Life has a different meaning for everyone. We all live in our individual worlds, preoccupied with work, relationships, hopes, and dreams. However, on a cellular, most primal level, life is all about regeneration and staving off decay. Our bodies are working overtime to prevent cell damage and heal our organism.
As we grow older, our bodies stop being as effective, thus eventually losing this eternal battle. But, there’s a way we can help. Antioxidants are compounds that stave off cell damage and chronic diseases. They are found in all kinds of foods, but you’ll find that some offer more than others.
What are Antioxidants?
Your body is constantly producing all kinds of compounds and molecules it needs to perform certain tasks. As it turns out, not all of them are healthy. One such compound is free radicals. Free radicals have their purpose. They are the ammunition your immune system uses to fight off infection. Unfortunately, if left unchecked, free radicals can wreak havoc, causing far more harm than good.
One way your body fights off free radicals is by creating antioxidant molecules. These are used to prevent damage on the cellular level, thus alleviating much of the negative effects of free radicals.
While antioxidants are produced in your body, they are also found in numerous foods. Here are a few awesome sources of antioxidants that you might want to include in your diet!
1. Matcha Powder
Matcha has made a massive impact on the wellness industry these past few years. It’s a form of green tea that has been ground into a powder, making it far easier to consume and frankly much more flexible. You can make a lot of things out of it. Matcha experts over at MatchaOutlet.com have come up with all kinds of innovative recipes. Some of them include drinks that look nothing like tea at all.
That being said, ceremonial-grade organic matcha is also incredibly rich with antioxidants. It’s essentially a green tea energy bomb. Unlike green tea, when you consume matcha, you’re consuming the leaves themselves and those are packed with nutrients.
2. Dark Chocolate
If you haven’t heard by now, dark chocolate is a superfood. It’s one of the most nutrient-rich foods you can eat. As far as antioxidants go, you are getting a high concentration. What makes dark chocolate so healthy is the fact that it contains much more cocoa powder than your average chocolate.
Cocoa powder is naturally packed with antioxidants and other goodies that our bodies require on a daily basis. Increasing your intake of cocoa can potentially reduce the risk of heart disease, inflammation, and other potentially serious issues.
3. Strawberries
Strawberries are by far one of the best fruits out there. They’re versatile to a fault. You can have them as a snack, use them in cakes, smoothies, various desserts, you name it. What most people don’t know is that strawberries pack a high level of antioxidants. And it’s not just any antioxidant, either. It’s anthocyanin, which reduces the risk of heart disease.
Anthocyanin directly affects the levels of LDL cholesterol, which is considered to be the bad type of cholesterol, while raising the levels of HDL cholesterol at the same time.
4. The Mighty Pecan
Pecans are no strangers to western cuisine. We use them in all kinds of treats, cakes, or as a standalone snack when holidays come about. However, pecans also happen to be one of the most antioxidant dense foods you can get.
Nuts, in general, are healthy, but pecans take the cake when it comes to nutrients. By adding a few of these nuts to your diet, you’ll gain access to a lot of alpha-tocopherol, which is an isoform of Vitamin-E. Vitamin-E is a natural antioxidant.
On top of all this, pecans are packed with monosaturated fats – the good kind of fat your body needs. Introducing pecans to your diet will help regulate your cholesterol levels, all while keeping those pesky free radicals in check.
The Importance of Antioxidants
We consume antioxidants through diet every day. However, not all diets are created equal. Many people are turned off by the idea of healthy living because it has the appearance of a chore.
As you can tell by the list of foods above, it doesn’t take much to start walking down the path of health and regeneration. Introducing some of these foods to your diet comes down to adding an extra ingredient into your favorite meals, or adding a small but healthy snack somewhere in between.
Potential positive implications are clear. Consuming additional antioxidants will help your body fight off cellular decay for longer, boost your immune system, and make you healthier overall.