Antioxidants

You should eat food high in antioxidant. Why? It prevents damage to the arteries almost protecting them. Antioxidants protect the body from free radicals. Free radicals are believed to cause cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and autoimmune disease. There are 3 types of antioxidant…

1.      Antioxidant enzymes- such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and catalases. They require a partner to work properly in our bodies, such as iron, copper, selenium, magnesium, and zinc.

2.      Antioxidant vitamins- Vitamin A, C, E, folic acid, CoQ10, and beta-carotene.

3.      Antioxidant phytochemicals-carotenoids, flavonoids, allyl sulfides, polyphenols, and many more  

The following is a list of different kinds of antioxidants and foods that are high in each.

• Allium sulphur compounds: Leeks, onions, garlic
• Anthocyanins: Eggplant, grapes, berries
• Beta carotene: Pumpkin, mangoes, apricots, carrots, spinach, parsley
• Catechins: Red wine, tea
• Copper: Seafood, lean meat, milk, nuts, legumes
• Cryptoxanthins: Red peppers, pumpkin, mangoes
• Flavonoids: Tea, green tea, red wine, citrus fruits, onion, apples
• Indoles: Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower
• Lignans: Sesame seeds, bran, whole grains, vegetables
• Lutein: Corn, leafy greens (such as spinach)
• Lycopene: Tomatoes, pink grapefruit, watermelon
• Manganese: Seafood, lean meat, milk, nuts
• Polyphenols: Thyme, oregano
• Selenium: Seafood, offal, lean meat, whole grains
• Vitamin C: Oranges, berries, kiwi fruit, mangoes, broccoli, spinach, peppers
• Vitamin E: Vegetable oils, nuts, avocados, seeds, whole grains
• Zinc: Seafood, lean meat, milk, nuts
• Zoochemicals: Red meat, offal, fish