🫐Antioxidants

Antioxidants are helpful substances that help protect cells in the body from the damaging effects of oxidative stress caused by free radicals.

Antioxidants include vitamin C, vitamin E, selenium, zinc, phytochemicals (flavonoids, polyphenols, carotenoids), protein (specifically the amino acid cysteine). Plant-based foods average 64x the antioxidants that animal products have. "Spices, herbs and supplements include the most antioxidant rich products in our study, some exceptionally high. Berries, fruits, nuts, chocolate, vegetables and products thereof constitute common foods and beverages with high antioxidant values." https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1475-2891-9-3 Carotenoids are a type of antioxidant that produce the bright yellow, orange, and red colours in plants. Some are converted by the body into vitamin A. Sources include: Yams, kale, spinach, watermelon, cantaloupe, bell peppers, tomatoes, carrots, mangoes, and oranges. https://www.healthline.com/health/carotenoids