How Antioxidants Keep You Young:
How to Put “The Fountain of Youth” in Your Diet?
Every day, free radicals are created in your body. “Free” might sound good, but free radicals damage cells. However, they are also a natural part of life.
How do you protect yourself?
With antioxidants! They’re the superheroes for your health and guardians for your youth.
Here’s what you’ll find in this article:
What are free radicals? And how are they created?
How oxidative stress harms your body
Health conditions linked to free radicals
Antioxidants to the rescue
High-antioxidant foods
High-antioxidant beverages
Why antioxidant supplements don’t work
Recipes with high-antioxidant foods
How Are Free Radicals Created?
Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules.
You can’t avoid free radicals. They are just part of life.
When you digest food, experience stress, or are exposed to unhealthy things, such as cigarette smoke, alcohol, pollution, and pesticides, free radicals are created in your body.
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How Oxidative Stress Harms Your Body
Oxidative stress is an imbalance of free radicals and antioxidants in the body, leading to cell and tissue damage.
Oxidative stress plays a role in aging.
And, a large body of research suggests that long-term oxidative stress contributes to inflammation in the body and most chronic diseases1, such as cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes.
The modern lifestyle – with meat-heavy diets, processed food, exposure to toxins, and a lack of exercise – plays an important role in oxidative stress.
How Free Radicals Harm Your Health
Some of the health conditions linked to free radicals include:
Damage to the nerve cells in the brain (Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s)
Deterioration of the eye lens, which contributes to vision loss
Inflammation of the joints (arthritis)
Acceleration of the aging process
An increased risk of heart disease
Some cancers
Antioxidants to the Rescue!
Antioxidants help protect your cells against free radicals.
They neutralize free radicals by donating an electron, which neutralizes them.
Some antioxidants are made in the body. And foods provide many of the essential antioxidants that your body can’t make on its own.
Eating foods rich in antioxidants reduces oxidative stress – lessening the effects of aging and your disease risk.
I don’t believe we can compensate for a poor diet by taking supplements. Green smoothies and juicing are a lot of how I keep antioxidants high, in my own diet.
11 Foods High in Antioxidants
Where do you get antioxidants? From plants!
On average, plant foods have 64 times more2 antioxidants than meat-based foods.
Many plant foods are high in antioxidants. Let me tell you the 11 foods I find to be highest, according to research:
Antioxidant-Rich Food #1 — Dark Chocolate
Dark chocolate has more cocoa – and more minerals and antioxidants3 – than regular chocolate.
Its ORAC score (a cumulative antioxidant score) is over 13,000 – higher than virtually any other food.
When you choose your dark chocolate, look for types that are organic, fair trade, have a high cacao content (60% or higher), and are naturally sweetened (agave, maple syrup, stevia, etc. rather than cane sugar).
Antioxidant-Rich Food #2 — Blueberries
All berries are a great choice for antioxidants. Blueberries, in particular, are packed with nutrients and antioxidants.
Studies show that the antioxidants in blueberries may delay aging-related decline in brain function.4
Your best choice is wild blueberries – they may have twice as many antioxidants as regular blueberries!
Antioxidant-Rich Food #3 — Kale
Kale is one of the most nutritious leafy greens. And, it’s rich in antioxidants.5
The red varieties of kale contain more anthocyanin antioxidants.
Cooking kale was shown to reduce antioxidants,6 so it’s best to enjoy kale in green smoothies and salads more often than cooked.
Antioxidant-Rich Food #4 — Red or Purple Cabbage
Purple, or red, cabbage is rich in vitamins and has a high antioxidant content.7
The vitamin C in this colorful cabbage acts as an antioxidant, helping strengthen the immune system and keeping the skin firm.
Purple cabbage is also incredibly cheap, so it’s an excellent way to get antioxidants and save money!
Antioxidant-Rich Food #5 — Beets
Beets are a great source of antioxidants and other nutrients.
They are particularly rich in an antioxidant called betalains, which gives them their reddish color.
Studies have linked betalains to a lower risk of cancers in the colon and digestive tract.8
I love beets, but I know that many people don’t. Find one of my most popular smoothie recipes below – you won’t taste the beets!
Antioxidant-Rich Food #6 and #7 — Walnuts and Pecans
Walnuts and pecans have the highest amount of antioxidants of all the nuts.9
Antioxidant-Rich Food #8 — Beans
Beans are one of the best plant sources of antioxidants.10
In particular, they contain an antioxidant called kaempferol, which may reduce inflammation11 and potentially suppress cancer growth.12
Antioxidant-Rich Food #9 — Artichokes
Artichokes are a great source of antioxidants, which was fun to learn, since they’re also one of my favorite foods in the whole world, yay!
