![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Broccoli.jpg\")
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Chances are that you have heard the term antioxidants. In fact, you likely already know that they are good for you and something that you should be including in your diet. However, you may not know exactly what the term antioxidant means or what exactly that they do. Anti means against and oxidant refers to something that will chemically combine with oxygen. This means that antioxidants prevent oxidation. When there are free radicals within the body they can cause a chain reaction that causes damage to the cells. Antioxidants will neutralize free radicals through the donation of an electron. This makes both the free radical and the antioxidant stable so no chain reactions will begin. This is why it is important to add foods that are rich in antioxidants to your diet. Here are 25 antioxidant foods to help get you started.<\/p>\n
Your mom knew what she was doing when she told you to eat your broccoli. Broccoli<\/a> is considered to be a superfood as it has a ton of vitamins and other nutrients to help keep your body healthy. There is also a good amount of fiber and protein found in broccoli. Getting protein from vegetable sources is good for your overall nutrition. In addition, broccoli is also a great source of antioxidants.<\/p>\n Broccoli contains a good amount of antioxidants that can help to prevent disease. One of the best things about broccoli is that it is a great side dish for any meal. It can be eaten raw or steamed, and it can even be included in many healthy main dishes. This makes it easy to add to your diet. In fact, the more research that is done on broccoli, the healthier it is found to be. So listen to your mom and eat your broccoli! When you walk through the produce section there is a good chance that you simply walk right by the apricots. However, you really should stop and put some in your cart. When you eat an apricot you will get a decent amount of both Vitamin A and C. However, the most impressive thing about apricots is the high amount of lycopene. Lycopene is the antioxidant that is often heard about in relation to the amount found in tomatoes.<\/p>\n The simple color of apricots indicates that the fruit contains this powerful antioxidant. While apricots<\/a> do not have as much lycopene as tomatoes it is definitely a fruit that should be added to your regular diet. Try apricots plain or added to a fun fruit salad. There are many great ways to eat this sweet fruit and your body is going to rejoice at the nutrients that you are providing it. One of the top berries that you can eat if you are looking to add some antioxidants to your diet is raspberries. Raspberries<\/a> have an extremely high amount of anthocyanins and phenols. Each of these antioxidants is known for its anti-cancer benefits. In addition, these antioxidants have anti-inflammatory properties. If you are suffering from excessive heartburn or have other issues associated with inflammation, it is a good idea to add some raspberries to your diet as they can help with these symptoms.<\/p>\n When purchasing raspberries it is best to choose organic berries. The chemicals and pesticides that are often used on non-organic raspberries can actually negate or counteract the antioxidant content of the berries as they will introduce free radicals into the body. This is exactly what you are trying to avoid, which is why it is important to choose organically and if possible locally grown berries that have not been sprayed or altered with chemicals of any kind. When you hear about fruits that are high in antioxidants, chances are that you immediately think of blueberries<\/a>. However, while blueberries do rank as one of the highest amounts of antioxidants per ounce, cherries have nearly as high of a rank. For this reason, cherries should be considered on the same level as blueberries and should be added to your diet if you are looking to increase your intake of antioxidants.<\/p>\n Cherries contain phytonutrients and they are in a form, which can be easily absorbed by the body. When possible it is best to buy cherries that are organic. It is also best to eat cherries raw for the best benefits. Cherry juice that is organic can also provide the same nutritional benefits. While you may get benefits from baking or cooking cherries, a lot of the nutrients will be depleted during the cooking process. One look at the redness of a watermelon<\/a> and it is easy to see that they are full of antioxidants. Watermelon is a great summertime treat that offers a large antioxidant content. Lycopene, which is the same antioxidant that provides tomatoes with their color is what makes a watermelon a smart summertime snack. Not only will you get a good dose of antioxidants from eating watermelon, but you will also get a ton of minerals and vitamins in each serving that you eat.<\/p>\n Make sure that you keep your portion size of watermelon small because this fruit also has a good amount of sugar and can spike the glucose levels in your blood. While it is not known whether a seedless watermelon or a seeded watermelon offers more antioxidants, but since seeded watermelons are often a deeper red color it is suggested that they have a higher concentration of lycopene. Artichokes<\/a> have a great number of antioxidants. In fact, they rank as high as many fruits that are popular for having high antioxidant values such as cherries, blueberries, and raspberries. It is important to note that how you eat artichokes is important. Artichoke and spinach dip is not the best nutritional option, even though both spinach and artichokes have a high amount of antioxidants.