Enjoy Eating Anti-Oxidants

Antioxidants are the solution. 

​The solution to what? 

​Well, our bodies are aging. Many of the food we eat are processed. We encounter pollution everywhere. All these things work together to cause things to go wrong inside. Renegade cells called free radicals can cause oxidative stress, or damage, to our body's cells, tissues, and organs. 

​Antioxidants counteract oxidative stress just like their name implies. These molecules are the "good guys." Just think of a gun fighter in white destroying the "bad guys" roaming throughout your body. 

​Antioxidants include Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Selenium, Lycopene, Alpha-Carotene, and Beta-Carotene. Antioxidants can prevent cancer, macular degeneration, cataracts, cardiovascular disease, and other chronic infections. 

​It is better to get your antioxidants through fruits and vegetables than in supplements. So what fruits and vegetables should you eat?

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Here are some foods to add to your diet so that you can get antioxidants naturally:

​1. Goji Berries
2. Blueberries
3. Dark Chocolate
4. Pecans
5. Artichokes
6. Elderberries
7. Kidney Beans
8. Cranberries
​9. Blackberries
10. Cilantro
11. Tomatoes
12.  Carrots
13. Pumpkin Seeds
​14. Sweet Potatoes/Yams
15. Pomegranates
16. Strawberries
​17. Kale
18. Broccoli
19. Grapes
20. Squash

​These foods are great! You can take pecans and dark chocolate in little containers to snack on. You can add tomatoes, carrots, and squash to the dinner menu. How about adding Kale to salad, along with some pumpkin seeds. Grapes and berries make a delicious snack. I hope you see how easy eating healthy can be. 

​In addition to these fruits and vegetables, these herbs contain powerful antioxidants, too: 
1. Cloves
​2. Cinnamon
3. Oregano
4. Turmeric
5. Cocoa
6. Cumin 
7. Parsley
​8. Basil 
9. Ginger 
10. Thyme

​If you notice, most of these foods are yummy. They can be eaten alone or added to soups and salads. I intend to put bright pink sticks on these spices so that I make an effort to add them to my favorite recipes. How about you? 

​It's easy to be healthy. And you don't have to take vitamins. You can enjoy eating antioxidants. 

​Stay Healthy! 
Meredith Curtis

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