Antioxidants are substances or nutrients in our foods which can prevent or slow down the oxidative damage to our body. When our body cells use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals (by products) which can cause damage. Antioxidants act as “free radical scavengers” and help prevent and repair damage done by those free radicals. Antioxidants are often described as “mopping up” free radicals, meaning they neutralize the electrical charge and prevent the free radical from taking electrons from other molecules.
There are certain foods rich in antioxidants. The following list describes food sources of common antioxidants.
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Beta Carotene - An “immune booster” that is found in many foods that are orange in color including:
Sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, squash, carrots, pumpkins, apricots and mangos
Some green leafy vegetables, including Collard greens, spinach and kale.
- Lutein - Lutein (from the Latin "luteus" meaning "yellow") is one of over 600 known naturally occurring carotenoids. Lutein is employed by organisms as an antioxidant and for blue light absorption. Lutein is found in green leafy vegetables such as:
Spinach and kale.
Another great source of Lutein is egg yolks.
- Lycopene - Lycopene is a pigment that gives vegetables and fruits, such as tomatoes, pink grapefruit and watermelon, their red color. Lycopene is a very important antioxidant found in:
Tomatoes, watermelon, guava, papaya, apricots, pink grapefruit,
Blood oranges and other foods.
Estimates suggest 85 percent of American dietary intake of lycopene comes from tomatoes and tomato products.
- Selenium - Selenium is a mineral and not an antioxidant nutrient. However, it is a component of antioxidant enzymes. It is found in plant foods such as:
Rice and Wheat
Animals that eat grains or plants grown in selenium-rich soil have higher levels of selenium in their muscles.
Brazil nuts, also contain large quantities of selenium.
- Vitamin A - Vitamin A is a fat soluble vitamin that helps you see normally in the dark and promotes the growth and health of all body cells and tissues. Vitamin A foods include:
Liver, fish oil, egg yolks, sweet potatoes, carrots, milk and Mozzarella cheese.
- Vitamin C - Vitamin C helps the body maintain healthy tissues and a strong immune system, and it aids in the absorption of iron. The top ten Vitamin C sources are:
Oranges, guava, red sweet pepper, kiwi, green sweet pepper, Grapefruit juice, vegetable juice cocktail, strawberries, brussell Sprouts and cantaloupe
- Vitamin E - Vitamin E is found naturally in some foods, added to others, and available as a dietary supplement. "Vitamin E" is the collective name for a group of fat-soluble compounds with distinctive antioxidant activities. Alpha- (or α-) tocopherol is the only chemical form that is recognized to meet human requirements.Nuts, seeds, and vegetable oils are among the best sources of Vitamin E. Some of the best sources are:
Almonds, wheat germ, sunflower seeds, peanut butter, various oils, Mangos, broccoli and spinach.
Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/healthy-eating/eat-safe/top-sources-vitamin-C-44102808#ixzz124kiQJBd
