Antioxidant rich foods

There are many foods in our diet that are considered rich in antioxidants. They can be as common as herbs that are used on a daily basis to as exotic as a berry that is found in Brazil! The main thing is a person needs to know which foods to include in their diet on a daily basis to get the amount of antioxidants they need to keep them healthy and regenerate healthy tissue and cells.

One of the most common foods that is considered extremely rich in antioxidants is garlic. It is used daily in our cooking and diets but how many of us think about how good it is for us? Garlic is packed with antioxidants as well as helps to boost the immune system. It also helps clean out the bloodstream from clogging up with plaque and other trash that could cause clotting in the future.

Cayenne pepper is another excellent antioxidant. They are also jam packed with vitamins and boost the metabolism as well. They also work as an analgesic and have great anti-inflammatory properties. Cayenne and garlic can both be taken as supplements if a person is unable to incorporate them into their daily diet.

Certain berries such as the strawberry, blueberry and blackberries are very high on the antioxidant scale. They are packed with vitamin C and help to boost the immune system as well. They are tasty additions to the daily diet and are easy to incorporate into most people’s diet or routine. Other fruits such as grapes, apples, plums, cherries, and prunes also rank high in their antioxidant qualities. All types of bean seem to be high in their antioxidant qualities as well which is something that most people either do not know or do not publicize very often.

Nuts and seeds are all high in healthy fatty acids and are high in antioxidants as well. Things such as flaxseed, buckwheat, nettle, pecans and walnuts are very good for you and have great antioxidant qualities. These also have high fiber content so they have other good dietary qualities as well.

So those are the common sources for antioxidants in the diet. These are easy to obtain and one would think they would be easy to maintain in the diet. However it is much easier to think about 5-6 servings of vegetables and fruit per day than it is to eat it. For those who would rather take supplements or look for something more exotic there are some new things on the horizon that seem to be taking the media by storm and are supposed to provide more antioxidants than we have ever seen before in foods. Interested? If so, then read on.

Many people are not aware of the amount of antioxidants a person can absorb from eating vegetables. Many vegetables are good sources of antioxidants, including broccoli, tomatoes, cauliflower, and peppers. These vegetables are the best choices to keeping your body healthy. In choosing the right vegetables, consider the richness of the color, as the darker the vegetable, the higher the phytonutrient content.

Phytonutrients are found on the skins of different fruits and vegetables. These nutrients also provide the food’s color as well as its scent and flavor. Phytonutrients are quite excellent sources of antioxidants, as compared to many other types of food. When considering a food’s supplement level, the best choice would be based on antioxidant values.

Though fruits and vegetables are the most efficient source of antioxidants for our bodies, the process by which they are gathered can sometimes be harmful. Some of these foods are treated with harmful ingredients such as chemical herbicides, pesticides, and several types of fertilizers. Based on some experimental tests on fruits and vegetables, organically produced food products have a relatively higher antioxidant content compared to those that are produced and prepared for commercial consumption.

The demands of today’s living can make it difficult to select the right foods to eat. The availability of organic fruits is sometimes scarce — especially if you are living in an urban area. Thus, to complement the need for alternative sources of antioxidants, you may want to choose from the available nutritional supplements that also offer sufficient phytonutrients for your everyday needs.

You may find it interesting that foods containing antioxidants are so highly recommended for our daily diet. Aside from fruits and vegetables, there are other types of foods that are also good sources of antioxidants. Meat products are also great providers of antioxidants, at the same time containing protein, which is another essential nutrient for the body. If you have difficulty determining which antioxidants you need, supplements can provide the recommended amount to stay in perfect health.