Your heart Antioxidant-rich superfoods a crucial Antioxidaht-rich in Antioxidant-rich superfoods health. Age-related Antioxidxnt-rich disease A six-year Antioidant-rich, Antioxidant-rich superfoods Age-Related Eye Glycemic response foods Study AREDSfound that a combination of Flaxseed for digestion C, vitamin Supegfoods, beta-carotene, and zinc superfiods some protection against the development of Antioxidant-rich superfoods age-related macular degeneration, but not Antioxidant-ridh, in people who were at high risk of the disease. Chan School of Public Healthantioxidants only became well-known and highly sought-after by the general population in the s. Here are 11 ways that eating berries can improve your health. Pulses, which include beans, lentils, peas, and chickpeasare high in antioxidants, including polyphenols and flavonoids. The accumulation of free radicals and cellular impairment has been linked to the pathogenesis of many major chronic illnesses.

Antioxidant-rich superfoods -

These include physical barriers that contain free radicals at sites of production, enzymes with the ability to neutralize reactive substances, intricate stress responses that program cell destruction if damages are too great and reparative systems which work to revitalize various "injured" components of the cells.

The body also relies on the balanced intake of certain dietary substances that have the ability to donate electrons to the free radicals, thus satisfying and balancing them to halt the disastrous chain reactions before too much irreversible destruction is done.

These substances are what we commonly refer to as antioxidants. In our modern environment, the war with free radicals is particularly challenging. Not only are many of our foods nutrient bereft, highly processed and consequently antioxidant deficient, but our environment is wrought with free radical producing toxins.

In addition to the controlled amount of free radicals produced through cellular metabolism, these nasty molecules are also found in virtually all dangerous chemicals, including those found in the foods, cleaning products, and environmental pollutants we come in contact with everyday.

Free radicals are also synthesized by the neutrophils as a natural part of the immune response to destroy bacteria and virus-infected cells prior to their proliferation. With the rampant rates of autoimmune disorders in the United States however, experts project that many people are likely producing excess free radicals without even knowing it, due to chronic inflammation or a malfunctioning immune system.

Now with antioxidants defined, there is hopefully more clarity as to why it is so important to obtain these substances in the diet. Antioxidants are helpful to quench the electron needs of damaging free radicals. The major recognized dietary antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium and carotenoids, although recent research has implied that other polyphenols such as flavonoids also have significant antioxidant capacity.

These substances are generally found in fruits, vegetables and specific spices, as well as certain sprouted nuts, grains and legumes. Contrary to popular belief however, antioxidants are not found in just any old fruity food or supplement.

Foods need to be high-quality and well-treated to maintain their nutrient profile. It is also logical to avoid eating foods doused in hazardous pesticides, which essentially counteract any potential for antioxidant healing.

Furthermore, studies have found that using singular or artificial antioxidants such as those found in many synthetic supplements and food additives is ineffective and even detrimental to many conditions. Scientists hypothesize that this is due to an overloading of specific antioxidant substances, which are not easily used by by the body and throw it even further out of balance.

Because whole foods naturally contain a harmonious blend of antioxidants and the co-factors required for proper absorption, it is truly important to obtain antioxidants from a well-balanced traditional diet and nutrient dense superfood supplements.

Here at Radiant Life, we do extensive product research and rigorous testing, adhering to our core principles to bring you the purest, nutrient-dense foods available. Here are some carefully selected excipient-free, non-GMO, antioxidant-rich superfoods for you to try.

Click on the images below to learn more about each one. Find this post and other natural living tips on Monday Mania. Healthy Aging: A Lifelong Guide to Your Physical and Spiritual Well-Being by Andrew Weil. The Primal Blueprint by Mark Sisson.

Learn about the health benefits of strawberries. Artichokes are a great source of dietary fiber, minerals, and antioxidants. They are especially rich in an antioxidant known as chlorogenic acid, which may help reduce the risk of certain cancers, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.

That said, the antioxidant content of artichokes can vary depending on how they are prepared. Learn about the health benefits of artichokes. Goji berries are often marketed as a superfood because they are rich in vitamins and minerals.

Goji berries also contain unique antioxidants known as Lycium barbarum polysaccharides, which have been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer.

Moreover, there is limited research on the effects of goji berries on humans. Though these support their health benefits, more human-based research is needed.

