Top Antioxidant Fruits and Vegetables

While we know that fruits and vegetables are healthy, do we really know how and why they are so good for us? Why are we meant to eat 3-6 servings of fruits and vegetables each day? And how do they help in fighting diseases? A big reason behind their nutritional value is that they are full of antioxidants, which fight harmful chemicals in our body. Here we have the top miraculous antioxidant fruits and vegetables that will help in maximizing overall health

Berries. Berries are packed with poranthocynidins which helps in keeping diseases at bay, especially cancers. Take any kind of berry - strawberry, blackberry and raspberry - they also have ellagic acid in them which helps in smooth digestion too. Stir them in yogurt, add them to your salads or eat them raw, they make for great antioxidant foods.
Broccoli. Well known for its heart-friendly and cancer-fighting properties, broccoli contains a component called indole 3 carbonyl which helps in adequate digestion. It is also known to fight breast cancer among women in particular and is an excellent antioxidant food.

 
Lemon: It is useful to treat coughs and congestion. It is also effective against heartburns and other stomach ailments. Helpful in maintaining the electrolyte balance of the body, lemons have antioxidants that help prevent heart diseases and cancer.

 
Apples: They are full of fiber which helps in lowering blood cholesterol from the body and glucose levels. They are full of Vitamin C which keeps the blood healthy by soaking up extra iron from the body.
 
Sweet Potatoes. Among all the root vegetables, sweet potatoes are ranked the highest when one talks about low glycemic index foods that benefit weight loss when consumed in appropriate quantities. These foods digest slowly, thus leading to a gradual rise in blood sugar levels, keeping you full for a longer period of time. They are full of Vitamin C, fiber, potassium, antioxidants but yet again the key in eating potatoes lies in moderation and healthy cooking methods.
Spinach. Popeye the sailor was quite right when crediting his muscle power to this green leafy vegetable. It is believed that spinach contains around 13 flavonoid compounds which keep us away from cancer, heart diseases and osteoporosis.