9 Important Things to Know about Antioxidants ...

Carotenoids are found in things like carrots and broccoli. They are good for your vision, bone growth and cell function. They are also important for fighting infection. Who knew that carrots and broccoli could do so much?! How is that for things to know about antioxidants?

Lutein protects the eyes from cataracts and macular degeneration. To get this antioxidant you need to eat things like kale, broccoli, kiwi, Brussels sprouts, and spinach. These are some of my favorite fruits and vegetables. Do you like any of these vegetables?

Lycopene is found in tomato products, grapefruit and watermelon. Even ketchup is a good source for lycopene. It is noted for lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease, prostate cancer and prevents sun damage to skin. Although adding ketchup to your fries may be counter-productive.

Eating antioxidants is shown to decrease the risk of a second heart attack by 75 percent. This is amazing news, because without making a diet change and eating more healthy foods, many people are likely to continue to have heart attack troubles. Makes you wonder what eating antioxidants before having heart troubles can do to better your health.

While eating antioxidants may not help cure diabetes, they can help control diabetes and blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, are you sure to make antioxidant rich foods a part of your daily diet? I hope you are because they can make a huge difference.

Consuming antioxidant rich foods also helps prevent the free radical damage that is frequently associated with cancer. Knowing what foods to eat can greatly decrease your chances of having cancer in your life too.

Antioxidants can even improve the appearance of your skin. Eating foods rich in vitamin C contain because they contain collagen that makes skin tighter and healthier. What are some of your favorite vitamin C foods? I love the idea that I can control the appearance of my skin by the foods I eat.

While we mostly think of antioxidants as coming from fruits and vegetables, you can also get many important antioxidants from teas, fish, red meat, and whole grains. Flax seed and oatmeal are a great source of lignan. Are some of your favorite foods rich in antioxidants? What are they and how do they keep you healthy?

Don’t forget your vitamin E. It is essential for immune function, metabolism, and repairing damaged DNA. You can get vitamin E from nuts, seeds, whole grains, and green leafy vegetables. I have an aunt that even uses vitamin E oil to reduce the appearance of scars and heal scratches.

Scientist continue to study antioxidants and find new things each day. There is no doubt that eating antioxidant rich foods will better your health and well being. What are some things you like to eat that contain a lot of antioxidants?