BEST NATURAL SOURCES OF ANTIOXIDANTS

Antioxidants are substances that may delay specific types of cell damage. They can be added to your diet as a nutritional supplement or consumed from natural sources as part of a healthy diet. Many fruits and vegetables are high in antioxidants, making them an excellent way to boost the nutritional content of your meals.

1 Blueberries

2 Red Beans

3 Cranberries

4 Artichokes

5 Blackberries

Blueberries

Wild and domestic varieties of blueberries are some of the best natural sources of antioxidants. If you have a local source of wild blueberries, they have substantially more antioxidants than their domestic cousins, but either is an excellent way to add these important nutrients to your diet. Consider adding blueberries to a salad, baking them in muffins or pancakes, blending them into a smoothie, or adding them to filtered water along with some stevia for a delicious, yet hydrating drink.

Red Beans

Both small red beans, and larger red beans like kidney beans, are an excellent natural source of antioxidants. Consider making your own bean dip, adding beans to taco meat, or whipping up a pot of chili for your weekday lunches. Cooked beans are also a great addition to soups and salads, dramatically increasing the nutritional content without much extra effort.

Cranberries

Cranberries can be purchased fresh, dried, canned, or frozen, and are a fun way to dress up your meals. They’re also one of the best natural sources of antioxidants available, adding a nutritional punch to your favorite meals. Whether you’re adding dried cranberries to your favorite granola recipe or serving a roasted meat with homemade cranberry sauce, you’re sure to enjoy the tangy punch they add to your recipes. There are multiple recipes available to make your own cranberry based dishes, or you can purchase ready made sauces, snacks, or cookies.

Artichokes

Artichokes are another of the best natural sources of antioxidants to consider adding to your diet. They’re typically served steamed, as a side dish. The individual petals can be dipped in melted butter, mayonnaise, or another dip of your choice. Artichokes can be eaten hot or cold, and may also be added as an ingredient to your favorite creamy dip. This versatile vegetable makes a fun alternative to traditional sides like salad, broccoli, and green beans, and adds a substantial antioxidant boost to your meal.

Blackberries

Like blueberries, blackberries are a versatile way to add antioxidants to your daily food intake. These berries have a slightly tart taste, but can be served with sugar, stevia, or your favorite artificial sweetener. Consider using them to top yogurt, adding them to pancakes, or serving them with cream for a low calorie dessert.

If you’ve decided that you’d like to take advantage of the many benefits that antioxidants have to offer, consider adding them to your daily food intake. Enhancing your health may be as simple as adding a handful of fruit to your meals, adding beans to your favorite soup, or trying a new vegetable side dish with your dinner. It’s easier than you’d think to boost your antioxidant intake through natural sources.