The Benefits of Foods and Herbs Rich in Antioxidants
It’s definitely a health buzzword: Antioxidants. You hear it everywhere, from the fruit in your smoothie and your salad at lunch. Antioxidants are even marketed in face creams. We know they are good for us. We know we should incorporate them. But why?
What are antioxidants and why should you focus on them? Why should you seek out products that have antioxidants? And, what exactly are the benefits?
What are Antioxidants?
Antioxidants are a special kind of micronutrient, which means they are a nutrient that you only need in trace amounts to receive big benefits. Essentially, they prevent harmful reactions from occurring when you are exposed to chemicals, smoke, air pollutants, and radiation. They stop, or delay, damage done to your body’s cells.
Antioxidants are commonly found in many plant-based foods and they work to stop free radicals, which are compounds that bind themselves to your cells, leading to damage in normal cells. Exposure to these free radicals is found in many chemicals and pollutants we are all hoping to avoid, some of which can lead to degenerative processes and have the ability to cause a host of health issues.
You may already get antioxidants in your diet, but you likely know them by other names. Vitamins C, E, and selenium are found in many fruits, herbs, and vegetables; there are plenty of antioxidants in legumes, nuts, and seeds too.
Why do I need foods rich in antioxidants?
Antioxidants work to combat the health issues created by free radicals, including cancers, dementia, heart disease, eye diseases such as macular degeneration, and premature aging. Damage from free radicals can even lead to a stroke, so it’s key to consciously incorporate antioxidants into your diet.
Antioxidants can also slow signs of aging— not only in your skin, but also your eyes, joints, tissue, heart, and brain, and reduce inflammation, and supports detoxification.
In truth, it’s hard to know for sure that antioxidants are the sole preventative weapon against the health problems associated with free radicals. Why is this? For starters, there are just so many antioxidants, and it’s hard to track how each individual antioxidant acts once it enters the body’s digestive system or bloodstream.
Because of this, it doesn’t make sense to digest isolated antioxidants, but instead to incorporate foods and herbs rich in antioxidants to receive their health benefits. Fortunately, many plant-based foods have compounds that act as antioxidants. These foods and herbs have other proven benefits, which may be attributed to the antioxidants these foods possess.
Where can I find antioxidants?
If you want to start enjoying the benefits of antioxidants, start by making the effort to eat a diet rich in plant-based foods and use a variety of herbs. Here are a few foods and herbs to increase your intake of antioxidants:
- Turmeric
- Pineapple
- Blueberries, cherries, strawberries, and goji berries
- Artichokes
- Pecans
- Dark chocolate (What great news!)
- Kale, spinach, and red cabbage
- Beets
- Cloves
- Cinnamon
- Basil
- Saffron
- Lemon balm
Another place you can get a great daily dose of antioxidants? Each ingredient in Airloom is not only hand-picked to support your immune health and respiratory system, but it also a great, natural source of antioxidants too. Airloom is sourced from real foods and herbs that are chock-full of antioxidants, not synthetically-crafted chemical compounds.
To sum it all up, it’s important to incorporate antioxidants into your daily regimen— and it’s also important to get these antioxidants from food sources. And since Airloom is made from real food sources, you can trust that you are getting all the health benefits of antioxidants, while also supporting your immune response and your respiratory system with one simple, daily supplement.
Learn more about our all-natural, seasonal wellness supplement and how it can help support a healthy respiratory and immune function.
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