Anti...oxi...WHO?!

With Old Man Winter nipping at your heels, the term antioxidant seems to be on the tip of everyone’s tongue. But, do you really know what an antioxidant is?

According to the American Dietary Association, “Antioxidants are dietary substances that can prevent damage to your body cells or repair damage that has been done.” As the name implies, “antioxidants” work against damage done by exposure to oxygen or the oxidative. For example, if you peel a potato and leave it exposed to the elements, it will brown as a result of oxidation. However, if you soak it in lemon water, the Vitamin C in the lemon will protect the potato from browning.

Similarly, different foods containing antioxidants such as Vitamin C, Melatonin, Vitamin E, Beta-Carotene, and Selenium can help prevent illnesses and diseases, and also help the healing process.

Increasing you intake of antioxidants has been proven to lower the chances of diabetes, influenza, colds, Parkinson’s, many types of cancer, heart disease, and even Alzheimer’s disease.

So now you may be asking, what kinds of foods have antioxidants? Fresh fruits and vegetables contain high amounts of Vitamin C, especially the brightly colored ones like peppers, oranges and grapefruit. On a side note, always check with your doctor or pharmacist if it is safe to eat or drink grapefruit with your medications, as it acts as a catalyst and can affect the rate of absorption of your medications. Vitamin E can be found in sunflower seeds, almonds, hazelnuts, and different types of oils. Sources of melatonin are walnuts, mustard seed, celery seed, and tart cherries; melatonin is also a proven natural sleep aid and can be taken in a supplement form as well.

Finally, there is everybody’s favorite type of antioxidant, Polyphenolic Antioxidants! During invitro research studies, polyphenolic antioxidants have been shown to have antiviral, anticarcinogen, and antimicrobial affects. Although the effects of polyphenolic antioxidants are still being researched, these seem to be the antioxidants everyone is talking about. Polyphenolic antioxidants can be found in red wine, dark chocolate, olive oil, cinnamon, blueberries and green tea.

So why not add an extra padding of protection this winter season and stock up on some foods containing antioxidants? Besides the aforementioned benefits, all of these foods are good for you and delicious!