Antioxidants protect your cells against free radicals. Free radicals cause oxidative stress in your cells and tissues. This oxidative stress damages your cells and contributes to several diseases and health problems. Consuming foods that are high in antioxidants reduces this oxidative stress and helps you fight against infection and disease.
There are hundreds of antioxidants-rich foods. This article will look at 10 foods you can add to your diet to reap great health benefits.
Dark Chocolate
All chocolate may not be good for you but dark chocolate is. This cocoa-rich chocolate is packed with nutrients and antioxidants. At 15 mmol of antioxidants per 100 g, this food has one of the highest antioxidant concentrations there is in foods. [1] Dark chocolate is more than merely safe for consumption. Studies have found that consuming this food has several health benefits.
One study found that [2] consuming foods rich in cocoa like dark chocolate reduced systolic blood pressure by around 4.5 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure by 2.5 mmHg. This chocolate also helps reduce the risk of heart disease by raising the amount of high-density lipoprotein (HDL or good cholesterol) in the body. [3]