<\/p>\n Instead, consider throwing some artichokes on the grill. They make a great side dish or can even be the main dish of any meal. The meatier roman style is larger and has more of a stem, which provides even more nutrients. These types of artichokes are great for salad toppers. If you add them to a spinach or kale salad you will be filling up on a ton of antioxidants in a single meal and your body is going to thank you for it. When you think of oranges<\/a> your mind will likely go to the amount of vitamin C that this fruit contains. In fact, chances are that you have taken a vitamin C supplement at some point in time as a way to help fight off a cold or other illness. The truth is, vitamin C is a wonderful antioxidant that is known for helping to boost the immune system.<\/p>\n While taking a vitamin C supplement offers one way to get this antioxidant into your body, a better option is to simply eat foods that are high in this vitamin. Eating oranges are a great way to make sure that your body is getting enough vitamin C and helping to ensure that your immune system stays healthy. Oranges are a great snack during the day as they offer a great pick me up. In addition, they can be used as a carb to balance out a meal. Eat your spinach! There are many health benefits provided by this green leafy vegetable. Spinach<\/a> offers a number of nutrients. It contains high amounts of protein and fiber, which can help your digestive system. In addition, spinach has a high amount of antioxidants. Beta carotene is one of the nutrients found in spinach and it can help with your eyesight and can also help to fend off any damage that has been done by any free radicals.<\/p>\n The great thing about spinach is that it can be eaten in a number of different ways. You can use it as a base for a salad or even mix it up in a smoothie. If you do not like the taste of spinach, try adding it to one of your favorite recipes that use other seasonings and ingredients to make the taste more palatable to you. There are tons of ways to use spinach and cooked or raw, it offers a great many health benefits. Many people tend to only think about eating cranberries<\/a> during the holiday season. However, it is a good idea to add them to your diet throughout the year. Cranberries have a high amount of antioxidants. In addition, they are fairly versatile food that can be prepared in many different ways. You should avoid dried cranberries as they tend to have a lot of sugar added.<\/p>\n Sugar is known to help free radicals form, which means that eating food that have a high amount of sugar is counterproductive when you are trying to add antioxidants to your diet. If you do not like the tart taste of the fruit, you can offset it by adding them to other berries and fruits that are sweeter. Adding other fruits and berries can also increase the number of antioxidants that you are consuming, so it is really a win\/win. While many foods on this list are fruits, there are several vegetables and spices that have high amounts of antioxidants as well. Kidney beans<\/a> are a good example of an antioxidant-rich vegetable. Kidney beans have a high amount of minerals and vitamins that will affect the antioxidants in the body. Red beans can have the same effect.<\/p>\n The main reason that kidney beans are on this list is because of the high amount of manganese. Manganese is important for helping the body to produce and to maintain its level of antioxidants. Beans can be used as a side dish, in the main course, and they can even be added to a salad. No matter how you decide to eat them, it is important to make sure that you add some kidney or red beans to your diet because of their high nutritional value. <\/p>\n Indian gooseberries<\/a> offer a very high amount of important antioxidants. Indian gooseberries are also called amla berries and should not be confused with some of the other gooseberries that are found around the world. These berries do not grow on a bush but are found on trees. The trees that the Indian gooseberries are found on can grow to be up to sixty feet high.<\/p>\n They are found throughout the subtropical south and also throughout Southeast Asia. Indian gooseberries cannot be purchased fresh in the United States. Instead, you can purchase Indian gooseberry powder. You can use this powder in shakes and smoothies. This powder can be found at a reputable online seller. There are also several specialty grocery stores that also carry the powder. It is definitely a product that you want to look into if you want to increase the number of antioxidants that you consume. Did you know that adding a simple spice to your food can do wonders? One of the spices that not only add some flavor to your food but antioxidants as well as oregano. The next time you are scarfing down some great Italian food or going for that third piece of pizza, you can tell your critics that you have a reason.<\/p>\n Oregano <\/a>offers a rich source of great antioxidants. Fresh oregano has a high amount of antioxidants, but the dried version has a higher concentration because the water has been removed. Eating fresh foods is often recommended, but when it comes to herbs and spices, dried is often a better choice as removing the water content increases the concentration of nutrients and antioxidants. So, the next time that you are cooking some Italian food, make sure that you are heavy on the oregano! Your body will thank you for it. <\/p>\n The baobab tree is found in many areas of Africa. It can be easily recognized if you happen to visit any area where it grows. However, what many people do not realize is that the baobab fruit has a really high amount of antioxidants. In fact, this fruit ranks near the top of the charts when it comes to the number of antioxidants that it contains. When compared to an orange, the amount of vitamin C contains over 600 percent more vitamin C.