Your Secret Weapon: Antioxidants

 

Want to boost your immune system, help detoxify the body and prevent ageing? Antioxidants could be your secret weapon!
Antioxidants are a super compound that can get rid of toxins or ‘free radicals’ floating around the body to fight inflammation, detoxify the body, delay the ageing process and warn off chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
 

Where are they found?

Real food sources of antioxidants are naturally gentler and can be more effective in the body than expensive pharmaceutical supplements. The best part is that there are heaps of delicious foods that are antioxidant powerhouses! So here’s a list of just some of the antioxidant rich foods to include in your diet: 

 

1. Nuts

Our snack of choice, these babies pack another powerful punch of phytochemical antioxidants as well as protein and healthy fats essential to balance hormone production.

2. Cacao

Cacao is not only delicious, but an excellent source of antioxidants, with higher levels than red wine, berries and store bought dark chocolate. 
Click here to find out the other benefits of raw cacao.

3. Berries

In case you needed another reason to love berries, they also contain high levels of phytochemicals and ellagic acid that have been shown to reduce inflammation in the body. Want to know why people go crazy for acai bowls and goji berries? They’re packed with antioxidants!

4. Purple Foods

Purple foods such as grapes, red cabbage and beetroot are a particularly high source of phytochemicals (one particular strain of antioxidants) that may help protect against cancer and heart disease.

5. Dark Leafy Greens

These veggies are a vital source of antioxidants and couldn’t really be any more super, containing plenty of other nutrients including vitamins C, E, and A, calcium, magnesium and potassium.

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A great rule of thumb to amping up you antioxidant intake is to include a variety of colours on your plate. Fresh, colourful wholefoods will always carry higher levels of beneficial compounds, including antioxidants, to keep your body in a healthy, naturally detoxifying state. 
For the ultimate antioxidant rich breakfast or snack check out this Antioxidant Acai Bowl topped off with our Almond & Berry Breakfast Topper- an antioxidant rich blend of nuts, seeds, superfoods and berries.


 Written by Health and Wellness Blogger/Journalist Zhané Orr-O’Farrell. Check her out on Instagram: @zhaneannalise