Antioxidants: The Health Benefits and a List of Common Antioxidants Foods

Antioxidants provide protection to the body from damage caused by “free radicals.”  We are exposed to free radicals through by-products of normal processes that take place in the body which includes:

• Burning sugars for energy
• Release of digestive enzymes to break down food
• When the body breaks down certain medications

Through pollutants Vitamins that include antioxidants are: ·

• Vitamin C and E Minerals
• Selenium
• Flavonoids The best sources of antioxidants include:
• Fruits
• Vegetables

Some teas You can also buy antioxidant supplements and it can be found in red wine as well as Grape juice. Antioxidants are used to treat or prevent:

• Coronary artery disease
• Some cancers
• Macular degeneration
• Alzheimer’s disease

Some arthritis-related conditions You should get your antioxidants mainly from a diet rich in fruits and vegetables rather than supplements.  No single antioxidant can protect the body; taking supplements in high doses can be harmful.  There is continuous research going on about antioxidants, but until more studies are done, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables to obtain the health benefits of antioxidants. 

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration do not regulate dietary supplements in the same way it regulates medication.  Dietary supplements can be sold with limited or no research on how well it works.  Always discuss with your doctor dietary supplements you wish to combine with your conventional medical treatment. Things to keep in mind when using dietary supplements may include:

• Dietary supplements may cause side effects just the same as conventional medicines
• Dietary supplements can also trigger allergic reactions the same as conventional medicines 
• Dietary supplements may interact with another medication or supplement

Because dietary supplements are not standardized in their manufacturing, how well they work or side effects they cause may differ among brands or even within different lots of one brand.   The form available in grocery stores or health food stores may not be the same as the form used in research.

The long-term effects of most dietary supplements, other than in vitamins and minerals, are not known. Below is a list of some common foods with the most antioxidants: 

• Small Red Bean (dried)
• Wild Blueberry (I like eating dried wild Blueberries for snacks or servings of fruit) 
• Red Kidney bean (dried 
• Pinto beans
• Blueberry (cultivated) 
• Cranberries 
• Blackberries
• Prunes
• Raspberries
• Strawberries
• Red Delicious Apple (wouldn’t you know my favorite is the yellow delicious apple instead) 
• Granny Smith Apple 
• Pecans 
• Black plums
• Russet Potato (cooked)

Sweet cherries Source: 
United States Department of Agriculture, United States Food and Drug Administration