10 antioxidants you should incorporate in your diet right now

Did you know? Taking a regular dose of antioxidants is the best way to fortify your body, increase your immunity levels and keep you fit.

Living on the fast lane coupled with pollution, junk food, smoking, and general lack of a healthy lifestyle is leading to life-threatening diseases. It is really important that we find a way to fortify ourselves. This is where having antioxidants can help. Read on to know more…

The scary truth…

Our bodies naturally produce dangerous molecules called free radicals which are linked to various ailments such as cancer, Alzheimer, Parkinson’s disease, etc. When we are healthy, the antioxidants in our body are able to neutralize these dangerous molecules thus protecting us from falling ill.

Unfortunately, in most cases, free radicals produced by our bodies far exceed the number of antioxidants. In fact, body’s production of antioxidant naturally declines as we age.

What do we do to combat this state?

We must maintain the balance with a continual supply of antioxidants mainly through your diet. Taking a regular dose through food is the best way to fortify your body. This will increase your immunity levels and will keep you fit.

What Are Antioxidants?

Simply put, antioxidants are nutrients that hinder the production of these destructive molecules in the body.  They are without a shadow of a doubt, essential to good health.

Here is a glance at 10 antioxidants we can incorporate in our diet right away:

Vitamin E: As a crucial fat-soluble, vitamin E is required for the proper functioning of many organs, preventing heart diseases and high blood pressure, etc. It is found in wheat germ, nuts, legumes, some oils and is available as a supplement.

Dark chocolate : Yummy, now we are talking…dark chocolate is rich in the antioxidant flavonoids reducing the incidents of cancer, asthma, heart ailments, etc. In fact, just a small bite is enough.

Leafy Greens: Leafy green vegetables such as spinach, cabbage, coriander, etc., contain essential phytochemicals that counter the result of cancer spiking cells.

Green tea: We all know by now that green tea is high antioxidant properties and good for our health. It can prevent the beginning of certain cancers including pancreatic, breast, lung, etc. This magic drink is also known to reduce the risk of inflammatory diseases such as asthma.

Cloves: Spices such as ground cloves are not just flavourful, but also have high content of antioxidant. Other antioxidant-rich spices include turmeric, garlic, ginger as well as cinnamon.

Brinjals: All types of baigans are rich in goodness and are loaded with numerous other nutrients, which protects against the build up of life-threatening plaque in our artery. This modest vegetable is also known to lower cholesterol and balance blood pressure.

Berries: We are talking about all types of berries here.  While blueberry earns the title that leads the pack as having the highest antioxidant levels among berries, you can count in cranberry, blueberry, strawberry, etc., to do the trick.  They all are excellent sources of polyphenols and essential nutrients. So whether fresh or juiced, we say drink it up.

Grapes and raisins: Dark coloured grapes are best known to prevent certain types of cancers. The high levels of antioxidant in red grapes, black plums and black raisins are known to do their jobs of lowering risk of heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes.  Not to forget, pomegranates and cherries are also known to contain high antioxidant levels.

Nuts: Nuts, especially walnuts, are an excellent supply of antioxidants polyphenols. You can throw in cashews, badam, pista for a better effect.

Kidney beans: Rajma or kidney beans have been a staple for years in Indian kitchens. These humble legumes contain high amounts of antioxidants. Have rajma chawal more often!

Oranges: Oranges, like other citrus fruits, are offer great amounts of Vitamin-C, a potent antioxidant. It increases your resistance against infections and other harmful scavengers.

So we say, with a little bit of alteration in your diet, you can get all the antioxidants you want. And we suggest to do it fast…