You’ve probably heard that antioxidants are really important for your health, but do you know exactly what they do? There are different antioxidants and some of them are known for giving fruits and vegetables their distinctive colors.
For example, lycopene is found in red fruits and veggies, and beta-carotene is what gives carrots and other orange and yellow fruits and veggies their color. They are not just another pretty face, however.
The benefits of antioxidants extend to pretty much every area of your health and they can protect you against some pretty scary stuff. Here’s what you need to know about what antioxidants can do for your body and why you need to make sure you eat foods that contain them!
Antioxidants are important for good health. But what do they really do? Find out why antioxidants are such a big deal, and how to get more on the reg!
Fighting free radicals
One of the most important roles that antioxidants play involves free radicals. When cells use oxygen, free radicals are a natural byproduct. They may be natural but unfortunately, they can be pretty dangerous if there are enough of them in your body.
They’ve linked a host of health conditions, including heart disease and cancer. You’ll hear a lot about oxidative stress in relationship to antioxidants. This is what happens when there is an imbalance between the number of free radicals that are roaming your body and the ability that your body has to cancel out their effects.
Antioxidants give your body more power to affect this balance and make free radicals less damaging.
The real problems start with oxidization. This is the same process that helps cuts to heal and turns apples brown when they’re exposed to air but it’s a lot more of a problem where free radicals are concerned.
When oxidized cholesterol gets a “hit” from free radicals, it is much more likely to find its way into the walls of your arteries. From there, it sets the scene for plaque to become an issue. And that raises the risk of blocked arteries and heart attacks.
Antioxidants help to give this story a happier ending. In big enough numbers, they can mean that less cholesterol is oxidized.
Cutting your cancer risk
Because free radicals are so unstable and volatile, they can be very harmful to cells and can damage cell DNA. This can encourage them to become cancerous. Fighting free radicals can also mean that antioxidants reduce your risk of some cancers.
Carotenoids, in particular, are a great choice and studies are continuing to find anti-cancer qualities linked to them. You’ll find these in yellow and orange fruits and vegetables.
Keeping your eyes healthy
Several antioxidants are really important for keeping your eyes healthy. While they won’t help you to see better, they can play a role in protecting against macular degeneration and other conditions that can affect your vision.
Carotenoids are important here too. This includes beta-carotene (which the body turns into vitamin A) and lutein. Both of these help to protect your eyes against the damaging effects of free radicals, which can otherwise be a factor in your eye health.
Studies have shown that women aged under 75 could as much as halve their risk of macular degeneration if their diet includes plenty of carotenoids, especially antioxidants such as lutein and zeaxanthin.
Carrots, leafy greens, kiwi and honeydew melon and peas are all great choices, along with eggs.
Keeping your skin healthy
Tart cherries are a great source of melatonin. We often associate this with sleep but it can also have antioxidant qualities that protect your skin against the effects of UV rays from the sun.
If you do get sunburned, it also helps skin to heal more quickly by triggering production of new skin cells.
Protecting against arthritis
Oranges, mangoes, peaches, and watermelon are all rich in an antioxidant called beta-cryptoxanthin. According to a study from the UK, this antioxidant can help to protect against arthritis and can make you up to 40% less likely to be affected by it.
What to eat to get antioxidants into your diet
Lots of fruits and veggies are packed full of antioxidants but you’ll also find them in other foods too. These are some of the foods to eat more of to reap the benefits of antioxidants:
- Prunes
- Plums
- Red grapes
- Raisins
- Blueberries
- Blackberries
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Cranberries
- Cherries
- Mangoes
- Peaches
- Oranges and other citrus fruits
- Pomegranates
- Melon and watermelon
- Goji berries
- Kiwi
- Leafy greens
- Carrots
- Dark chocolate
- Garlic
- Spices such as cinnamon, turmeric, cumin, and cayenne pepper
- Herbs such as oregano, parsley, basil and thyme
Combining certain foods can make antioxidants even more powerful. Eating raspberries, pomegranates or cranberries with apples or grapes helps to make the antioxidant, quercetin, have stronger effects against cancerous cells, according to a study published in the Journal of Nutrition.
Our goal is to have you eat a rainbow every day! Seven fruits and vegetables in a rainbow of colors give you the variety and quantity you need to impact your overall well-being.
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