Do you know what is the key to better health?

Did you know that our body is in a constant battle against infections, diseases and the formation of free radicals? However, there is a health secret that can help us fight these problems: ANTIOXIDANTS

Antioxidants are elements such as vitamins A, C, and E that counteract the damage caused by free radicals and help protect our healthy cells. 

Free radicals are the molecules that contain unpaired electrons, which make them highly reactive. In this form, they can cause damage by attacking healthy cells, and when these cells grow weakened, we become more vulnerable to disease.

Free radicals may be produced from normal body functions such as breathing or physical activity, but they are mainly formed from our exposure to junk and highly processed food and environmental hazards, such as pesticides, air pollution, supermarket cleaning products and cigarette smoke. Antioxidants work to disable the disease-causing free radicals, thus preventing the damage from occurring. Although our body naturally produces antioxidants, it doesn’t produce enough to protect us from free radicals, so that is why it is important to include antioxidant-rich foods in our diet on a regular basis.

Antioxidant – Rich Foods

Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts all contain an intricate mix of antioxidants, so eating a variety of these healthy foods will help ensure that we are getting plenty of these disease-fighting nutrients.

Here are some ways we can include antioxidant-rich foods into our diet:

  • Consume at least 3 to 5 fruits and/or vegetables every day.
  • Choose fruits and vegetables rich in colors like blue, purple, red, orange, yellow, and green, because they often pack the most nutrients and antioxidants.
  • Green Smoothies are an awesome way to reap the health benefits of antioxidants. Try blending darkly leave vegetables with carrots, celery, ginger, lime, intelligent fiber, hemp seeds and filtered water.
  • Try blending darkly colored frozen or fresh berries such as blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, and banana with chia seeds and hemp seeds for a very refreshing antioxidant rich smoothie.
  • Antioxidants are also found in grain products. Oats, in particular, are an excellent source for incorporating antioxidants into our daily diet. Oatmeal and oat bran are two good food choices.
  • Let’s eat our legumes: red beans, kidney beans, black beans, and pinto beans are all rich sources of antioxidants.
  • Cooking with herbs and spices like dried oregano, turmeric, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger supply excellent doses of antioxidants.

There are thought to be hundreds and possibly thousands of substances that can act as antioxidants. Each has its own role and can interact with others to help the body work effectively.

Examples of antioxidants that come from outside the body include:

  • vitamin A
  • vitamin C
  • vitamin E
  • anthocyanins
  • beta-carotene
  • lycopene
  • lutein
  • flavonoids
  • zeaxanthin
  • catechins
  • polyphenols

Flavonoids, flavones, catechins, polyphenols, anthocyanins, and phytoestrogens are all types of antioxidants and phytonutrients, and they are all found in plant-based foods.

Therefore, I chose to share information about anthocyanins because they benefit our microbiome, heart, eyes, brain, and our immune system.   Furthermore, this plant food is delicious and every single of my recipes is highly enjoyable, easy to prepare and packed with awesome nutrients for our whole body.