Add antioxidants to your diet (2024)

Add antioxidants to your diet

Antioxidants are certain nutrients, such as vitamins C or E, or carotenoids, which may help protect cells against daily damage. As cells do their job, the way they process oxygen results in a molecule called a free radical. These molecules are unstable. As they regain stability, free radicals damage cells and DNA.

Disease and free radical damage

Over time, free radical damage can cause problems for tissues and organs in the body, potentially leading to disease. Research suggests that free radical molecules can add to the risk of health issues linked to aging. Some examples are heart disease, age-related macular degeneration, Alzheimer's disease and cancer.

The body's cells can fix or prevent free radical damage, for example, by making antioxidant enzymes. And some antioxidants, such as vitamin C, come from food and drink.

Eating antioxidants

Plant-based foods are the best source of antioxidants. These include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, herbs and spices, and even cocoa. Plants have naturally occurring antioxidants such as carotenoids, flavonoids, isothiocyanates, and phenolic acids.

As a bonus, many foods that have antioxidants also have other benefits. They are often high in fiber, low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and good sources of vitamins and minerals.

Artichokes are a good example.

They naturally have the fiber inulin. But artichokes also have plant chemicals called flavonoids and phenolic acids. Those phytonutrients have the potential to help manage free radicals.

Add antioxidants to your diet (1)

Does cooking affect antioxidants?

Drying, cooking or freezing foods can affect its level of antioxidants. Sometimes cooking allows an antioxidant to be better absorbed. Lycopene in tomatoes is one example.

More lycopene is available in cooked tomatoes than raw ones. And for some foods, such as sweet potatoes, cooked is the only way we could eat them at all.

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In addition to cooking, some antioxidants are more available when paired with another nutrient. One example is orange and yellow vegetables with beta carotene and vitamin E. Cooked with a bit of fat, those antioxidants are more available to the body.

Other foods with carotenes also may offer more nutrients cooked. Examples are carrots, red and green peppers, kale, spinach, and broccoli. Some of their phytochemicals may be better absorbed by the body after being cooked.

Other foods have more antioxidants when raw. In jam made of berries, for example, antioxidant levels were lower than in the raw, unprocessed berries.

Fresh or frozen, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and cranberries are among the top fruit sources of antioxidants.

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Nuts, seeds and grains

Along with fruits and vegetables, nuts, seeds and grains add antioxidants to the diet. Whole grains, nuts and seeds are a source for selenium, vitamin E and antioxidant phytochemicals.

Unsalted nuts and seeds have protein and fats in addition to other phytochemicals. They are a nutrient dense food.

Nut and seed oils also may help people balance their healthy fat intake. Walnuts and pecans are some of the top nuts for antioxidant content. Not crazy about nuts? Try sunflower seeds.

And don't forget those grains. When made into flour, buckwheat, millet and barley seem to hold on to their phytochemicals best.

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Antioxidants add up

Overall, antioxidants from foods taken in over a long period of time seem to support health. Individual antioxidants taken as supplements have less scientific support.

When it comes to adding antioxidants to the diet, no one food or food group can do it all. The best bet is to get a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains into the diet.

Adding foods with different colors can help meet that goal. A food's color hints at its antioxidants. Red, orange, yellow, green, and even blue or black fruits and vegetables provide different antioxidants.

Other things in the diet, such as tea, coffee and some fruit juices also have antioxidants. Some dark chocolate may have antioxidants as well, but it depends on the cocoa contents.

And it can be helpful to make sure to get some antioxidants every day. For example, vitamin C isn't stored in the body. So eating food with that vitamin every day can help make sure the body has enough.

March 29, 2024

  1. Antioxidants and health. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine. https://nccih.nih.gov/health/antioxidants/introduction.htm. Accessed March 11, 2024.
  2. Antioxidants and cancer prevention. National Cancer Institute. https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/diet/antioxidants-fact-sheet. Accessed March 11, 2024.
  3. Duyff RL. Vitamins and minerals. In: Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Complete Food and Nutrition Guide. 5th ed. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt; 2017.
  4. Aune D, et al. Dietary intake and blood concentrations of antioxidants and the risk of cardiovascular disease, total cancer, and all-cause mortality: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2018; doi:10.1093/ajcn/nqy097.
  5. Carlsen MH, et al. The total antioxidant content of more than 3100 foods, beverages, spices, herbs and supplements used worldwide. Nutrition Journal. 2010; doi:10.1186/1475-2891-9-3.
  6. Zeratsky KA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. March 11, 2024.
  7. Izquierdo-Vega JA, et al. Evidence of some natural products with antigenotoxic effects. Part 1: Fruits and polysaccharides. Nutrients. 2017; doi:10.3390/nu9020102.
  8. Lopez-Romero D, et al. Evidence of some natural products with antigenotoxic effects. Part 2: Plants, vegetables, and natural resin. Nutrients. 2018; doi:10.3390/nu10121954.
  9. Rusu ME, et al. Health benefits of nut consumption in middle-aged and elderly population. Antioxidants (Basel). 2019; doi:10.3390/antiox8080302.
  10. Artichoke. Natural Medicines. https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com. Accessed Feb. 14, 2024.
  11. Neri L. Antioxidant activity in frozen plant foods: Effect of cryoprotectants, freezing process and frozen storage. Foods. 2020; doi:10.3390/foods9121886.
  12. 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.dietaryguidelines.gov. Accessed Feb. 13, 2024.