They are especially rich in an antioxidant called chlorogenic acid, which may help reduce the risk of certain cancers, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease.13
Antioxidant-Rich Food #10 — Goji Berries
Goji berries contain unique antioxidants known as Lycium barbarum polysaccharides, linked to a reduced risk of cancer and heart disease.14
Goji berries are pricier. So you can use them, in moderation, on oatmeal, as a topping for smoothie bowls, sprinkled on yogurt, or mixed in salads.
Antioxidant-Rich Food #11 — Spices
Most spices are very high in antioxidants.
Clove has the highest antioxidant value.15
Here are some other spices that are high in antioxidants:
Ginger
Turmeric
Garlic
Peppermint
Allspice
Cinnamon
Oregano
Thyme
Sage
Rosemary
Parsley
Antioxidant-Rich Beverage #1 — Hibiscus Tea
Hibiscus tea has the highest level of antioxidants of all the teas – 400% higher than green tea.16
Antioxidant-Rich Beverage #2 — Green Tea
Green tea has one of the highest amounts of antioxidants of any tea.17
Green tea can also be used as a liquid in green smoothies. (Find a recipe below.)
Antioxidant-Rich Beverage #2 — Rooibos Tea
Research shows that the antioxidant effects of rooibos are similar to, though not quite as strong, as the antioxidants in green tea.18
An Important Note About Tea
Many tea bags are full of microplastics and other concerns.
Find out what you need to know to make the healthiest tea choice. You’ll see why I prefer to buy loose-leaf tea.
Why Antioxidant Supplements Don’t Work
Most research on antioxidant supplements did not find the benefits they hoped for.19 Vitamin E and other antioxidant supplements didn’t protect against heart disease or cancer.
One study even showed that taking beta-carotene supplements actually increased the chance of lung cancer in smokers!20
As science shows, antioxidants tend to work best synergistically with other nutrients, plant chemicals, and other antioxidants, in whole plant foods. Rather than in a pill.
9 Recipes with High-Antioxidant Foods
Dark Chocolate Black-Bean Brownies
A healthy brownie recipe? Yes!
This recipe gives you three foods that are high in antioxidants – dark chocolate, black beans, and walnuts.
Blueberry Mango Smoothie
Use frozen wild blueberries in this smoothie to gain the most antioxidants.
Spinach is another leafy green that’s high in antioxidants.
Mean Green Detox Smoothie
Get your antioxidant-rich kale – plus plenty of other veggies – in this delicious, detoxifying smoothie.
Spinach Strawberry Salad and Dressing
This refreshing salad is loaded with antioxidants – from the strawberries, spinach, and pecans
Thai Lettuce Wraps
These wraps give you a great way to use antioxidant-rich red cabbage – plus, they have garlic and ginger.
Hot Pink Breakfast Smoothie
You won’t even know there are high-antioxidant beets in this gorgeous, yummy recipe. It’s my favorite breakfast!
Beans and Greens Soup
A good soup is delightful in winter. This one gives you kale, beans, and spices. It’s a high-nutrient feast.
Power Green Smoothie
This recipe uses green tea as the base. Plus, it includes blueberries and some high-antioxidant spices.
Apple Butter
How to use the highest-antioxidant spice, clove? Here’s one way. You could also make this using soaked dates instead of coconut sugar.
Enjoy an Easy Way to Get Antioxidants with Our Superfood Plant Protein
Want an easy way to add more antioxidants to your days?
Our Organic Superfood Complete Meal Plant Protein gives you kale and spinach – plus chlorella and spirulina, which have a wide array of antioxidants.
In February only, we invite you to love yourself with plants by getting 25% off the Superfood Plant Protein when you join Subscribe & Save, or 20% off regular orders.
Eat Antioxidant-Rich Plant Foods Daily, With Every Meal!
To stay out of oxidative “debt,” you need to take in more antioxidants than your free radicals use up.
Free radicals are produced during digestion after every meal. So, every meal should contain high-antioxidant foods – which means whole plant foods.21
And remember: Especially when you’re stressed, sick, or tired, you need even more antioxidants. So load up on delicious, plant foods to reduce the effects of aging, protect your health, and boost your longevity.
Thank you for your support of this blog! Some of the links in the content may benefit this small business.
