I love summer and no matter what season is coming up next, I want to hang on to that summer glow. Every year, I wear my flip-flops right up until the first snowfall. A bit ambitious, yes, but they way summer makes us feel is addictive: youthful, bright, and full of energy.
Besides the health benefits from eating well, natural antioxidants can slow down the aging process, and help prevent cancer and heart disease. With everything we expose our bodies to: smoking, drinking, poor diet and no exercise, unstable molecules and compounds called free radicals circulate throughout our bodies causing irreversible damage.
The health benefits of antioxidants is that they stabilize these free radical substances and interrupt the damaging process.
There is a lot of buzz around antioxidant-rich foods and super foods like acai and pomegranate, but keep it simple and stick to the basics: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, lentils, vegetable oils, nuts, seeds, garlic, and some teas.
If you’re looking for age-defying snacks, the secret is simple – eat plenty of these foods:
| Antioxidant – Plant | Natural Sources |
| Vitamin E (tocopherols) | Oilseeds, palm oil, nuts, eggs, dairy products, whole grains, vegetables, cereals, soy, safflower |
| Vitamin C | Fruits, vegetables, berries, citrus fruits, sprouts, green peppers, potatoes |
| Carotenoids | Dark leafy vegetables, carrots, sweet potatoes, yams, tomatoes, cantaloupes, apricots, citrus, kale, turnip greens |
| Flavonoids | Oilseeds, cereals, grains, green tea, berries, rosemary, sage, thyme, oregano, rice bran, cocoa shell |
- Every day, try to have at least 1 dark leafy green or orange vegetable. Have your carrots cleaned and chopped for an easy on-the-go snack.
- Switch up your salad by adding spinach and kale with your regular lettuce
- Instead of coffee, have a green tea to get your burst of flavonoids for the day.
- Avoid over cooking your vegetables. If you boil your vegetables, avoid adding excess water and cook with the lid off. This can prevent loss of the pigment, flavour, and antioxidants.
- If you use pre-made tomato pasta sauce, add a few of fresh tomatoes and serve with whole-wheat pasta.
- Go for a morning smoothie! My personal favourite: almond butter, berries, a banana, wheat germ, and milk. I often have this with a boiled egg and a whole grain piece of toast.
- Try to get your antioxidants from food, rather than supplements. Chances are you’re consuming far beyond normal amounts if you’re supplementing, which can lead to unsafe nutrient levels or vitamin toxicity.
Forget the fountain of youth! Eating a balanced diet is key to staying young, vibrant, and healthy!
