Every single one of us has both free radicals and antioxidants inside of our bodies at all times.

So what is a Free Radical?

Free radicals are (very simply put) oxygen containing molecules that have an uneven number of (missing) electrons. They are very unstable and will do anything to get more oxygen containing molecules to survive - they’ll scavenge from other cells in our body causing damage to the cells and the cell’s DNA. They can be caused by a number of different factors, including diet and lifestyle, and over time, the damage they cause can lead to the development of chronic disease(s).

So what is an Antioxidant?

Antioxidants are compounds that STOP the free radicals mentioned above from doing damage to our bodies. Antioxidants actually carry extra “electrons” and will share them with the free radicals (oxygen containing molecules that are missing them).  Some antioxidants are made in our body, while the rest we need to get by eating high antioxidant foods. 

Basically - antioxidants help stop harmful free radicals.

Because many of us are exposed to such high levels of free radicals in our bodies from a young age (from processed foods, exposure to chemicals, environmental pollutants, chronic stress, smoking, UV light, pesticides, etc), our bodies don’t work as well as they should, and so we need the power of antioxidants MORE THAN EVER.

Basically = limit our exposure to processed foods, toxins and chronic stress as much as possible AND eat a hell of a lot more high antioxidant foods.

So what foods contain Antioxidants?

It’s so easy to add them into every meals, and we can use the ORAC score (standing for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity - a unit of measure helping us see how much “antioxidant capacity” a food has), to see which foods rate the highest.   

High ORAC Foods

Try to consume at least 3-4 servings daily of these antioxidant-rich foods (even more is better) for optimal health.

Direct Antioxidant Foods

• Vitamin C | Crucial for our adrenal and nervous system function.  Eat citrus, berries, broccoli + leafy greens to name just a few

• Selenium | Supports our thyroid and metabolism as well as our immune system.  Just 2 brazil nuts is all it takes

• Beta Carotene | For our vision, growth + development as well as our immune system.  Think orange and yellow fruits and veggies

• Anthocyanins | Antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and anti-obesity effects.  Think blue and purple fruits and veggies

• Resveratrol | Support from our brain, respiratory and mitochondria health.  Look to organic red wine, red grapes + blueberries

Indirect Antioxidant Foods

Even better than the above Direct Antioxidant Foods - the benefits of these foods last up to 24 hours after eating and help our body to stimulate its own stores of antioxidants.

• Turmeric | Has been shown to help lower cholesterol, triglycerides + improve blood pressure

• Ceylon Cinnamon | Support and balance blood glucose levels

• Ground Clove | High in manganese and omegas and can help reduce risk of developing heart disease, diabetes + certain cancers

• Dried Oregeno | One of the best antifungal foods found in nature

• Acai | Support brain, heart + overall health.  High in dietary fibre and oleac fatty acids

• Raw Cacao | One of the highest food sources of magnesium, helping lower blood pressure, balance blood sugar levels, support brain + heart health