What are antioxidants?
Antioxidants are molecules present in food that are responsible for counteracting the damage that free radicals cause in our body, this is achieved because antioxidants provide an electron to the free radical molecule generating an atomic equilibrium.
Free radicals damage our body, cause premature aging of cells and are also the cause of diseases such as diabetes, Alzheimer’s, cardiovascular diseases, increases levels of bad cholesterol and increases the risk of cancer.
Antioxidant Benefits
They are the only ones that fight free radicals , their benefits, as well as wonderful ones, are many and here we tell you:
- It acts as a protective shield of the organism
2. Prevents premature aging of the body
3. Prevents the onset of degenerative diseases
4. Strengthens the immune system
5. Strengthens the cardiovascular system as it keeps low levels of bad cholesterol
6. Prevents the appearance of cognitive problems
7. Studies relate that a diet rich in antioxidants is a lower risk of cancer
Antioxidant Classes
There are about 15 kinds of antioxidants, here we tell you which are the main ones and in which foods you can find them:
- Coenzyme Q-10, you find it in soybean oil and peanuts.
- Carotenoids, present in vegetables, vegetables and fruits suchas carrots, squash, spinach, tomatoes, papaya, melon and apricot.
- Vitamin Cpresent in citrus fruits such as orange, lemon, kiwi, strawberry, tomato and vegetables such as cucumber, paprika, cabbage and broccoli.
- Vitamin Efound in nuts, in vegetable oils such as sunflower, soy and corn, in seedsand cereals, especially wheat germ.
- Seleniumpresent in garlic, nuts and sunflower seeds.
Foods Rich in Antioxidants
Although as we told you before, many delicious, nutritious and easy-to-include foods contain antioxidants, these foods are the ones that contribute most to our body:
- Green tea
2. Grape, including the peel
3. Cranberries
4. Pomegranate
5. Açai
