3 Antioxidant Rich Foods You Should Eat More Often

May 5, 2017

Do you want to lower inflammation, lose weight, have more energy, and prevent degenerative disease?

Then you should probably eat more colorful fruits and vegetables.

Antioxidants and Free Radicals

This is because colorful fruits and veggies contain an abundance of antioxidants. In fact, antioxidants called flavonoids are actually responsible for giving fruits and vegetables their bright colors! An antioxidant is a molecule that neutralizes free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that have become unstable due to the loss of an electron. Antioxidants stabilize free radicals by donating electrons.

Free radicals are a natural byproduct of metabolic processes. However, if the amount of free radicals in the body outnumber the amount of antioxidants, this can lead to what is called oxidative stress.

Oxidative Stress

Oxidative stress can be caused by an unhealthy diet or a toxic environment and will increase the free radical burden on the body creating the need for more antioxidants. The unfortunate fact is that most of us do not eat an optimal diet or live in an optimal environment so we could all use some more antioxidants to fight oxidative stress.

Here are 3 colorful antioxidant rich superfoods that will help you combat oxidative stress so that you can live a healthy and happy life!

Pomegranate

Pomegranate is a relatively strange thick skinned seedy fruit. It is known for its vibrant red color which is provided by its high antioxidant content. The name pomegranate is derived from the French word for seeded apple. Originally a Middle Eastern fruit, pomegranates are believed to have been brought to Egypt in 1600 BC. Throughout its history, pomegranate has not only been revered as an important food source but also used extensively for its medicinal value.

Unlike other fruits, the seeds of the pomegranate are what is typically consumed. This is because the juice a considerable source of vitamins A, C and E as well as minerals such as calcium, phosphorous, potassium, iron, folic acid, niacin, thiamin, folate, and riboflavin.

Pomegranates contain three types of antioxidant in significant amounts: tannins, anthocyanins, and ellagic acid.

Beets

Beets are well known to contain an abundance of essential vitamins and minerals. Beets help reduce inflammation, support heart health, and protect the digestive tract. Beets are also beneficial for skin, eye, and brain health.

Most of these benefits are due to the high antioxidant content of beets.

But beets also contain nitrates, which are responsible for the positive effects on the skin and the heart.

All vegetables actually contain nitrates, but beets contain around 20 times more dietary nitrates than other vegetables.

Nitrates cause your blood vessels to expand increasing blood flow. This helps keep your cardiovascular system healthy and allows blood to flow to the surface of the skin to deliver nutrients and sweep away toxins.

Beets are also a unique source of the nutrient betaine, which helps protects cells, proteins, and enzymes from environmental stress. It has also been shown to help reduce inflammation and enhance performance.

Blueberries

Folk medicine has long known that the nutritional value of blueberries far exceeds their tiny size.

A native to North America, the blueberry is notably rich in the antioxidant proanthocyanidin. This nutrient contributes to the blueberry’s impressive nutritional profile which also includes vitamin C, vitamin K, manganese, and a myriad of other antioxidants.

Blueberries are actually considered one of the most nutrient-dense foods in the world and have been given an ORAC score to back up that claim. ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, and basically indicates a food’s ability to fight oxidative stress. The ORAC score of blueberries is an impressive 9,621!

How to Get The Benefits

To benefit from the incredible nutrient density of these antioxidant rich foods, all you need to do is make an effort to include them in your diet more often. You can add blueberries to your smoothie, pomegranate to your salad, or roast beets as a side dish for dinner.

For a more convenient way to incorporate these foods into your diet, Dr. Colbert has formulated Organic Red Supremefood, which contains all three of these free radical fighting superfoods plus many other fruits, berries, probiotics, and enzymes.

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