Summer is here! The warm weather always inspires me to prioritize my health and wellbeing. In my recent article for the Archangel Michael Trumpet Newsletter, I talk about a summer hot topic- ANTIOXIDANTS!
Do you know what antioxidants are? Do you understand why they are important? Do you know what foods antioxidants are found in? Below is a short excerpt from the article:
Antioxidants are a healthy buzzword, but do you know exactly what they are? In order to understand antioxidants, we have to first learn about something called free radicals.
The body faces free radical damage every day from UV exposure, environmental pollution, stress, and even some of the foods we eat. Free radicals disrupt normal cell functioning and have been linked to various health problems including cancer, diabetes, and chronic illness.
Antioxidants can be found as vitamins, minerals, or phytochemicals; they work to combat free radical damage by either destroying them or preventing breakdown of molecules that create free radicals. Consuming foods rich in antioxidants can help fight free radicals and improve your overall health. Some well-known benefits of antioxidants include cancer prevention, heart disease prevention, and slowing the aging process.
The body is capable of making its own antioxidants, but it’s important to keep generating a healthy amount of them by eating antioxidant-rich foods. Don’t be fooled by antioxidant pills or supplements either; food should always come first! Research has not shown antioxidants supplements to be beneficial in preventing disease, but rather getting antioxidants through food form provides a variety of health benefits.
The summer is a perfect time to focus on fresh and plentiful antioxidant-rich foods. Countless foods contain antioxidants, but below is a short list of some of my favorite ones. Start by picking one or two of these foods to make a summer staple in your diet.
Berries: Blackberries, blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries are likely the most well-known antioxidant-rich foods. Blueberries in particular get their antioxidant power from anthocyanins and may help lower LDL cholesterol. Wild blueberries have over 13,000 total antioxidant capacity per cup, and have been shown to boost memory, cognition, and balance. Try adding these to a smoothie or yogurt parfait for a nutritious snack.
Cherries: This favorite fruit is high in two inflammation-fighting phytochemicals called anthocyanin and...
Read the full article on page 18 of this issue of
Xoxo,
Stef