See more In-depth

Products and Services

  1. A Book: Cook Smart, Eat Well
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See also

  1. Cuts of beef
  2. Grass-fed beef
  3. Menus for heart-healthy eating
  4. Organic foods
  5. Sea salt vs. table salt
  6. What is BPA?

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Add antioxidants to your diet (2024)

FAQs

Add antioxidants to your diet? ›

Broccoli, spinach, carrots and potatoes are all high in antioxidants, and so are artichokes, cabbage, asparagus, avocados, beetroot, radish, lettuce, sweet potatoes, squash, pumpkin, collard greens and kale. Using lots of spices in cooking is good.

What food is highest in antioxidants? ›

Broccoli, spinach, carrots and potatoes are all high in antioxidants, and so are artichokes, cabbage, asparagus, avocados, beetroot, radish, lettuce, sweet potatoes, squash, pumpkin, collard greens and kale. Using lots of spices in cooking is good.

What is the most powerful antioxidant? ›

Glutathione is often called the “master antioxidant” for good reasons: it is the most potent antioxidant that our bodies make! Through its antioxidant actions, glutathione has been shown to beneficially affect many systems in the body.

Is it safe to eat antioxidants everyday? ›

As research has progressed, it has become evident that antioxidants—especially in larger-than-usual amounts—may not always be beneficial. Large amounts of antioxidants may interfere with important functions in the cell, including its defense mechanisms and normal signaling.

What food is the king of antioxidants? ›

Blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, even goji berries, are all at the top of the list of antioxidant-rich fruits. Berries are low in calories and high in fiber. One cup of fresh or frozen berries a day should do you right.

Which fruit is the king of antioxidants? ›

Blueberries may have the highest antioxidant capacity of all the popular fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids appear to be the berries' antioxidant with the greatest impact.

What is the mother of all antioxidants? ›

What is Glutathione? Glutathione, aka “Mother of all Antioxidants” is one of the main detoxifiers in our bodies and plays an imperative role in boosting immune health. We run into toxins on a daily basis: air pollution, glyphosates from food, and in water where trace elements and heavy metals often reside.

Are bananas high in antioxidants? ›

Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of dietary antioxidants, and bananas are no exception. They contain several types of potent antioxidants , including flavonoids and amines. These antioxidants are linked to many health benefits, such as a reduced risk of heart disease and macular degeneration.

Is coffee high in antioxidants? ›

Coffee is a rich source of dietary antioxidants, and this property, coupled with the fact that coffee is one of the world's most popular beverages, has led to the understanding that coffee is a major contributor to dietary antioxidant intake.

What happens when you eat too much antioxidants? ›

Excessive antioxidant levels lead to reductive stress. Reductive stress is the opposite of oxidative stress, and partly arises from excessive activation of Nrf2 leading to disorders of the cardiovascular, neurological, neoplastic and metabolic systems.

Do antioxidants help with inflammation? ›

The immunomodulatory capacity of antioxidants is also manifested in the ability of these molecules to influence key signaling pathways responsible for inflammation. The expression of a significant number of genes directly involved in inflammation is controlled by NF-kB.

How to increase antioxidants? ›

Plant foods are rich sources of antioxidants. They are most abundant in fruits and vegetables, as well as other foods including nuts, wholegrains and some meats, poultry and fish. Good sources of specific antioxidants include: allium sulphur compounds – leeks, onions and garlic.

What fruit is highest in antioxidants? ›

Although red and purple fruits like blueberries, pomegranates, tart cherries, blackberries, goji berries and raspberries have the highest quantities, antioxidants are also abundant in various plant foods.

What drinks are high in antioxidants? ›

Which drinks are considered the best sources of antioxidants? Several beverages are rich in antioxidants, including green tea, matcha, blueberry juice, pomegranate juice, acai berry smoothies, beetroot juice, cranberry juice, red wine (in moderation), cherry juice, and ginger turmeric tea.

What are the 20 foods you should eat everyday? ›

3. What are Top 20 best food for good health? The top 20 best foods for good health include spinach, broccoli, sweet potatoes, blueberries, oranges, almonds, walnuts, avocado, salmon, tuna, eggs, Greek yogurt, quinoa, brown rice, lentils, chickpeas, tomatoes, carrots, and bell peppers.

Which fruit is no 1 when it comes to antioxidants? ›

Although red and purple fruits like blueberries, pomegranates, tart cherries, blackberries, goji berries and raspberries have the highest quantities, antioxidants are also abundant in various plant foods.

What are the big three antioxidants? ›

These include the nutrient antioxidants, vitamins A, C and E, and the minerals copper, zinc and selenium. Other dietary food compounds, such as the phytochemicals in plants, are believed to have greater antioxidant effects than vitamins or minerals.

Which are the 2 most important antioxidants? ›

E and C vitamins are the the most important among vitamins as natural antioxidants. Vitamin C, which contains ascorbic acid and its oxidation product dehydroascorbic acid, has many biological activities in the human body. More than 85% of vitamin C in the human diet is provided from fruits and vegetables.

Are Bananas high in antioxidants? ›

Fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of dietary antioxidants, and bananas are no exception. They contain several types of potent antioxidants , including flavonoids and amines. These antioxidants are linked to many health benefits, such as a reduced risk of heart disease and macular degeneration.

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