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Foods High in Antioxidants

Foods high in antioxidants are a delicious way to improve health and these foods provide a great deal of nutrition too. To know more about foods high in antioxidants, read on…

Foods high in antioxidants are essential for overall well-being. These ‘magic’ foods not only improve health but also increase our life span. Foods high in antioxidants are the healthiest and most nutritious. ‘Antioxidant’ is a name given to a group of substances that protect human cells from damage, usually caused by free radicals. They can impair our immune system considerably. Free radicals are atoms that are formed during the natural metabolic activities of our body. Other factors, such as smoking, radiation, pollution, and pesticides contribute equally in the formation of free radicals. Antioxidants occur naturally in food, and provide health-enhancing effects to our body. Studies have shown that people who include antioxidant-rich food in their daily diet are at a lower risk of developing various diseases, including cancer. The commonly known antioxidants are vitamins A, C and E, manganese, zinc and selenium.

Foods High in Antioxidants

There are a variety of foods that contain high levels of antioxidants. Some of the best antioxidant-rich foods are:

• Carrots, broccoli, sweet potatoes, peaches, tomatoes, squash are rich in vitamin A.
• Citrus fruits, such as lime and oranges etc., green leafy vegetables, and tomatoes are a great source of vitamin C.
• Green vegetables like kale and spinach are a good source of the antioxidant lutein.
• Fruits like plums, apples, mangoes, pineapples, pink grape fruit, and prunes also contain high levels of antioxidants.
• Berries, including strawberry, blackberry, cherry, raspberry, blueberry, and crowberry have high antioxidant capacity (anthocyanins).
• Broccoli and other vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage and brussels sprouts are also abundant in antioxidants (indoles)
• Nuts (walnuts, groundnut, hazelnut, pecans), sunflower seeds, cod liver oil, vegetable oil and green leafy vegetables have a high amount of vitamin E.
• Dried fruits such as apricots, dates and prunes are high in antioxidant content (beta-carotene).
• Legumes such as pinto beans, soybeans and broad beans are rich in Genistein (a powerful antioxidant).
• Cereals like millet, barley, corn, and oats are packed with antioxidants.
• Tea, a beverage that we do not forget to drink every morning, has a high content of antioxidants known as flavonoids.
• Fish, chicken, grains, and red meat have a high content of selenium and zinc.
• Recent studies indicate that a glass of red wine is also a good source of antioxidants.

Benefits of Antioxidants

Consumption of antioxidants, accompanied with a healthy lifestyle, can allow you to stay fit and fine for years to come. Scientific research has shown that there are numerous benefits of eating antioxidant-rich food.

Eating antioxidants regularly ensures healthy eyesight. It helps to maintain normal vision of your eyes, as it protects the retina from free radicals, thus preventing eye damage. It can also slow the progression of degenerative eye diseases, such as cataracts. Natural antioxidants, such as vitamins, strengthen the immune system and make it resistant against infections and viruses, such as cold and flu. It can also slow down the anti-aging process, as it protects the cells from free radical damage, which is considered to be the main cause of aging.

Do you want to keep your skin free from wrinkles and look younger? If yes, then you must consume antioxidant-rich food, as it helps to strengthen the skin tissue, making it more elastic. Antioxidants also greatly reduce the incidence of cancer, especially prostrate and breast cancer. Incidence of heart disease is significantly lower in people who eat antioxidant-rich food daily.

As foods high in antioxidants provide significant protection against number of diseases, and have numerous other benefits as well, these foods should be a part of your daily diet.

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