More About Antioxidants

Last time I learned that the ORAC score measures a substance's antioxidant levels, but I didn't really know what was so great about antioxidants. Well, I did some research, and this is what I found. An antioxidant is a substance, such as vitamin E, vitamin C, or beta carotene, that is thought to protect body cells from the damaging effects of oxidation.  These foods specifically are very high in antioxidants: green tea, goji berries, and acai berries. Antioxidants fight free radicals which damage cells. This cell damage can cause cancer and arthritis, and it is detrimental to your immune system health! The best way to be sure you're getting enough antioxidants in your diet is to look at the color of foods you're eating. Remember: COLOR IS KEY! Does your diet consist of brown burgers, fried chicken, and gravy and white french fries, tortillas, butter, and potato chips? If it does, your radicals are free as a bird 'cause you are NOT getting enough antioxidants! Look for dark green vegetables, bright blue berries, red tomatoes, and green peppers. Bright colored foods like these have very high ORAC scores.