Antioxidant-packed veggies -
The Western lifestyle — with its ultra-processed foods , reliance on medications, and high exposure to chemicals or environmental pollutants — seems to lay the foundation for the proliferation of free radicals. Because many of us are exposed to such high rates of oxidative stress from a young age, we need the power of antioxidants more than ever, which means we need to consume antioxidant foods.
What is an antioxidant, and why is it important? While there are many ways to describe what antioxidants do inside the body, one antioxidant definition is any substance that inhibits oxidation, especially one used to counteract the deterioration of stored food products or remove potentially damaging oxidizing agents in a living organism.
Antioxidants include dozens of food-based substances you may have heard of before, such as carotenoids like beta-carotene, lycopene and vitamin C. Antioxidants also help neutralize harmful free radicals to prevent the potential negative effects on health. Free radicals accumulate in the body due to oxidative stress, which can be caused by a number of different factors, including diet and lifestyle.
Over time, free radicals can cause cell damage and contribute to the development of chronic disease. Why are antioxidants good for you?
Research suggests that when it comes to longevity and overall health, some of the benefits of consuming antioxidant foods, herbs, teas and supplements include:. There are many different types of antioxidants, including several antioxidant vitamins, minerals and polyphenols.
Most whole foods include a mix of the best antioxidants, making it easy to maximize the potential health benefits and fit a range of vitamins for the immune system into your diet. Along with other compounds on the list of antioxidants, vitamin C antioxidants are highly effective at neutralizing free radicals to protect against disease.
Other vitamins and minerals that have powerful antioxidant properties include vitamin A, vitamin E, manganese and selenium. Other antioxidants include lycopene, carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin, anthocyanins , quercetin, glutathione and flavonoids like rutin.
As described above, the single most important benefit of antioxidants is counteracting free radicals found inside every human body, which are very destructive to things like tissue and cells. Free radicals are responsible for contributing to many health issues and have connections to such diseases as cancer and premature aging of the skin or eyes.
The body uses antioxidants to prevent itself from the damage caused by oxygen. Electrons exist in pairs; free radicals are missing an electron. This is their weapon of sorts. Free radicals then damage DNA, cellular membranes and enzymes. Many foods that provide these nutrients also supply antioxidants called lutein and zeaxanthin, nicknamed the eye vitamins , found in brightly colored foods like fruits and vegetables — especially leafy greens and types that are deep orange or yellow.
These antioxidants are believed to be easily transported around the body, especially to the delicate parts of the eyes called the macula and the lens. In fact, there are more than different types of carotenoids found in nature, but only about 20 make their way into the eyes. Of those 20, lutein and zeaxanthin are the only two macular carotenoids that are deposited in high quantities into the macular portion of the eyes, which is one of the earliest to be damaged during aging.
Research shows that high-lutein sources like spinach are proven to help decrease eye-related degeneration and improve visual acuity. Similarly, flavonoid antioxidants found in berries, such as bilberries or grapes also great sources of the antioxidant resveratrol , may be especially beneficial at supporting vision into older age.
Perhaps most noticeably, free radicals speed up the aging process when it comes to the appearance and health of your skin. Using antioxidants for skin may help combat this damage, especially from eating sources high in vitamin C, beta-carotene and other antioxidants.
Vitamin A and C have been connected to a decrease in the appearance of wrinkles and skin dryness. Vitamin C, specifically, is a powerful antioxidant that can help reduce the effect of oxidative damage caused by pollution, stress or poor diet.
Vitamin A deficiency has also been linked to skin dryness, scaling and follicular thickening of the skin. Similarly to how free radicals damage surface skin cells, keratinization of the skin, when the epithelial cells lose their moisture and become hard and dry, can occur in the mucous membranes of the respiratory, gastrointestinal tract and urinary tract.
At this point, the data does not show that all antioxidants are effective in protecting against heart disease, but some, such as vitamin C, do seem to be. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition featured a study that found those with high levels of vitamin C in their blood had almost a 50 percent decreased risk of stroke.
Countless studies also have found that people who consume highly plant-based diets — loaded with things like fresh veggies, herbs, spices and fruit — have a better chance of living longer and healthier lives with less heart disease.
Some research has unearthed a potential connection between antioxidants and cancer. Depending on the specific herb or spice, these diseases include high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, and diabetes. Okra is a flowering plant with edible seed pods that grows best in warm and tropical climates.
