Antioxidant rich foods are essential to the health of your body. They help protect your cells from free radical damage and inflammation that can contribute to various health problems.
The best way to get enough antioxidants in your diet is to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables daily, as well as other healthy foods that contain antioxidants such as nuts, seeds and legumes.
Here are some antioxidant-rich foods that should be on your radar:
- Berries — Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries are packed with beneficial nutrients and antioxidants. Berries are also highly anti-inflammatory and can help lower your risk of heart disease and stroke.
- Vegetables — Eating a variety of different colored vegetables is important because each one contains unique phytonutrients that provide different health benefits. You can include dark leafy greens like kale or spinach in your diet daily since they’re rich in vitamin K1, which helps build strong bones; vitamin C, which supports immune function; and lutein, which protects against macular degeneration.
- Nuts — Almonds, walnuts and pecans contain plenty of antioxidants as well as healthy fats that help your body absorb them more easily.
- Whole grains — Brown rice and whole wheat bread are both good choices for getting more antioxidants into your diet.
- Red grapes — This colorful fruit is also a great source of resveratrol, an antioxidant that may help prevent cancer and keep your heart healthy by lowering bad (LDL) cholesterol levels while raising good (HDL) cholesterol levels. The flavonoids in red grapes also help prevent blood clots from forming in your veins or arteries by inhibiting platelet aggregation.
- Tea — green tea is rich in flavonols that help prevent cell damage caused by free radicals. The catechins present in tea are also good for heart health, especially for people with heart disease or high cholesterol levels.
