One of the things that makes real dark chocolate a healthy snack is its antioxidant quality. An ounce of really dark raw chocolate has more antioxidants than a cup of blueberries based on the ORAC scale. But do you know why antioxidants are important or what other delicious snacks can boost your antioxidant intake?
The term “antioxidant” actually describes a whole group of vitamins and other substances that help protect your body’s cells from free radicals, which are produced when food is broken down and by environmental conditions like exposure to tobacco smoke or radiation. Free radicals damage healthy cells and are believed to be factors in some heart disease, cancer, vision problems, and other conditions. To learn more about antioxidants and free radicals, take a look at this short video or this great article from “How Stuff Works.”
Luckily, getting a great variety of antioxidants is really simple and delicious. (Many antioxidant sources happen to pair really well with dark chocolate!) Antioxidants like beta-carotene, lutein, lycopene, selenium, and vitamins A, C, and E can be found in colorful fruits and vegetables and other foods. Here are some quick and tasty combinations to get you started…
- Make a spinach, strawberry and pasta salad with fresh strawberry and blueberry vinaigrette.
- Grab an apple and some trail mix loaded with dried cranberries and cherries.
- Dip some raspberries and blackberries in a little bit of melted dark chocolate. (The darker, the better!)
Want more inspiration, or feel like doing some real cooking? Check out Eating Well‘s page on “Healthy Antioxidant Rich Recipes and Tips.”
Getting thirsty? Green and black tea, great at any time of day, have a high antioxidant content and contain no calories (assuming you don’t add milk, sugar, or honey). Also, superfruit juices like pomegranate and acai berry are increasingly popular and can be found in almost any grocery store. They have some of the highest concentrations of antioxidants you can find.
Antioxidants are easy to find, delicious to consume and an important part of a healthy lifestyle. What do you think is the most flavorful way to fight free radicals?
Post written by: Rebecca Dobrzynski