to back up it’s health benefits. Most research literature focuses on curcurmin, a component in turmeric, that is packed with antioxidants. Curcurmin’s antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties help heart, bone and brain health.These antioxidants have also been shown to help fight against inflammation associated with arthritis, mood and enhance healthy aging.
Acai Berry
This berry has loads more antioxidant capacity then all your “normal” berries like strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. There is a reason why this berry has been gaining popularity. Studies have shown that drinking acai juice increases antioxidant levels in plasma and stops muscle damage as a result to exercise. It has also been shown to help fight liver damage, Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.