Antioxidant Foods

One of the necessary by-products of your metabolism is a molecule called the free radical. This molecule is destructive, and will wreak havoc in the body unless it is caught by another molecule called an antioxidant. Too many free radicals running loose cause aging--not just visible aging like wrinkles, but also the general loss of efficiency that your body experiences as the years go on.

Eating for Antioxidants

While many people take antioxidant supplements, you can get most of the antioxidants your body needs from your diet. Vitamin A is a potent antioxidant, as well as a crucial component for healthy vision. Vitamin A is found in carrots and other orange and yellow vegetables such as squash and sweet potatoes. Dark leafy greens are also high in vitamin A.

Another strong antioxidant is vitamin C, found in citrus fruits, strawberries, and tomatoes. In addition, vitamin E has strong antioxidant properties. Vitamin E is found in seeds and nuts--as you can see, eating your fruits and vegetables is the best way to get antioxidants in your diet. Plant foods are good sources of other vitamins and minerals in addition to antioxidants, and should be part of any balanced diet. A surefire way to get the recommended allowances of vitamins is to add some sort of supplement to your routine.

For antioxidants that come from animal products, selenium is a mineral that can act as an antioxidant. Seafoods contain high levels of selenium, and wild seafoods tend to have even higher levels than farmed fish. Unlike the vitamins, which can be taken in supplements, selenium can be toxic in high doses, and should only come from antioxidant foods.