Antioxidants, The Wonderful Weight Loss Tip For Summer

Justifiably so, antioxidants are all the rage today. Free radicals, which can cause cell damage and ultimately lead to diseases of the heart or cancer, can be neutralized by antioxidants. Antioxidants are everywhere, but no matter where you go blueberries seems to be the only choice. The most popular and healthy choice today to get your antioxidants is a mixture of freshly squeezed blueberries, cranberries and even pomegranates. However, in our rush to embrace the latest antioxidant food craze, we've ignored some very high antioxidant foods that may be sitting in our cupboards right now. When consuming antioxidants here is an essential weight loss tip for you, instead of blueberries try the small red bean.

Scientists have found that the body forms unstable oxygen molecules known as free radicals and that antioxidant rich foods can help neutralize these unstable oxygen molecules.

A free radical is simply an atom with an odd number of electrons in its outer ring. Substantial biological damage can be caused by a free radical chain reaction. Since electrons have a very strong tendency to exist in a paired rather than an unpaired state, free radicals indiscriminately pick up electrons from other atoms, which in turn convert those other atoms into secondary free radicals. Because of the biological damage that free radicals cause, they are very bad. There are many different kinds of free radicals we are exposed to everyday such as pollution, radiation, cigarette smoke and herbicides.

There are many common foods high in antioxidants and you shouldn't restrict yourself to just blueberries for example. Why? Well, have you ever heard the expression, “eat your colors?” That refers to the fact that foods are in different color “families” containing different types of antioxidants which have different benefits. The yellow-orange color family including peaches and nectarines offer an immune system boost. To help reduce inflammation the purple-red color family of pomegranates, plums, and berries should be used. It’s important to eat foods from all color groups to reap the full benefits of antioxidants.

You can eat food high in antioxidants (by eating them raw, cooking them, or juicing them yourself) without having to pay a high price for the “flavor of the month” antioxidant juices found in grocery stores everywhere.

So, make sure to give your blueberries some company at the dinner table from now on. Make sure to invite some beans, spinach, potatoes, or artichoke hearts to your table and enjoy your antioxidants and your weight loss tip of the day!