Why Antioxidants Are So Important

One of the top stories in the “health” world is just how great antioxidants are for us. But if you're like me, you have absolutely no idea WHY. Blueberries are great because of antioxidants. Green and black teas are wonderful for our bodies because of antioxidants. But what just do antioxidants do?

Antioxidants work as a sort of defense mechanism in our bodies. If infectious materials enter our bodies or are already present, antioxidants get right down to the business of eliminating them. These infections materials are often referred to as “free radicals”.

Free radicals are encountered during the chemical break down of the food that we ingest every day, as well as exposure to toxic materials (such as through radiation or second hand smoke). Free radicals not only present the danger of causing us to be sick with minor illnesses, but they are also often to blame for a number of other more serious ailments, such as diabetes, numerous cancers, and heart disease just to name a few. Antioxidants work on rounding up these free radicals and expelling them from our bodies, while also repairing the cells that have been damaged.

Find the Right Foods

You don't need to drink ten cups of green tea a day to be sure that you are getting enough antioxidants I your system. They are present in a number of day to day foods in the form of foods rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E and selenium. Try adding some of the following foods to your diet every day to be sure you're getting enough antioxidants:

• Carrots
• Citrus fruits
• Cantaloupe
• Cranberries
• Broccoli
• Green peppers
• Leafy green veggies (Kale, spinach)
• Potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Squash
• Strawberries
• Nuts
• Seeds
• Whole grains
• Liver oil
• Fish
• Eggs
• Garlic
• Chicken

See how easy it is to add a bit of wellness to your every day life? Try to aim for eating a whole, natural diet and you will be sure to get the antioxidants your body craves.

photo by Jean Scheijen