Antioxidant
Rich Foods
Many
experts today recommend eating a healthy diet filled
with antioxidant rich foods in order to enjoy better health and
longevity. Antioxidants are compounds in certain foods that help
prevent damage to cells caused by oxidative stress. It is believed that
a diet low in antioxidants contributes to chronic diseases such as
heart disease, cancer or even Alzheimer's disease.
In
a study, berries such as cranberries, blackberries, and blueberries
where found to be the fruits with the greatest amount of antioxidants.
Vegetables with the highest amount were determined to be Russet
potatoes, artichokes and beans. While most people generally think of
fruits and vegetables when it comes to antioxidants, spices and nuts
are good sources too. Pecans, hazelnuts and walnuts have the most among
nuts while, oregano, cinnamon, and cloves are top among spices.
The
way you prepare antioxidant rich foods can change the antioxidant
level. For example, carrots have more antioxidants
when eaten raw rather than cooked. But tomatoes on the other hand,
release more antioxidants once they have been cooked.
The types
of antioxidants found in foods differ, so to make sure you eat the best
diet possible, you will want to eat diverse meals. It is recommended to
obtain these important nutrients
in a natural manner from a balanced healthy diet rather than taking
supplements.
To
be sure you get plenty antioxidants in your diet, try to
consume
several servings of vegetables and fruits each day. Eat more salads and
drink green smoothies.
Consume food like: cranberries, apples,
strawberries, plums, raspberries, potatoes.
In the last few
years, some have come on the scene and gained popularity as
antioxidant rich, healthy foods. These include dark chocolate, goji
berries and acai. By looking
at these antioxidant rich foods, it is clear to see they are from
plants. It makes sense to make these foods a big part of
your diet and limit the amount of processed foods you eat on a daily
basis.
Grape seed extract benefitsLimiting processed foods will benefit your health in other ways
too since they are usually loaded with too much salt, sugar and
additives.
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