And what do antioxidants do?
Check out this guide to the best antioxidant-rich foods.
It’s not all berries and kalegood news for coffee and chocolate lovers!
You’ve probably heard about antioxidants.
But what exactly are they?
And what do they do?
So many foods, especially fruits and vegetables, tout antioxidant benefits.
What Are Antioxidants?
This is a category, meaning there isn’t just one kind of antioxidant.
This method quantifies all of the types of antioxidants present in a food.
But what does this mean for us?
Antioxidant substances can scavenge or mop up these free radicals.
And it can’t hurt to seek out some that are higher in antioxidant activity than others.
Foods High in Antioxidants
Now that we have the basics down, let’s get specific.
In 2010, theNutrition Journalpublished adatabase of the antioxidant powerfor over 3,100 foods, beverages, spices and more.
Some experts discourage relying on numbers like these to build a healthy diet, until more is known.
Nevertheless, it’s interesting to look at the numbers.
We’ve put together a list of five foods that are particularly high in antioxidants.
And some of them may surprise you.
However, the science shows that regular consumption of nuts may be good for yourheartandbrainhealth, among other benefits.
They also provide a yummy crunch tosalads,baked goodsand more.
The antioxidants in blueberries especially seem to promote healthy aging and may have anticancer properties.
However, these values show that using a variety of spices regularly can help boost your antioxidant intake.
Using spices can also help you cut down on other less-nutritious flavor boosters, like salt or added sugar.
The Bottom Line
There are a lot of foods that contain a variety of antioxidants.
