Antioxidants - Getting the Most Out of Your Food

By now most people have heard of the importance of antioxidants in the diet and how they help to eliminate free radicals from the body. Free radicals are cells within our system and body that lead to damage to the tissues and organs and eventually result in health concerns, some very serious, as well as the visible signs of aging. Incorporating as many foods in the diet as possible that are high in concentrations of antioxidants will help our bodies in removing the damaging free radical cells before problems start to occur.

The human body does make some antioxidants itself, which is great, but most people need to have more antioxidants that the body produces. Some foods are naturally excellent sources of antioxidants so just adding a few of these foods to your weekly food intake can really help out. The really terrific news is that most of these foods are already things that we eat and are definitely some of the better tasting foods that we enjoy.

Best Antioxidants

Foods that are high in antioxidants tend to have distinct features, most notably their color. Red and blue fruits, especially berries, are some of the highest sources of antioxidants found in nature. The best antioxidant berries include raspberries, blueberries (farm and wild), strawberries and blackberries. Less common but just as antioxidant rich are crowberries and cherries as well as grapefruit, kiwi fruit, pineapples, plums, oranges and grapes, both green and red. Eating fruit raw is the very best option and generally it is recommended to eat fruit in the early part of the day to give your body time to use up the sugars found within the fruit.

Cruciferous vegetables, which include broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy and even broccoflower (a cross between broccoli and cauliflower) are high in antioxidants. They can be consumed raw or steamed to keep the high level of antioxidants within the vegetable. These vegetables, particularly broccoli and cauliflower also help prevent heart disease, breast cancer and other cancers within the female reproductive system that are sensitive to estrogen.

Vegetables that are considered the best antioxidants also include red cabbage, artichokes, red beets, all types of peppers and spinach. Foods that are often used as spices and flavoring such as ginger, parsley, lemons and chili pepper are also good antioxidants plus they really add a kick to your diet.

Tomatoes are also some of the top antioxidant foods and are most beneficial when eaten raw, although even cooked they still contain some antioxidants. In addition research now shows that tomatoes contain large amounts of lycopene, which has its own circulatory and heart health benefits.

Staying healthy and adding more of the best antioxidant foods to your diet doesn't usually mean a lot of preparation or planning. Add one or two extra servings a week and you will soon notice a change in your health, appearance and energy. Keep in mind that drinking green tea, either hot or cold, can also add a boost of antioxidants at any time of the day.