Health Tips

Improving your diet can reduce your cancer risk, even if it hangs out in your family tree.

Enriching your diet with antioxidants bulks up your cell system.

Enriching your diet with antioxidants bulks up your cell system. Healthy cells are better equipped to fight free radicals. Free radicals can damage cells and when those cells reproduce the risk for disease increases. Nutrition including antioxidants is probably the easiest way to protect your health.

Vitamins A, C, E, and Beta-Carotene build a strong defensive system. Vitamin supplements are helpful, but the key word here is supplements. They should never be used in place of healthy eating.

The USDA lists flavonoids which are found in coffee and tea to be among the strongest antioxidants. One cup of coffee will not only jump start your day, it will jump start your cell system. However, all types of antioxidants are beneficial. Other sources are vegetables, fruits, nuts, and whole grains.

Beans are especially loaded with antioxidants and are a good source of protein. Any bean boosts the system whether red, kidney, or pinto. Other leading vegetables include potatoes and spinach.

In fruits, berries are packed with more punch. Blackberries, cranberries, raspberries, you name it. They can be a snack alone or top deserts without making you feel so guilty about indulging. Antioxidants are also in other fruits including peaches, apples, and mangos.

Just as different foods appeal to your taste buds, different antioxidants are good for your system. So go ahead and mix things up, variety really is the spice of life.