Free radicals are unstable molecules in the body that compromise immunity and increase the chances of developing chronic diseases such as cancer. Antioxidants interact with and stabilize free radicals and may prevent some of the damage free radicals might otherwise cause according to the National Cancer Institute. Coffee and tea are high in antioxidants, but they also contain caffeine which is not tolerated well by some people. If you fall into this category, or you simply do not like coffee and tea, get your antioxidants by other means.
Step 1
Drizzle olive oil over your steamed vegetables and add it to your salads. Olive oil contains a potent mix of antioxidants that can lower your "bad" cholesterol but leave your "good" cholesterol untouched according to the Mayo Clinic's website. Use it to cook with as it does not break down and become hydrogenated like other oils.
Step 2
Drink a glass of grape juice or red wine with your meals. Both of these liquids are high in antioxidants and flavonoids which help promote better brain function and reduce the production of clotting factors in the arteries according to the Psychology Today website.
Step 3
Snack on all forms of nuts because of their high antioxidant content. Include cashews, pecans, almonds, walnuts, pistachios and Brazil nuts in your diet. Keep in mind that they are also high in calories, so nibble on them in small quantities.
Step 4
Add more color to your diet. Apricots, mangoes, pumpkin, cantaloupe, baby spinach, carrots and sweet potatoes are all high in the antioxidant beta carotene. Include these foods as side dishes, add them to salads and eat them as they are.
Step 5
Increase your intake of tomatoes, ketchup, tomato sauce and other tomato products for their lycopene content. Numerous studies correlate high intake of lycopene-containing foods or high lycopene serum levels with reduced incidence of cancer, cardiovascular disease, and macular degeneration according to the Mayo Clinic's website.
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