Antioxidants are all the rage these days. According to Harvard School of Public Health, there have been mixed results in studies done on antioxidant benefits pertaining to cancer, heart disease and other chronic conditions.
Some of this may be attributed to the fact that studies have been limited and some short-term in duration. At the same time, there has been evidence showing that eating fruits and vegetables can protect against the impact of aging. These fruits contain a high level of antioxidants, but they also contain other ingredients that could be playing a role.
That said, let’s take a look at a list of antioxidant rich foods, many of which you can get at your local grocery store and incorporate into your daily diet for better health. Keep in mind that this is not a complete list, but it contains many of the top antioxidant foods typically mentioned.
In my experience, I have found it easier to take baby steps when making a change to my eating habits. Changing too much at once can result in utter chaos, and you may find yourself back at where you started.
Another tip is to get rid of foods in your house that aren’t healthy, like chips, cookies or other processed foods. One thing that antioxidants are known for fighting is free radicals introduced to the body through the consumption of processed foods. When you don’t eat the highly-processed foods in the first place, it’s one less job the antioxidant foods have to do.
OK already, on the the list…
Foods that Contain Antioxidants
1. Green Leafy Vegetables
- Spinach
- Kale
- Collard Greens
2. Other Vegetables
- Broccoli
- Artichokes
3. Bright Colored Vegetables
- Carrots
- Squash
- Peppers
- Red Beets
- Sweet Potatoes
- Chiles
4. Berries
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Goji Berries
- Acai Berry
- Cranberries
- Blackberries
5. Green Tea
6. Citrus Fruits
- Lime
- Lemon
7. Herbs
- Garlic
- Cinnamon
8. Other Fruit
- Apples
- Pineapple
- Apricots
- Mangos
- Grapes
- Tomatoes
- Pomegranates
- Cherries
- Plums
9. Raw Nuts
- Almonds
- Pecans
10. Beans
- Kidney Beans
- Pinto Beans
11. Oils
- Olive Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Hempseed Oil