Resources
Carlsen, Monica H et al. The total antioxidant content of more than 3100 foods, beverages, spices, herbs and supplements used worldwide.” Nutrition journal, vol. 9 3. 22 Jan. 2010, doi:10.1186/1475-2891-9-3
Greger, M. (2011). Antioxidant Power of Plant Foods vs. Animal Foods.
Food Data Central. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Chocolate, dark.
Devore, E. E., Kang, J. H., B. Breteler, M. M., & Grodstein, F. (2012). Dietary intakes of berries and flavonoids in relation to cognitive decline. Annals of Neurology, 72(1), 135-143. https://doi.org/10.1002/ana.23594
Lučić D, Pavlović I, Brkljačić L, et al. Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities of Kale (Brassica oleracea L. Var. acephala DC.) and Wild Cabbage (Brassica incana Ten.) Polyphenolic Extracts. Molecules. 2023;28(4):1840. Published 2023 Feb 15. doi:10.3390/molecules28041840
Sikora, Elżbieta, and Izabela Bodziarczyk. Composition and antioxidant activity of kale (Brassica oleracea L. var. acephala) raw and cooked. Acta scientiarum polonorum. Technologia alimentaria vol. 11,3 (2012): 239-48.
Wiczkowski, Wieslaw & Szawara-Nowak, Dorota & Topolska, Joanna. (2013). Red cabbage anthocyanins: Profile, isolation, identification, and antioxidant activity. Food Research International. 51. 303–309. 10.1016/j.foodres.2012.12.015.
Madadi E, Mazloum-Ravasan S, Yu JS, Ha JW, Hamishehkar H, Kim KH. Therapeutic Application of Betalains: A Review. Plants (Basel). 2020;9(9):1219. Published 2020 Sep 17. doi:10.3390/plants9091219
Blomhoff R, Carlsen MH, Andersen LF, Jacobs DR. Health benefits of nuts: potential role of antioxidants. British Journal of Nutrition. 2006;96(S2):S52-S60. doi:10.1017/BJN20061864
Ombra MN, d'Acierno A, Nazzaro F, et al. Phenolic Composition and Antioxidant and Antiproliferative Activities of the Extracts of Twelve Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Endemic Ecotypes of Southern Italy before and after Cooking. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2016;2016:1398298. doi:10.1155/2016/1398298
Alam, Waqas et al. Kaempferol as a Dietary Anti-Inflammatory Agent: Current Therapeutic Standing. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) vol. 25,18 4073. 7 Sep. 2020, doi:10.3390/molecules25184073
Imran M, Salehi B, Sharifi-Rad J, Aslam Gondal T, Saeed F, Imran A, Shahbaz M, Tsouh Fokou PV, Umair Arshad M, Khan H, et al. Kaempferol: A Key Emphasis to Its Anticancer Potential. Molecules. 2019; 24(12):2277. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules24122277
Tajik, Narges et al. The potential effects of chlorogenic acid, the main phenolic components in coffee, on health: a comprehensive review of the literature. European journal of nutrition vol. 56,7 (2017): 2215-2244. doi:10.1007/s00394-017-1379-1
Ma ZF, Zhang H, Teh SS, et al. Goji Berries as a Potential Natural Antioxidant Medicine: An Insight into Their Molecular Mechanisms of Action. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2019;2019:2437397. Published 2019 Jan 9. doi:10.1155/2019/2437397
Carlsen MH, Halvorsen BL, Holte K, et al. The total antioxidant content of more than 3100 foods, beverages, spices, herbs and supplements used worldwide. Nutr J. 2010;9:3. Published 2010 Jan 22. doi:10.1186/1475-2891-9-3
What Do the Antioxidants in Tea Do? Art of Tea.
Chacko SM, Thambi PT, Kuttan R, Nishigaki I. Beneficial effects of green tea: a literature review. Chin Med. 2010;5:13. Published 2010 Apr 6. doi:10.1186/1749-8546-5-13
A.Von Gadow, E. Joubert, C.F. Hansmann. Comparison of the antioxidant activity of rooibos tea (Aspalathus linearis) with green, oolong and black tea. Food Chemistry, Volume 60, Issue 1, 1997, Pages 73-77, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0308-8146(96)00312-3.
Antioxidants. The Nutrition Source. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Russell, Robert M. Beta-carotene and lung cancer. Pure and Applied Chemistry, vol. 74, no. 8, 2002, pp. 1461-1467. https://doi.org/10.1351/pac200274081461
Greger, M. (2013). Antioxidant-Rich Foods with Every Meal.
What are your thoughts on glycine & taurine antioxidant supplements?