The Skinny on Antioxidants
If you take a stroll through a health food store or down any produce aisle, you’ll be sure to see signs and labels touting certain foods’ high levels of antioxidants. But what exactly is an antioxidant, and why are they good for you?
What is an antioxidant?
Antioxidants are nutrients and substances that slow and prevent a specific type of damage to the body. This damage, known as oxidative damage, is caused whenever cells in our bodies use oxygen. As oxygen is used, our bodies’ cells create harmful by-products called free radicals that can cause damage to bodily functions and processes.
Antioxidants essentially hunt down free radicals and repair any damage that they cause.
What does oxidative damage cause?
Oxidative damage can contribute to a large number of debilitating health problems. A few of the conditions that oxidative damage and free radicals can be partially responsible for are heart disease, diabetes, cancer and a vision-impairing condition called macular degeneration.
What do antioxidants do?
Antioxidants work to enhance the body’s immune system. Recent studies have shown that eating five servings of fruits and vegetables daily can reduce the risk of having a stroke by 25 percent. Antioxidants can also lower the body’s risk of infection and cancer.
Good sources for antioxidants
Antioxidants are available in almost all fresh fruits and vegetables. If you’re looking to maintain a diet rich in antioxidants, a good tip is to try and eat as many brightly colored fruits and vegetables as possible.
This list provides some excellent sources for many of the most powerful and well-known antioxidants.
Vitamin A
- Apricots
- Broccoli
- Cantaloupe
- Carrots
- Collards
- Kale
- Peaches
- Squash
- Sweet Potatoes
- Tomatoes
Vitamin C
- Broccoli
- Citrus fruits
- Green leafy vegetables
- Strawberries
- Tomatoes
Vitamin E
- Green leafy vegetables
- Liver oil
- Nuts
- Seeds
- Vegetable oil
- Whole grains
Selenium
- Chicken
- Eggs
- Fish
- Garlic
- Grains
- Red meat
- Shellfish
