Thursday, April 19, 2018

Meals that Are Rich in Antioxidants

If you aren’t aware of the importance of antioxidants in your diet, you should be. Foods rich in antioxidants carry huge health benefits and should be consumed regularly. When you plan your meals right, it’s not hard to include plenty of foods that are high in antioxidant content.

What Are Antioxidants?

The simple answer to what antioxidants are is to say that they are molecules that work to limit and protect the body from toxins. Antioxidants include EGCG, catechin, polyphenol and flavonoids among others. Some foods contain more of these antioxidants than others, which explains why some foods are more beneficial than others. All of the antioxidants work to fight ‘free radicals’ and harmful disease; all while slowing the aging progress of the brain and the body.


Drink Your Antioxidants

One way to incorporate antioxidants into your meals is to include green tea, white tea, red wine or certain types of juices. This one simple step will give you a great start to antioxidant rich meals. Green tea and white tea contain catechins and EGCG; both are potent antioxidant ingredients. If you prefer to add juice to your meals, make sure you choose a type that includes blueberry, red grapes or acai berry and is low in sugar content. Drinking two cups of tea for breakfast, juice with lunch and red wine with dinner will have you well on your way to protecting your body and fighting disease.

Eat a Salad Every Day

There are literally thousands of salad recipes and you can easily create one to your own liking.  The secret to making sure the salad you create is high in antioxidants is to add ingredients that are naturally high in antioxidant content. Adding tomatoes, red peppers and broccoli, with a spinach or kale base, is an excellent choice. Throw in some avocado and it’s even better.

Pasta or Pizza for Dinner

Pasta and pizza are good options for dinner when you add your own healthy toppings. Tomato sauce, when you add zucchini, peppers, eggplant, green beans and carrots to it, is a great antioxidant menu item. Pizza toppings that include cherry tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, pineapple, spinach or other items become a healthy antioxidant induced meal.

Don’t Forget Snacks and Dessert

One of the foods richest in antioxidant content is dark chocolate or cocoa powder. When you combine some dark chocolate, in modest amounts, with some red wine and strawberries, you are actually indulging in something that is good for your body.

When you choose to snack on fruit instead of sugary carbohydrates, you are giving your body what it needs to fight off toxins that are damaging. Some good fruits to keep in mind are blueberries, blackberries, apples, prunes, red grapes, raspberries, strawberries and oranges.

It’s easy to pack in powerful antioxidants when you plan ahead. You can even make smoothies that include many healthy choices and drink your meals when you are short on time. Increasing your meals that are rich in antioxidants will benefit your whole family.

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