Antioxidants Diet

Knowing what antioxidants are and why they are important in the diet with regards to overall health and wellness, plus also knowing what foods are high in antioxidants can help everyone eat better and smarter. There are actually a wide range of different types of foods, many which are common items in the daily diet, that are high in antioxidants and provide a great number of health benefits for your body.

There is a misconception that the very highest amount of antioxidants is found in tea and, in particular, in green tea. While green tea is very high in antioxidants, there is one food item that actually has a higher content. Believe it or not, dark chocolate is the winner of the high antioxidant food category. It important to understand that this refers only to dark chocolate, and does not include milk chocolates or white chocolates. Dark chocolate is produced from the cocoa bean and is in the purest and least diluted form, which is why dark chocolate is so rich and distinct in flavor. Although high in antioxidants, eating large quantities of dark chocolate isn't healthy either - just a small amount in the diet is beneficial. Dark chocolate contains flavonols, which are a type of flavinoid. Further breaking down the types of antioxidants in dark chocolate you will find procyanidins, epicatechins and catechins, this last one being the same antioxidant found in green tea.

Berries have long been recognized as a healthy addition to the diet, but now researchers and nutritionists know why. Berries, particularly strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries and kiwi fruit, provide a large amount of antioxidants to the diet, plus they also add fiber, vitamins and great taste. Consider eating berries on your cereal or as a dessert rather than cake or pie. Berries also make an easy to carry snack for kids and are simple to have at your desk for between meal cravings.

Many vegetables are also high antioxidant food types and generally they include the green leafy vegetables. Some good examples of high antioxidant content vegetables include green and red cabbage, kale, spinach, broccoli and cauliflower. All of these vegetables are in the cruciferous group of vegetables along with bok choy, and Brussels sprouts. Eating these vegetables on a daily basis, or even adding one or two servings per week in addition to your regular diet, will help increase the amount of antioxidants available for your body to use.

Whenever planning to add more high antioxidant foods to your diet, be sure to do so reasonably and slowly, not all at once. In addition don't only eat foods that are high antioxidant foods, you also need to consume complex carbohydrates such as whole grains, brown rice and cereals; proteins such as lean meats and fish, as well as other vegetables and fruits. Keep in mind that eating in balance helps your body with vitamins and minerals that are also necessary in the production of antioxidants as well as in overall health.

About the Author:

Terry Roberts is a professional translator and linguist with a wide range of hobbies. His website,
Healthful Living Today
, gives great advice for everyone - don't miss his
Top Ten Antioxidant Food Sources
.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Do You Know Which Foods Are High in Antioxidants?

Acai triple strength 3000mg for diet natural antioxidants and flavonoids120 soft $19.99

acai triple strength 3000mg for diet natural antioxidants and flavonoids120 soft $25.99

2X Green Tea Extract 60% Polyphenols 500mg 120 Caps Antioxidant Weight Loss Diet $12.95

---

ALKALINE HYDROGEN WATER STICK -TRAVEL SIZE $6.99 The Portable Alkaline Hydrogen Water Pen changes bottled water (reverse osmosis preferred) into high pH, antioxidant, Alkaline micro-clustered (small water molecules. Up to 6 times more Hydrating), oxygenated alkaline drinking water Great for Everyday use and Traveling! Improve's taste of water! Good for your pets too. The most powerful yet! Need energy?? Better Sleep?? Dragging?? Health Issues?? ...

Living Water Alkaline Water Ionizer with Patented DDI Technology $1,999.95 Drinking enough water isn't really enough. You have to drink the right kind of water that will help buffer acid, help remove toxins, and is easily absorbed by your body. You need great tasting water with antioxidant properties and proper pH levels. Having a LivingWater is like owning a limitless supply of alkaline, ionized, healthy water. You get healthy alkaline water for drinking and cooking, st...

60 Tablets of CardiO2 Dietary Supplement with Powerful Antioxidants for Healthy Blood Flow by Nature Made Nature Made CardiO2 is a unique dietary supplement blend of powerful antioxidants and a source of Nitric Oxide to promote healthy blood flow and cardiovascular health. The importance of Nitric Oxide is based on several decades of research by Prize Winning Science. Nitric Oxide has been shown to help maintain blood pressure already in the normal range, and to promote healthy blood flow and cardiova...

---