<\/p>\n When it comes to calcium<\/a>, the fruit contains almost 200 percent more than what is found in regular cow\u2019s milk. It also contains one of the highest amounts of fiber. This makes it the perfect choice for those that are dieting. While you cannot purchase fresh baobab fruit, you can actually purchase the powder that is made from it. In fact, this is how it is often eaten by the people of Africa. Are you looking for another great spice that can easily be added to your meals and provide you with antioxidants as well as other important nutrients? Rosemary is a good choice. When it comes to antioxidants, spices such as rosemary are often the easiest and the best way to add important antioxidants to your food. They can easily be added to almost any type of meal and not only to add flavor. Rosemary is a great herb that you can easily grow yourself. You can add it to meals and reap all of the benefits.<\/p>\n If you purchase rosemary<\/a>, the dried herb will offer the most bang for your buck as you can purchase a large amount of the herb for very little money. It is best to consume rosemary cooked as it can be quite tough to chew. Adding it to potatoes is a popular choice. You can also add it to pizza and even fish. Rosemary can even be used in desserts such as cookies. Eating a candy cane is not going to provide you with the antioxidants that you are looking for. However, there are a lot of antioxidants found in peppermint<\/a>. The spice provides a large number of antioxidants and when used in meals, teas, and other drinks it can be extremely healthy for you. You can use peppermint oil on the skin. It can help with any type of skin rash that you may have.<\/p>\n Some people claim that it can help if you have an itchy scalp and can even help clear up acne on the face and rest of the body. There are many ways to add some peppermint to your diet. If you are having a bowl of ice cream or even some yogurt, try sprinkling some pure peppermint on it first to make it a bit healthier. You can even add it to your coffee or your tea. Are you starting to see a bit of a trend with spices and antioxidants? It turns out there are many spices that have a high amount of antioxidants. Adding any of these to your food cannot only improve the flavor of your meal, but it can also improve the health benefits as well. Thyme<\/a> is another great spice that can be added to almost any meal that you are making. Most people do not like to eat raw thyme because it has a pine needle-like texture.<\/p>\n However, ground and dried, thyme can provide some great flavors to any type of meal. It is great on pizza, pasta, and many other dishes. Add some thyme and oregano to some focaccia bread and you will truly enjoy some amazing flavors. With a little bit of olive oil, these spices can provide a great number of health benefits. Cinnamon<\/a> is a spice that has a couple of great strengths. However, it does have a small weakness as well. One of the main benefits of cinnamon is that it has the ability to fight free radicals in the body. In addition, there have been many studies that have shown that eating cinnamon can have a positive effect on your blood sugar levels. This is good news for those that suffer from diabetes or those who have any other issues with their blood sugar.<\/p>\n However, there is one weakness of cinnamon that cannot be ignored. Cassia cinnamon, which is the most common form of the spice contains a substance that is toxic. You should not have more than two grams of it per day. Ceylon cinnamon is less common because it costs more, but it doesn\u2019t have the same toxic substance, which makes it worth the extra cost in most cases. If you have read any list about healthy foods and their benefits, chances are that turmeric<\/a> was on the list. The fact is that turmeric may be one of the most beneficial of all of the spices available. Research has been done about its effect on everything from brain health to arthritis and even skincare treatments. The health benefits offered by turmeric come from curcumin, which is the active ingredient of the spice.<\/p>\n One problem with curcumin is that the body does not absorb it very well when it is eaten in a meal. There are curcumin supplements that are available that will help increase the absorption levels by nearly 6500 percent. While adding turmeric to your diet is recommended. If you want the true benefits it may be best to find a good quality supplement to use in addition to adding the spice to your diet. When it comes to the most expensive spice in the entire world, it may be surprising to learn that real vanilla is second. The only spice that is more expensive than vanilla bean is saffron<\/a>. When you purchase vanilla extract from the store, most of the products use vanillin instead. This is a synthetically created product and it does not come from the actual vanilla bean.<\/p>\n Real vanilla contains hundreds of compounds and natural vanillin is one of them. A four-ounce bottle of real vanilla extract will typically cost about eight or ten dollars. While this may seem like a lot, it is worth the cost as it provides a superior taste in comparison to the fake stuff. In addition, real vanilla extract that is made from real vanilla beans will contain a high amount of antioxidants. This alone makes it worth the extra cost. <\/p>\n Chances are that you have heard of Acai berries. After all, they have hit the market by storm as one of the best superfoods. While there are some foods that have been touted as superfoods and are a scam, acai berries is not one of them. While acai berries may not have the highest amount of antioxidants as some may claim, it does have a lot. Most of the value of this fruit comes from the anthocyanins that it contains.