If you want to eliminate dangerous free radicals in your body’s cells, it is essential to consume foods that contain antioxidants.
This nutritional substance prevents oxidation, helping to reduce illnesses along with maintaining a youthful appearance.
By protecting your body’s cells with antioxidants, researchers believe that you can prevent health conditions such as cancer. While shopping for groceries make sure to look for foods rich in antioxidants.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes have richly colored skin and flesh, indicating this food is high in antioxidants. Most tomatoes are red, but you can also find orange or yellow varieties. While tomatoes are actually a fruit, most cooks use it as a vegetable:
– Spaghetti sauce
– Tomato juice
– Tomato soup
– Diced tomatoes
– Salsa
It is easy to consume several servings of tomatoes each week because it is a versatile food.
Dark Leafy Green Vegetables
You can find numerous types of dark leafy green vegetables you can eat raw in salads or on sandwiches, and there are dark leafy green vegetables you must cook to eat. Some dark leafy green vegetables are kept fresh in the produce aisle of supermarkets while other types are frozen, making it easy to store the foods in your freezer. Here is a list of popular dark leafy green vegetables:
– Brussels sprouts
– Spinach
– Kale
– Broccoli
– Turnip greens
– Romaine lettuce
Plan to eat dark leafy greens on a daily basis to ingest valuable antioxidants.
Beans
Beans are an important source of plant-based protein and antioxidants. You can cook canned beans (rinse prior to use), or you might prefer dried beans instead. There are several varieties of tasty beans that you can use in soups, salads and side dishes:
– Black beans
– Kidney beans
– Pinto beans
– Navy beans
– Butter beans
Beans are also high in fiber, helping to satiate your appetite faster.
Nuts
Nuts contain a lot of calories but have antioxidants that can protect your body’s cells. Remember a portion of nuts is small, you can eat this food as a snack or add it to baked goods:
– Walnuts
– Pecans
– Almonds
– Cashews
– Hazelnuts
You can find fresh nuts in the shell, or you can buy processed nuts in small pieces or slivers.
Fruit
Instead of eating a sweet pastry for dessert after a meal, choose fruit that contains vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. You can find a variety of fresh or frozen:
– Strawberries
– Cherries
– Grapes
– Oranges
– Plums
– Raspberries
– Apples
Experts recommend eating several servings of fruit each day. An apple or a few grapes are perfect snacks. As you begin to eat more antioxidant-rich foods, you will notice how much healthier you feel on a daily basis.