Diets high in certain fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains have been known to ward off the effects of free-radicals, suggests the site Antioxidants-for -Life. Certain spices, such as oregano and thyme, are also high in antioxidants and may be the next generation of antimicrobials, says Dr Harry Pruess in the article "Spices Kill Bacteria and Protect Cells." Eat a diet loaded with super antioxidant foods to stay healthy.
Benefits
Super Antioxidants are foods that have high ORAC, or Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, according to the site Antioxidants-for-life. This method, created by the National Institute on Aging in the United States, helps to determine which foods have the highest antioxidant potential. You need antioxidants to minimize the amount of free radicals in your body. Free radicals are damaged cells and they wreak havoc on the body, causing diseases such as cancer. Robin Jeep, Richard Couey and Sherie Pitman Ellington, authors of the book "The Super Antioxidant Diet and Nutrition Guide," recommend eating a diet high in super antioxidants for faster healing after injuries, boosting energy, and increasing mental clarity.
Types
There are some ethnic groups that regularly eat foods high in super antioxidants for instance Chinese, Japanese, Mediterranean, Indian, and Latin Americans such as Brazil and Costa Rica. If you regularly eat these types of meals then you are on your way to better health. Include five fruits and vegetables to your daily meals as recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control to move toward a healthier diet. Look for foods that have the highest ORAC values and to simply incorporate them into your diet.
Berry Beneficial
Grab a handful of blueberries for your morning breakfast, mid-day snacks and evening desserts. Fresh blueberries have a high ORAC value of 2,400 per 100 grams. Eating more blueberries can help to prevent or delay cancer and heart disease, protect you from symptoms of aging suggests Antioxidants 4-life. However, the Brazilian acai, berry is the number one fruit with the highest ORAC value. It holds an ORAC value of 18,500 per 100 g serving. This super fruit has gained popularity since the 1990s and is curently being studied. It is said to be anti-cancerous, anti-inflammatory, anti-lipidemic and cleanses toxins from the body.
Veggies
Include dark green vegetables like kale, spinach, broccoli and Brussels sprouts into your menus since they contain the highest ORAC values of all other fresh vegetables. Others like green beans, corn and onions are beneficial but do not rank very high on the ORAC scale.
Cacao
Sprinkle unprocessed cocoa or shave dark chocolate on desserts, as they pack the highest degree of antioxidants. On the ORAC scale unprocessed cocoa ranks number one at 26,000 per 100 g and processed dark chocolate ranks third with 13,120.
Spices
Utilize the wide array of spices to increase the antioxidants to your diet. The article "Spices Kill Bacteria and Protect Cells" indicates that oregano, thyme, cumin saffron, nutmeg and others are strong antioxidants.
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