15 Clever Ways To Get More Antioxidants Into Your Diet!
Natural antioxidants are powerful compounds. They help to protect our cells from free radical damage. Not only can antioxidants prevent cancer and heart disease, but they also help to protect cells and DNA which are susceptible to damage caused by toxins and pollution. Below we have compiled a list of the 15 best ways to get more antioxidants into your diet. Take a look!
1. Drink Fruit Juice.
Fruit juice is a fantastic source of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. When you drink fruit juice in moderation, it can certainly be part of a balanced diet. For the best results, be aware of any additives in the juice you choose to drink. Remember that juices which contain 100 percent natural fruit are best for fighting free radical damage.
You can find the highest amount of antioxidants in pomegranate, concord grape and blueberry juices. Pomegranate juice actually outranks all other drinks in antioxidant strength by 20 percent!
2. Add Berries To Your Cereal.
Studies have shown this amazing fact: Just one cup of berries can provide all the antioxidants you need for a whole day! That’s a lot of disease-fighting power packed into a small space! If you enjoy cereal for breakfast, why not toss in a cup of blueberries, blackberries or strawberries? These three types are the most antioxidant-rich berries you can eat. If you’re feeling extra creative, toss in a mix of all three! The best news of all is that berries can be purchased frozen and are generally available in stores all year round.
3. Make A Veggie Pizza.
Pizza is good for you? When it’s topped with antioxidant-rich veggies it sure is! Start with a whole wheat crust, and toss some broccoli on it. Broccoli contains antioxidants that have been known to reduce the risk of breast cancer. Next, slice up some tomatoes and add those. Packed with lycopene, which is an antioxidant that is thought to stop tumor growth, tomatoes are an excellent choice. Add kale, the superman of antioxidant-rich food. Last add garlic, which has age-fighting, cancer-kicking, heart disease-stopping antioxidants. Viola! Pizza just became one of the best foods you can eat!
4. Eat Your Beans.
How about this fact: Just one-half cup of kidney beans has 13,259 antioxidants! Other types of beans such as pinto beans and black beans are also high in antioxidants. Not only that, but beans are also low in calories, cholesterol and fat. They are packed with fiber and B vitamins, which are both great for you. So put some in a burrito, toss them into your salad, or mix them with rice… beans are an antioxidant bomb!
5. Try Black Rice.
Believe it or not, black rice contains an even larger amount of antioxidants than blueberries! The antioxidants in black rice have been shown to reduce bad cholesterol and possibly fight heart disease. Instead of grabbing a bag of white or brown rice next time you are at the grocery store, pick up some black rice and give it a try!
6. Use Pieces Of Pineapple In A Chicken Kebab.
The next time you get a craving for grilled chicken, put it on a kebab with some pieces of pineapple. Just one piece of pineapple contains 131 percent of daily vitamin C. The antioxidant found in vitamin C has been shown to decrease the risk of hypertension. When combined with other vitamins like vitamin A and vitamin E, it also helps to prevent eye problems.
7. Cook An Egg.
The antioxidants in eggs may help reduce the risk of heart disease and cancer. Not only will you get a large amount of disease-fighting compounds from eggs, but eating them will also help you curb hunger, and have great skin!
8. Eat Tomatoes.
Tomatoes have a powerful antioxidant in them known as lycopene. Lycopene promotes bone health and is even said to stop tumor growth. So have some sauce on your pasta, cut up a tomato in your salad or put one on your turkey sandwich.
9. Instead Of Butter, Use Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Olive oil is one of the only foods that contains an antioxidant known as hydroxytyrosol. Hydroxytyrosol is the most powerful antioxidant found so far. So rather than buttering your bread, dip in it olive oil flavored with some oregano. Your cells will thank you!
10. Stock Up On Broccoli.
The antioxidants in broccoli are known to have cancer preventing properties. Eat it steamed, raw dipped in hummus or chopped up in a salad!
11. Spread Some Peanut Butter On Your Toast.
Peanuts and peanut butter are very high in antioxidants and they contain fats that are good for you. You can also put peanut butter in shakes or smoothies for some extra flavor and a boost of good health!
12. Bake A Sweet Potato.
One of the richest sources of antioxidants is a sweet potato. Sweet potatoes not only taste delicious, but they are super for your heart and help prevent cancer. Top a baked sweet potato with cinnamon to delight your taste buds!
13. Make A Bowl Of Oatmeal.
Oatmeal is chock full of antioxidants which help promote cardiovascular health. Eating oatmeal also helps lower your cholesterol and stabilize your blood sugar. Toss some berries into your oatmeal for a double punch of antioxidants!
14. Eat Kale.
The superfood known as kale surely makes our list! Kale contains a particular antioxidant that has been shown to lower glucose levels. Kale also helps to prevent cancer and heart disease while protecting bone health. Eat it steamed, raw, or even bake it to make nutritious kale chips!
15. Cook Up Some Chicken.
The protein in chicken is made up of amino acids. Amino acids then help to create one of the strongest antioxidants in the body called glutathione, which protects cells from damage. There are endless ways to prepare chicken. You can put it on a kebob with fruit for an antioxidant double up, or prepare it with broccoli for the same result.
Featured Image:
YouMayEat.com