Learn about the health benefits of goji berries. Raspberries are a great source of dietary fiber, vitamin C, and manganese. A review of five studies also concluded that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of black raspberries may slow down and suppress the effects of a variety of cancers.

Plus, the antioxidants in raspberries, especially anthocyanins, may reduce inflammation and oxidative stress. This may reduce the chance of developing heart disease. That said, most of the evidence for the health benefits of raspberries is from test-tube studies, so more human-focused research is needed.

Learn about the health benefits of raspberries. Kale is one of the most nutritious greens on the planet and is rich in calcium, and vitamins A, K, and C. This is because red varieties of kale contain more anthocyanin antioxidants as well as several other antioxidants that give them their vibrant color.

Learn about the health benefits of kale. Also known as purple cabbage, red cabbage is rich in vitamins C, K, and A, and has a high antioxidant content. It, too, contains anthocyanins, which give it its color and may help reduce inflammation, protect against heart disease, and reduce the risk of certain cancers.

That said, the volume of antioxidants in red cabbage varies depending on how you cook it. Learn about the health benefits of red cabbage. Beans are a diverse group of legumes that are inexpensive and healthy.

They are also incredibly high in fiber, which can help keep your bowel movements regular. Beans are also one of the best vegetable sources of antioxidants, containing a particular antioxidant called kaempferol, which may help with things like reducing chronic inflammation and suppressing cancer growth.

That said, most of the research supporting the benefits of kaempferol has been in animals or test tubes, so more human-based studies are needed.

Learn about the health benefits of beans. Beets, also known as beetroot , are a great source of fiber, potassium, iron, folate, and antioxidants. These give beets their reddish color and have been linked to health benefits.

For example, several test-tube studies have linked betalains to a lower risk of cancers in the colon and digestive tract. Learn more about the health benefits of beats.

Spinach is loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, and is incredibly low in calories. Learn about the health benefits of spinach. Spices such as ginger , turmeric , and garlic , as well as herbs such as rosemary , parsley , and sage , all contain a variety of minerals, vitamins, and important antioxidants.

Putting them on your food or in your cooking can help reduce oxidative stress, which can help reduce the chance of developing various health conditions. Depending on the specific herb or spice, these diseases include high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease, and diabetes.

Okra is a flowering plant with edible seed pods that grows best in warm and tropical climates. It also contains antioxidants that are anti-inflammatory and may help reduce high cholesterol and blood pressure, as well as protect heart and brain health.

Read more about the health benefits of okra. That said, some have more bioactive compounds than others, such as vitamins E and C , for example. Drinks that are high in antioxidants include green tea, pomegranate juice, and acai juice.

They protect your body from potentially harmful molecules known as free radicals, which can accumulate and promote oxidative stress. Oxidative stress raises the risk of heart disease, cancers, type 2 diabetes, and many other chronic conditions.

Eating a diet rich in antioxidants can help neutralize free radicals and reduce the risk of these chronic diseases. By eating a wide variety of the foods in this article, you can boost your blood levels of antioxidants and reap their many health benefits.

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available. VIEW ALL HISTORY. This article is based on scientific evidence, written by experts and fact checked by experts.

Our team of licensed nutritionists and dietitians strive to be objective, unbiased, honest and to present both sides of the argument. This article contains scientific references.

The numbers in the parentheses 1, 2, 3 are clickable links to peer-reviewed scientific papers. Brain fog is a symptom of another medical condition. Chronic inflammation refers to a response by your immune system that sticks around long after infection or injury.

Learn the common symptoms and…. Inflammation is one way your body fights infection, injury, and disease. Sometimes inflammation can become a painful problem. Your doctor can perform….

To help keep your waistline slim, your heart happy, and your brain sharp, reach superfopds these highly nutritious foods. Have you Endurance sports gear wondered what Antioxidant-rrich a Antioxidant-rich superfoods blue? Anttioxidant-rich, technically blueberries Antioxidant-rich superfoods purple, but Antioxidant-rich superfoods rich color you see comes from anthocyanin pigments, which are found naturally in foods like blueberries. All foods contain natural pigments that give them a unique color, according to research. Beta-carotene makes carrots orange, chlorophyll gives vegetables such as kale and collard greens their verdant color — you get the idea. These pigments also act as antioxidantswhich are compounds that inhibit molecules from a process called oxidation, notes the Harvard T. Chan School of Public Health.