Understanding how important antioxidants are is one thing. Adding them to your diet every day is another. You may find you are health-focused and juicing your antioxidants one day and five cars deep in the McDonalds drive thru the next. Sometimes life gets busy and boosting antioxidants isn’t the priority you’d like it to be.
It’s easier than you may realize to boost your daily intake of antioxidants when you think small and consistently. Here are some great tips:
Tip 1 – Stock Your Pantry & Your Fridge
Keep your pantry stocked- It’s easier to eat antioxidant-rich foods when they are readily available. Create a master list of foods that have the highest antioxidant benefits as well as other good-for-you foods. Use this list as a guide when you hit the store or shop online. You can print one from your computer or keep a master note on your smartphone. This can help ensure you don’t leave important foods behind when you leave the market.
Tip 2 – Think in 2oz. Increments
A little goes a long way- You don’t have to eat pounds of broccoli or drink gallons of coconut water for antioxidant benefits. Actually, all you need is about 2oz increments of antioxidant-rich foods at a time. It’s simple to add a handful of berries to your morning cereal, enjoy a tasty coffee or tea beverage, or sip on a glass of merlot. You can easily create an antioxidant salad by combining leafy greens, nuts, carrots and other raw cruciferous veggies. Remember, a little bit goes a long way.
Tip 3 – Leave Fruits and Veggies Unpeeled
Keep the skin on your fruits and veggies- Whenever possible, leave the skin on your whole foods. The highest concentration of antioxidants is often in the edible peel of whole foods. Leaving foods unpeeled can boost your intake with every serving. A great way to get more unpeeled foods is to make smoothies with your favorite fruits and veggies. Since they are blended, the consistency is very pleasing, even to picky eaters.
Tip 4 – Choose Powders & Supplements
When you don’t have access to fresh, use powders and supplements- Sometimes you don’t have the same access to antioxidant foods and beverages. When you travel it may be harder to keep a stocked pantry or access whole foods. It’s great to have supplements or powders on hand in a pinch. While supplements aren’t the first choice for adding antioxidants, they can be quite useful. Powdered greens or powdered Matcha green tea are both antioxidant rich. Look for “super berry” powders or antioxidant gummies for a grab-n-go boost.
Getting plenty of antioxidant benefits from your foods is easier when you use these tips. From leaving your foods whole to supplementing with powders, there are plenty of ways to boost your daily intake of antioxidants.
