What are the best antioxidant rich vegetables and fruits? Below is a selection of antioxidant food based on their health benefits.
Your health and the appearance of the skin will improve by eating a variety of these antioxidants.
1. Avocados
Avocado is one of my favorite antioxidant vegetables, I just love the taste!
And is one of the most beneficial for the skin, too. Avocados are originally from Latin America, and were brought to Europe by the Spanish.
Their main components are water and good fats. Is high in calories, so try to eat less if you are keeping an eye on your figure.
Avocados have many health benefits, they are high in monounsaturated fats, which are good to prevent the arteries from clogging. This green super food also contains fibber, potassium and folic acid.
Health benefits of avocados
2. Tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of the best antioxidants and are considered fruits-vegetables because their sugar content is superior than other vegetables.
Tomatoes are mainly water and are very low in calories, which is excellent if you are trying to loose weight.
This natural antioxidant food is a good source of vitamin C and the essential antioxidant alpha-lipoic-acid.
Tomatoes also contain "lycopene" which are antioxidant red pigments, that protect the organism from some forms of cancer, such as prostate cancer and heart related conditions.
Lycopene from tomatoes is better absorbed by the body, if is processed or cooked (fry, roast, sauce).
So
eating pizzas, tomato ketchup, pasta and food containing tomatoes will
boost your antioxidant levels, just try to eat healthier versions, as
processed food is full of preservatives and high in calories.
3. Broccoli
Broccoli is really an antioxidant rich vegetable, packed with nutrients that have enormous benefits for the organism. Broccoli is rich in vitamin c, folate, potassium, magnesium, zinc, vitamin b, vitamin k & fibber.
Health benefits of broccoli include:
4. Peppers
Peppers
are also antioxidant rich vegetables with a variety of colours: yellow,
green, red, orange. Peppers are originally from Latin America, and
their main component is water, so they are very low in calories.
Peppers,
especially the red ones, are an excellent source of vitamin C, having
even more vitamin c content than citrus fruits and strawberries.
This antioxidant vegetables are also a good source of vitamin A, vitamin E and vitamins B such as B1, B2, B3, B6. Peppers contain phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, calcium.
Health benefits of peppers
5. Garlic
Garlic form part of the antioxidant rich vegetables list because they have many health benefits.
The phytochemicals that garlic contain protects the organism from:
Garlic is widely used in the Mediterranean diet to improve dishes flavor, just don't eat too much or vampires won't be the only ones running away from you.
6. Carrots
Antioxidant rich vegetables like carrots are loaded with carotenoids which give them their orange colour.
Carrots content potent antioxidants, which protect our body from several diseases, and our skin from external factors such as sunlight. Their main content is water, which means that carrots are very low in calories.
Carrots help to moisturize the skin and intensify suntan. These antioxidant vegetables are rich in vitamin A.
Health benefits of carrots
7. Cabbage
Cabbage is a cruciferos vegetable typical of the winter months, with plenty of antioxidants. Is rich in vitamins, minerals, water and fibber.
In their composition we can find "sulphur compounds", which are potent antioxidants, and responsible for the characteristic smell of the cabbage when is cooked.
Cabbage is rich in vitamin C, and in lower amounts in vitamin A and potassium, sodium, calcium, iron. Researchers have found that consuming cabbage regularly, diminish the risk of colon and breast cancer.
Health benefits:
Very low in calories, cabbage can be prepared in many ways.
Incorporate as many as you can of these antioxidant rich vegetables in your daily diet and you will improve your health and skin in no time.
If you are in need of antioxidant vegetables try V8 100% Vegetable Juice. A fast and sure way to incorporate your daily intake of antioxidants into your daily diet.
Make your best smoothies ever with the great ideas contained on the recipe book below:
Incorporating the best antioxidant fruits in our diet is essential if we want to remain healthy and active for longer. If you find difficult eating your five a day just try to add them to salads, soups, yogurts, desserts, cereals, porridge or have them as a juice or smoothie.
And remember that is better to eat some than none at all, so try to eat what you can.
1. Berries
All berries have a high amount of antioxidants, especially cranberries, blackberries and blueberries.
Berries are often referred as super-foods and recommended in many healthy diets to help fight several diseases and to improve some skin conditions.
Researchers in US advise to drink one to three glasses of blueberry juice a day, to reduce the risk of some types of cancers, and heart related conditions.
Berries are also beneficial for:
You can see why berries are considered top antioxidant food. They can be prepared in many ways and added to cereals and yogurts.
Berries are also very low in calories, good for people watching their weight, and with all its anti aging power you really have no excuse.
2. Grapes
Grapes are one of the best antioxidant fruits. There are around 3000 different types of grapes worldwide.
Grapes contain up to twenty antioxidants, and are a good source of minerals and vitamins, especially vitamin B6, vitamin C and vitamin E.
Grapes contain a substance called "resveratrol" which lowers the risk of heart related conditions and is used as an skin care ingredient in many cosmetics.
This top antioxidant food also contain "flavonoids", and "elagic acid" which are antioxidants that help the body fight age related diseases and cancer.
Grapes are also good for:
Grapes are high in calories so be careful if you are watching your weight. You can drink their juice, or have a glass of red wine daily.
3. Citrus
Citrus fruits like lemons, oranges, nectarines, grapefruits, limes... are and excellent source of vitamin c and have great anti-aging power.
Citrus fruits boost the immune system, and are essential in a healthy diet, especially in winter, to protect us from colds and infections.
These antioxidant fruits are also beneficial for:
Eating one or two pieces of citrus fruits every day, will help you keep colds at bay and will improve aging skin.
4. Papaya
Papaya is another exquisite top antioxidant food and an exotic fruit. Is full of vitamins such as vitamin a, vitamin C, folic acid and vitamin E.
Papayas also contain fibber, potassium, magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and lycope.
These fruits will feed your skin inside out, leaving you with softer and younger looking skin.
Papayas also contain the enzyme "papain", which breaks down protein and helps with food digestion.
The health benefits in Papayas are:
5. Prunes
Prunes are the dry version of plums, and one of the best antioxidant fruits. Prunes are a very good source of fibber, and often recommended for constipation. They contain compounds called "phenols", which have and antioxidant effect.
This healthy food is also rich in vitamin a (beta-carotene) protecting the body from:
Dry fruit also have an important antioxidant activity, but they have a high sugar content, so just be careful if you are watching your weight.