What Are Antioxidants
Antioxidants are powerful nutrients that protect your body’s cells from oxidative damage. As a result, they boost your health in countless ways and are something you definitely want to be eating to enjoy optimal health. In this article I’ll be taking a detailed look at antioxidants, their benefits and how you can make them part of your diet.
The Role Of Antioxidants In Your Body
Oxygen is used by your body to extract and utilize the energy and nutrients within the foods you eat. However, these reactions produce a by-product called free radicals. These free radicals are extremely dangerous and damage the cells within your body. They have been linked with a number of negative symptoms including:
- Increased cancer risk
- Increased diabetes risk
- Increased signs of aging
- Weak immune system
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals and prevent them from damaging your body. Not only do they protect you against all the negative side effects of free radicals but they also allow you to get the maximum benefit from the nutrients in the foods you eat. As a result, all your vital organs will function optimally and you’ll enjoy countless related health benefits by eating a diet that’s rich in antioxidants. Some of the main benefits of filling up on antioxidants include:
- Healthy hair, nails and skin
- Increased energy levels
- Improved concentration
- Improved memory
- Improved vision
The Best Food Sources Of Antioxidants
Antioxidants are mainly found in plant based, so by eating a diet that contains plenty of fruits, nuts, seeds and vegetables, you can supply your body with high levels of these health boosting nutrients. The list below highlights some of the main antioxidants and the richest food sources of them:
- Manganese: Manganese helps the body activate enzymes and can be found in garlic, green tea and pineapples.
- Flavonoids: Flavonoids are a large group of antioxidants that support the body in multiple ways. They can be found in almost every plant based food with berries, citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables and tea being particularly rich sources.
- Vitamin A: Vitamin A’s main role in the body is to promote healthy vision. Carrots, dairy products and spinach are all excellent sources of this vitamin.
- Vitamin C: Vitamin C is responsible for the production of collagen within the body. Some of the top food sources of this antioxidant include berries, citrus fruits and peppers.
- Vitamin E:Vitamin E is a pure antioxidant and its main function is to fight free radicals within the body. It can be sourced from nuts, oils and wheat germ.
Summary
As you can see, there are lots of reasons for you to fill up on antioxidants. To get the maximum benefit from these powerful nutrients, aim to eat some of the antioxidant rich foods listed above every single day.
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