It also contains antioxidants that are anti-inflammatory and may help reduce high cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as protect heart and brain health. Read more about the health benefits of okra. That said, some have more bioactive compounds than others, such as vitamins E and C , for example.
Drinks that are high in antioxidants include green tea, pomegranate juice, and acai juice. They protect your body from potentially harmful molecules known as free radicals, which can accumulate and promote oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress raises the risk of heart disease, cancers, type 2 diabetes, and many other chronic conditions. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants can help neutralize free radicals and reduce the risk of these chronic diseases.
By eating a wide variety of the foods in this article, you can boost your blood levels of antioxidants and reap their many health benefits. Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.
VIEW ALL HISTORY. This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by experts. Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strive to be objective, unbiased, honest and to present both sides of the argument. This article contains scientific references.
The numbers in the parentheses 1, 2, 3 are clickable links to peer-reviewed scientific papers. Brain fog is a symptom of another medical condition. Chronic inflammation refers to a response by your immune system that sticks around long after infection or injury.
Learn the common symptoms and…. Inflammation is one way your body fights infection, injury, and disease. Sometimes inflammation can become a painful problem. Your doctor can perform…. What is oxidative stress, and why does it matter?
We explain how this imbalance affects your body and ways to prevent it. A Quiz for Teens Are You a Workaholic? How Well Do You Sleep? Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Nutrition Evidence Based 14 Healthy Foods High in Antioxidants. Medically reviewed by Katherine Marengo LDN, R.
Dark chocolate Pecans Blueberries Strawberries Artichokes Goji berries Raspberries Kale Red cabbage Beans Beets Spinach Spices Okra FAQs Bottom line Many nutrient-dense foods are rich in antioxidants, including certain types of berries, nuts, and vegetables. Dark chocolate. Goji berries. Red cabbage.
Spices and herbs. Frequently asked questions. The bottom line. How we reviewed this article: Sources. Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations.
Polyphenols found in EVOO have also been shown to fend off aging, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. The healthy fats in EVOO also help the body absorb the fat-soluble vitamins, A, D, E, and K, which play integral roles in vision, bone health, immune function, and blood clotting.
EVOO can be used in a variety of ways. Enjoy EVOO in salad dressings, slaws, and cool vegetable dishes like salad. Potatoes are bursting with antioxidants. Antioxidants in potatoes include carotenoids, flavonols, anthocyanins, and vitamins C and E. Baked potatoes can be loaded with healthy toppings, like steamed or sautéed veggies paired with hummus, olive tapenade, guacamole, pesto, tomato sauce, or seasoned tahini.
For an antioxidant-rich side dish, toss cooked, chilled potatoes with mustard, EVOO, and herbs. Pulses, which include beans, lentils, peas, and chickpeas , are high in antioxidants, including polyphenols and flavonoids.
These antioxidants have anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and anti-allergic properties. Pulses are also rich in protein, fiber, and minerals.
Pulses are incredibly versatile. You can use chickpeas in a breakfast scramble or hummus, or oven-roast them and season them for a filling snack. Tomatoes are rich in an antioxidant called lycopene. This compound, which gives tomatoes their color, has also been shown to reduce inflammation, protect heart health, prevent artery hardening, and reduce blood pressure.
Antioxidant-rich tomatoes have also been shown to protect brain health, reduce the risk of cancer and bowel diseases, and improve skin health, exercise recovery, and immune response.
Cooked tomatoes are higher in lycopene versus raw tomatoes. You can consume tomatoes in a scramble or omelet at breakfast. Toss pastas with tomato sauce or roast tomatoes in the over for a delicious side dish.
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Resveratrol health benefits to receive tips, Antioxidant-packed veggies, and Antiosidant-packed by email from Bonnie Antioxidant-packed veggies and Blackberry and bourbon cocktail recipe brands Resveratrol health benefits by The Scotts Company LLC, its vegggies, and select partners. Antioxkdant-packed have qualified for Free Shipping. Everyone wants to stay healthy, so veggise a vegetable Diabetic coma support filled with antioxidant-rich Bonnie Plants® makes good sense. So, go ahead and add these 10 top antioxidant-packed fruits and veggies to your garden plan. Do you know that strengthening your immune system and protecting your health can be as easy as eating colorful, homegrown veggies? While adding a rainbow of produce to your diet offers lots of health benefits, some fruits and vegetables rise to the top of the list for their high levels of antioxidants. Why is that so important?
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