Surprisingly Good Sources of Antioxidants

Antioxidants are important in the diet for cutting down on damage from oxidative stress in the body, but there are more sources of them than just blueberries and other bright fruits. Here are some surprisingly good sources of antioxidants that also happen to be super delicious.

Mushrooms

Mushrooms are not vibrantly colored like a lot of other high antioxidant foods, but they are still a great source of unique antioxidant called ergothioneine. Ergothioneine is used in a lot of skincare products and some scientists think it will be used to treat cancer. Mushrooms are also very low in calories with about 15 calories per cup, so adding them to your diet is only going to do good by giving you nutrients, fiber, and maybe some good taste to some of your meals.

Coffee

Coffee is not just delivering the caffeine, it’s also full of antioxidants. It’s a good source of chlorogenic acid which can help to prevent the oxidation of bad cholesterol in the body. Remember that coffee’s health benefits are greatly reduced or flushed down the drain when you start adding in things like sugar, excess milk, and highly processed creamers. Keep it simple for the health benefits and it will remain virtually calorie free as well.

Barley

It’s true that grains as well have antioxidants when they are in their least processed state. Barley is high in ferulic acid, and even higher when the barley is black. Just remember if they are processed they are stripped of the outer layer which holds all the good stuff.

Cabbage

Cabbage is high in the antioxidants anthocyanins, which are also found in foods like red wine and pomegranates. (It’s what gives them all that super bright red color.) Unlike those two foods, cabbage is extremely low in calories and is good as an addition to savory foods like salads, pasta, and meat dishes. A cup of red cabbage has fewer than 30 calories and is also a great source of fiber.

Rosemary

Yes it’s true that spiced and herbs can be great sources of antioxidants as well! Rosemary is high in the antioxidant carnosol, which might be good for the memory and even warding off Alzheimer’s disease.

Eggs

We know eggs are an awesome whole source of protein and pretty low calorie, but they are also a good source of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin, both of which are good for the eyes. However, they’re only found in the yolks so be sure and eat the whole thing to get the health benefits. Eggs only have around 70 calories each but six grams of protein when you eat the yolk as well.

Pistachios

Pistachios are a good source of flavonoids which work as an antioxidant in the body.

Avocados

Avocadoes get a lot of attention for their heart healthy fats, but they are also a good source of polyphenols. Here’s why, and it’s a good thing to remember: natural foods that are naturally high in fat always will have a high dose of antioxidants to prevent them from oxidizing. Good to know.