An Antioxidant Nutrition Plan
As if staying healthy and fit weren’t reason enough to eat a good diet full of fruits and vegetables, the added benefits from antioxidant nutrition means there is no excuse not to have those brightly colored foods on your plate. When you choose a food that contains an antioxidant (or a few!), you can increase your overall health since antioxidants can help prevent a number of ailments. Even though you might be eating some foods because you simply like them, you may be pleased to find out that those foods contain additional antioxidant nutrition that can help you in the long run. These super foods include:
- Berries and other dark blue/purple fruits. Red grapes, blueberries, and other dark fruits contain antioxidants that fight free radicals. This has been noted in studies about red wine’s effects on the heart, as well as in the newly popular acai berry juice blends. These antioxidant nutrition boosting fruits are believed to help combat such ailments as cancer, heart disease, and ulcers.
- Citrus fruits. The bitter taste in grapefruit comes from an antioxidant called naringin. Naringin improves overall nutrition by potentially lowering LDL, or "bad", cholesterol, as well as by lowering stress levels. Since stress on its own can cause a number of serious ailments, this antioxidant provides a great defense against health problems.
- Tomatoes. This red fruit contains an antioxidant called lycopene. Studies have shown that lycopene may play a role in preventing certain cancers, like lung cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer.
- And More!
To find out more about which foods can boost your antioxidant nutrition, talk to your doctor. He or she will be able to point you in the right direction if you are trying to improve your antioxidant nutrition by way of eating antioxidant-rich foods or whether you may need an antioxidants supplement. You should also contact your doctor just to make sure that added antioxidants will not interfere with any medications you may be taking.
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