5 Antioxidant Foods That are Far From Boring

Antioxidant Foods: 5 Highly Pleasurable Ways to Get Your Fill

Nutrient dense foods are far from boring. That’s the most exciting part about eating healthy: you get to look good, feel good, and enjoy decadent eats. Antioxidant foods are a great example. While you may think it’s all leafy greens and plant-based proteins, some of the most intoxicating foods are also loaded with antioxidants. Here are some highly pleasurable ways to load up on antioxidant foods.

1. Coffee

Coffee is one of the world’s finest inventions. A warming, jet black cup of French press coffee fills the room with aroma. It warms you up in the winter time and gets you going when the hot summer air slows you down. Coffee staves off depression and invigorates your body and mind. Not to mention that it’s an antioxidant food.

“Americans get more of their antioxidants from coffee than any other dietary source. Nothing else comes close,” says study leader Joe Vinson, Ph.D., a chemistry professor at the University of Scranton, reported on Phys.org. Although fruits and vegetables are generally promoted as good sources of antioxidants, the new finding is surprising because it represents the first time that coffee has been shown to be the primary source from which most Americans get their antioxidants, Vinson says. Both caffeinated and decaf versions appear to provide similar antioxidant levels, he adds.

2. Chocolate

I like to close my eyes when I eat dark chocolate. This way I take time out of my day to indulge in the decadent nuances of a piece of high quality chocolate. Chocolate also contains more polyphenols and flavanols than most fruits!

3. Red Wine

In moderation, a glass of red wine can be a delightful experience. Subtle hints of flavor along with that warming feeling throughout, a good glass is hard to beat. Red wine also adds depth of flavor to a great meal and it contains flavonoids, a potent antioxidant.

4. Green tea

Green tea can lift you up in the morning or even the afternoon. Its caffeine buzz is much more subtle than coffee. Some people are partial to green tea over coffee (or the opposite), but I love them both. Green tea is great for your skin and staving off depression, and it contains flavonoids like red wine. It’s known to reduce your risk of various types of cancer as well.

5. Oysters

One of my most beloved experiences was sipping on champagne and oysters at the Hog Island Oyster Bar in San Francisco. And in my native South Carolina, oyster roasts are a common way to celebrate in the winter months. They taste great and eating them is a special experience, usually done in groups. Oysters also contain more zinc per serving than any other food including red meat. Zinc is a nutrient that’s important for cellular metabolism, immune function, and wound healing.

Related on Organic Authority

Organic Fruits and Vegetables Higher in Antioxidants, Lower in Pesticides than Conventional, Study Finds

Superfood Berry has More Antioxidants than Any Other Food On Earth

The Benefits of Red Wine Defined: Is That Vino Really Good For You?

Image of woman sipping on coffee from Shuttershock

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