WHERE CAN THEY BE FOUND?
Antioxidants are most often in fruits, vegetables and legumes, although they can be found in almost every food group. Fruits contain essential nutrients such as potassium, fibre and folate – nutrients that help maintain blood pressure, lower cholesterol and repair body tissues. Blueberries, cranberries, apples, strawberries and more are all filled with antioxidants. Dried fruits – although often high in processed sugars – have a higher antioxidant ratio than fresh fruits, since they lose mass from water. They act as quick antioxidant fuel due to their high concentration of antioxidants. Carotenoids are found in red, orange or yellow vegetables.
Many green vegetables such as kale, broccoli and spinach are excellent sources of antioxidants, namely quercetin and lutein.