<\/p>\n These are very potent antioxidants. Anthocyanins are plant pigments that produce the blues, reds, and purples, based on the pH levels. While you can buy some great and highly nutritious acai berry bowls, how good they are for you will depend on how the fruit<\/a> was prepared. Another option is to purchase pure acai berry powder. This can be added to almost anything. <\/p>\n Allspice is most commonly found in cuisine from the Caribbean. In many parts of the world, it is known as Jamaican powder. In addition, it is quite often used in cuisine from the Middle East. In the United States, it is hardly ever used in regular dishes. It is most commonly found used in dessert dishes. However, one dish that allspice is used in quite often is Cincinnati style chili.<\/p>\n Cinnamon, cloves<\/a>, and allspice are all used in this regional flavored dish. Allspice does offer a unique flavor and can be added to many different types of cuisines. It should be added to your regular spice rotation as it offers many great nutritional benefits. It has a high amount of antioxidants and is very good for your body. Try adding some Caribbean style meals to your diet each week using this great spice. <\/p>\n Rose hips actually come from roses, which is not something that many people know. On a typical pruned rose bush you will not see them. However, if you let nature take its course after the flowers on the bush die you will notice tiny red balls under where the flowers were. These are rose hips. Rose hips are not typically used in cooking and if they are it is important to make sure that you remove the seeds from them.<\/p>\n The seeds are covered in small silver hairs that can cause \u201citchy bottom disease.\u201d Most commonly, rose hips are used to make tea. They can also be used in several types of dessert such as rosehip crumble or rosehip pudding. Rose hips have a high amount of vitamin C. They also contain the antioxidants lycopene, zeaxanthin<\/a>, and lutein. Rose hips also have anti-inflammatory properties. <\/p>\n The marjoram<\/a> spice offers a taste that is similar to that of oregano. This makes it a great spice to use in all of your Italian meals. One of the easiest ways to incorporate marjoram into your diet is to make a simple salad dressing. Simply mix some lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and marjoram together. You can add some other spices such as thyme and oregano as well.<\/p>\n Dilute the mixture with some water in order to reduce the acidity level. Since there is no oil in this dressing it will come in at under five calories. This makes it the perfect healthy choice to add to your salads. Not only does it taste great, but it adds many antioxidants to your meal. Marjoram offers antioxidants and can add flavor to a variety of different dishes. This makes it easy to add to your diet at any time. <\/p>\n Sumac bran is the piece of the husk that are removed during the milling process. These pieces are where most of the minerals, vitamins, and other phytonutrients<\/a> are extremely dense. Eating the entire sumac grain is not as nutritious because the nutrients that are found in the grain are not as concentrated. However, even though the nutrients are not as concentrated, when you calculate the number of antioxidants found in the entire sumac grain, it is still worth listing as it is very high.<\/p>\n You can easily add some sumac grain to your smoothies or even sprinkle it on a salad. The sumac grain has a number of great health benefits and should be considered a part of any healthy diet. You can purchase sumac grain at almost any health food store and even at some regular grocery stores. It can also be found online. <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Dried-Apricots.jpg\")
<\/p>\n2. Apricots<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/14-Savory-raspberry-jam.jpg\")
<\/p>\n3. Raspberries<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Cherries.jpg\")
<\/p>\n4. Cherries<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Watermelon.jpg\")
<\/p>\n5. Watermelon<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/4-Jerusalem-Artichokes.jpg\")
<\/p>\n6. Artichokes<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/Oranges.jpg\")
<\/p>\n7. Oranges<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Spinach.jpg\")
<\/p>\n8. Spinach<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/5-Cranberries.jpg\")
<\/p>\n9. Cranberries<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Kidney-Beans.jpg\")
<\/p>\n10. Kidney Beans<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Indian-gooseberries.jpg\")
11. Dried Indian Gooseberries<\/h3>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Oregano-Oil.jpg\")
<\/p>\n12. Oregano<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Baobab-Fruit-Powder.jpg\")
<\/h3>\n13. Baobab Fruit Powder<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Rosemary.jpg\")
<\/p>\n14. Rosemary<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Peppermint.jpg\")
<\/p>\n15. Dried Peppermint<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Thyme-Oil.jpg\")
<\/p>\n16. Thyme<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Cinnamon.jpg\")
<\/p>\n17. Cinnamon<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/04\/Add-Seasoning_Turmeric.jpg\")
<\/p>\n18. Turmeric<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Vanilla.jpg\")
<\/p>\n19. Vanilla Bean<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Acai-Powder.jpg\")
<\/h3>\n20. Acai Powder<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Allspice.jpg\")
<\/h3>\n21. Allspice<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Rose-Hip-oil.jpg\")
<\/h3>\n22. Rose Hips<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Marjoram-Spice.jpg\")
<\/h3>\n23. Marjoram Spice<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Sumac-Grain.jpg\")
<\/h3>\n24. Sumac Grain<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/Cocoa-powder.jpg\")
<\/h3>\n25. Cocoa Powder<\/h3>\n