| Antioxidants are all the rage today. And, justifiably so. | | | | plums. And, no, that's not a mistake. Russet potatoes |
| Antioxidants help neutralize free radicals which cause | | | | are on the list of foods high in antioxidants. |
| cell damage, which ultimately can lead to diseases of | | | | The truth is, there are many common foods high in |
| the heart and cancer. It seems everywhere you go its | | | | antioxidants and you should not just restrict yourself to |
| blueberry this and blueberry that. You have your | | | | one particular food source. Why? Well, have you ever |
| choice of wild blueberry juice, blueberry-pomegranate | | | | heard the expression, "eat your colors?" That refers to |
| juice, blueberry-cranberry juice and so on and so on. | | | | the fact that foods are in different color "families" |
| Now, don't get me wrong. I love blueberries. But, in our | | | | containing different types of antioxidants which have |
| rush to embrace the latest antioxidant food craze | | | | different benefits. For example, the yellow-orange color |
| (blueberries, cranberries, pomegranates) we're ignoring | | | | family of peaches and nectarines help our immune |
| some very high-antioxidant foods that are probably | | | | systems. The purple-red color family of foods |
| sitting ignored in our cupboards. | | | | (pomegranates, plums, berries) helps reduce |
| "What?" You ask, "What could possibly be higher in | | | | inflammation. It's important to eat foods from all color |
| antioxidants than my beloved wild blueberry?" Well, | | | | groups to reap the full benefits of antioxidants. |
| how about the small red bean? That's right, I said | | | | The good news is that you can eat healthy foods high |
| "bean." The small red bean actually has more | | | | in antioxidants (by eating them raw, cooking them, or |
| antioxidants per serving size than the wild blueberry. | | | | juicing them yourself) without having to pay a high |
| And the red kidney bean and pinto bean have more | | | | price for the "flavor of the month" antioxidant juices |
| antioxidants per serving size than a serving of | | | | being peddled in the supermarkets. |
| cultivated blueberries. | | | | So, give your blueberries some company at the dinner |
| What other foods are high in antioxidants? For | | | | table. Invite some beans, spinach, potatoes and |
| starters, there are artichoke hearts, blackberries, | | | | artichoke hearts and enjoy your antioxidants! |
| prunes, pecans, spinach, kale, russet potatoes and | | | | |