Food is an indicator of a person's health. Knowing what you eat, what it contributes to your body and the impact it has on your body is very important to benefit from all the properties that these foods contain. In this sense, those that contain a large number of antioxidants are very beneficial for health.
But what benefits do foods with a large number of antioxidants provide? Protecting visual health, helping the brain function properly, rejuvenating the skin and increasing the body's defenses are some of them.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of the foods with the strongest antioxidant power due to the action of lycopene. The tomato contains an antioxidant whose power is 14 times higher than resveratrol, that is, one of the most powerful antioxidants known in the past.
Eating 200 grams of tomato allows you to cover up to 80% of the vitamin C that the body needs daily, 27% of vitamin A and 13% of vitamin E. These three vitamins help prevent tissue degeneration, strengthen the immune system and prevent premature aging.
In addition, tomatoes contain vitamin B in a higher percentage than that provided by other vegetables, especially in vitamin B1, B6 and folic acid, favoring the obtaining of energy from food. They also benefit the nervous system. We recommend you read here about more Foods rich in vitamin E.
Garlic
The nutritional contribution of garlic is immense: silicon, iron, iodine, sulfur, selenium, vitamins B and C, as well as components such as quercetin, Alina and a large number of antioxidants. All this makes this food a great antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering agent (it helps reduce blood lipid and cholesterol levels).
Garlic is also effective in treating common colds, improves immune system response and liver function. Adding garlic to your meals is healthy: with two or three cloves of garlic that you eat a day, you can reap its benefits. You can also take it as a food supplement in the form of capsules.
Here you can learn more about what garlic capsules are for: properties and benefits.
Spinach
It is one of the vegetables with the highest amount of protein. They stand out for being low in carbohydrates and for lacking fat. Consuming spinach provides many vitamins to the body, such as A, C and E and beta carotene, thus being a fantastic antioxidant food.
The versatility of spinach allows it to be made in many ways and included in recipes of all kinds. In this other post you can read some ideas on How to cook spinach.
Blackberries
Blackberries are one of the fruits with the highest content of antioxidants, especially in relation to vitamins A, C and E, together with folic acid. They provide iron and are perfect to take as pieces of fruit or combined with other foods, such as dairy products in the form of a shake.
In general, those considered as red or forest fruits are very antioxidant foods. Here we explain what are the red fruits.
Peppers
The pepper is a food that provides antioxidants to the body thanks to its content of selenium, vitamin C and vitamin E. It is another ideal vegetable to include in a large number of recipes, either cooked or raw. Here we recommend you try these delicious recipes on How to roast peppers in the oven and how to make stuffed peppers to enjoy them to the fullest.
Carrots
Carrots are rich in vitamins A and C. They contain beta- carotene, an antioxidant to which they owe their orange color and which is absorbed by the body to convert it into a nutrient. They also provide vitamin K, fiber, phosphorus and potassium. Here you can learn more about what vitamins carrots have.
Carrots add color to many of the recipes in which they are included and increase the nutritional benefits of your dishes. So go ahead and include them in your diet, both raw and cooked.
We also recommend you read about the Benefits of carrots for the skin and the Properties of carrots for health.
Broccoli
It is an essential vegetable for health and one of the favorites of athletes for its fabulous nutritional value. It contains a large percentage of beta-carotene, minerals such as selenium, zinc and potassium and vitamins A, C and E.
If you want to prepare it in a simple way, do not miss this recipe on How to make broccoli in the microwave.
Artichokes
Artichokes are a food with a considerable anti-inflammatory effect. They also have a high content of antioxidants, are low in calories and are satiating, so they help prevent premature aging of the organs and control weight. They are easy to adapt in many healthy recipes for the body.
You can also take them as a food supplement in the form of capsules, so here we explain everything about artichoke capsules: what they are for, properties and contraindications.
Green Tea
This drink is very healthy because it is a great antioxidant and, in addition, it contains polyphenols, also present in vegetables and fruits, although in a smaller quantity. Green tea is a mild stimulant whose consumption provides numerous nutrients and benefits to the body. In this other post we tell you more about what green tea is for.
Dark chocolate
Cocoa is considered one of the foods that contains the most antioxidants. It is rich in magnesium and other minerals, in addition to having flavonoids, such as epicatechin. It stands out for its antioxidant power, but its consumption is also recommended for its anti-inflammatory action.
A moderate consumption of dark chocolate helps prevent cardiovascular disease, decrease memory loss and reduce high blood pressure. To obtain all the properties it contains, you must eat dark chocolate with a purity equal to or greater than 70% cocoa. Discover more Benefits of dark chocolate in this other article.
Nuts
To end this list of foods rich in antioxidants, we will mention the famous nuts. Most nuts contain resveratrol, which helps reduce the level of cholesterol accumulated in the body and also acts as an antioxidant. In addition, they contain various vitamins that also act against cell oxidation, especially vitamin E. Here you can read about The Healthiest Nuts.
