What Are Antioxidants?

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What are antioxidants?

Fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods made from plants contain antioxidants. A number of vitamins also work as powerful antioxidants to combat free radicals, which are harmful to our health.

Sources for Antioxidants:

  1. Vitamin C – along with being an antioxidant, this vitamin helps support immune function and wound healing.
    • Fruits – citrus fruits (oranges and grapefruits) and juices, kiwi, cantaloupe, and strawberries.
    • Vegetables- broccoli, brussel sprouts, peppers, tomatoes, and tomato juice
  2. Vitamin E – along with being an antioxidant, this vitamin aids in promoting immune function and the formation of blood vessels.
    • Vegetables – green vegetables such as spinach and broccoli
    • Additional foods include fortified juices, nuts, seeds, peanuts, peanut butter, and vegetable oils.
  3. Carotenoids – along with being an antioxidant, these can be converted into vitamin A to assist with growth, immune function, and eye health.
    • Fruits – apricots, cantaloupe, mangos, oranges, tangerines, pumpkin, and watermelon
    • Vegetables – broccoli, carrots, bell peppers, collard greens, spinach, kale, beets, sweet potato, tomatoes.

REFERENCES

Antioxidants.TheNutritionSource.https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/antioxidants/.PublishedMarch3,2021.AccessedSeptember2,2021.InteractiveNutritionFactsLabel-VitaminandMineralsChart.U.S.Food&

DrugAdministration.https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/interactivenutritionfactslabel/assets/InteractiveNFL_Vitamins&MineralsChart_March2020.pdf.AccessedSeptember2,2021.