10 Ways To Get More Antioxidants Into Your Diet

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It’s no secret that antioxidants are incredibly beneficial to good health. It’s believed the antioxidants in food can help prevent cancer, reverse or slow aging, enhance your immune system, increase your energy and improve heart and other organ health.

Given all we know about antioxidants and their beneficial properties, it’s amazing more people don’t get enough fruits and vegetables, the primary sources of antioxidants. Experts recommend a minimum of 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily, but say getting 7-10 servings is best.

There are 10 steps to getting more antioxidants into your diet.

1.Breakfast

Breakfast doesn’t have to be a hurried piece of toast on the way out the door. Throw some strawberries, an apple, handful of greens (spinach or kale), flax seeds, lemon, and ginger into a blender with some water; pour your delicious mixture into a cup and head out the door. You’ve just added  two servings of fruits and a veggie serving to your daily intake. Or throw some berries onto your cold or hot cereal.

If you tend to have no time in the morning, blend up a batch of your green juice the night before or make overnight oats and add berries and a banana in the mornings.  

2.Snacks

Here’s an easy way to get more antioxidants in your diet. How about a handful of raisins for a snack, or some fresh red grapes? Dip some strawberries in soy or coconut yogurt. You’ll feel decadent, but the berries provide the color you’re looking for. Need crunch? How about some baby carrots dipped in hummus? Consider a handful of pecans for crunch and a nice antioxidant boost.

3.Lunch and dinner

It might sound trite, but adding a salad to each of your main daily meals can add loads to your overall health and well-being. They don’t have to be boring, and they don’t have to be just salad greens. If you’re going classic, add some red pepper slices to your green salad, some tomatoes to the Greek salad, or tart cranberries to your field greens. Whip up a broccoli salad for lunch, or be adventurous and mix up a rice salad with a mélange of fresh vegetables like string beans, tomatoes, peppers and red onions.

4.Dessert

Berries, with a nice cashew cream are a wonderful way to end your day of healthy, antioxidant-rich eating.

5.Beverages

Replace your soda with tea or coffee, both of which boast antioxidant compounds. Green tea, one of the healthiest beverages we can drink, has been associated with about a 30 percent reduction in breast cancer risk, and may protect against gynecological malignancies, such as ovarian cancer and endometrial cancer, as well as lower our cholesterol, blood pressure blood sugar, and body fat. It may also protect the brain from both cognitive decline and stroke. Tea consumption has also been associated with decreased risk of diabetes, tooth loss, and up to half the risk of dying from pneumonia.

6.Think outside the box

We know we can get our antioxidant fix from berries, salads and the like, but researchers say powerful antioxidants can also be found in a variety of unexpected foods, like russet potatoes, artichokes, and small red beans. The beans, in fact, may have more antioxidant power than blueberries, experts say. So to your rice salad full of vegetables, add some beans for even more antioxidants.

7.Cook lightly

You think you’re being good, preparing vegetables each night for your family’s dinner. But if you’re overcooking the vegetables, you’re cooking out a lot of the beneficial properties of the antioxidants. Steam (don’t boil) vegetables, and stop cooking them when they will have all of their bright color and most of their bite.

8.Plant a garden

Experts believe that people who plant and harvest vegetables from their own yards are far more likely to eat more vegetables and fruits than people who buy their produce from the store. So plant a garden, watch it grow and eat the fruits (literally) of your labor.

9.Take your healthy diet on vacation

Too many of us consider going on vacation (or the holidays) an opportunity to take a vacation from everything, including healthy eating. Think of vacation as a way to be introduced to new foods. Order an interesting vegetable dish in a restaurant and then pay attention to how the chef prepared the dish.  Or try a new recipes to share with everyone like this Easy Beet Wonderdip from Forks Over Knives.

10.Learn to cook

If you’re cooking, you’re not opening bags and boxes. Cooking involves scrubbing and peeling vegetables, preparing whole foods and paying attention to how things are cooked. If you’re ordering out every night, you’re far less likely to be eating the whole foods and natural fruits and vegetables that provide the base for our antioxidant intake.

What will you do to get 10 daily servings of fruits and veggies? 

Need more ideas?

Send me an email or let me know in the comments below.

Myth #4: If it’s vegan it must be healthy.

Despite the increasing number of people adopting plant-based diets, there are still many myths about this way of eating.  One of those myths is "if it’s vegan it must be healthy" (Read about Myth #1 HERE ,  Myth #2 HERE & Myth #3 HERE).

There's no doubt that plant-based diets are good for your health.   Research shows that people following a balanced plant-based diet are consistently slimmer and healthier than meat eaters. We also have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease, certain cancers, type 2 diabetes, and a lot less inflammation.

Not all vegan foods are healthy or created equal. In fact, many are filled with chemicals, preservatives, and “bad” fats that have a shelf-life to last a century.  Foods like Oreos, Coca-Cola, and French fries, can be vegan but they are also highly processed.  Also be cautious of vegan desserts, mock meats and vegan frozen meals - many have excessive amounts of  added sugars, salt, and ingredients you can't recognize.

Regularly eating fried, fatty and processed foods with chemicals in them is harmful - these foods actually wipe out the health benefits gained from eating meat-free.

As a general rule, eating whole, plant-based foods (fruits, vegetables, whole grains, & legumes) is the best thing for your health.  If you do choose convenience foods from time-to-time, be sure to check your labels.  I like this rule of thumb from Michael Pollen’s book Food Rules:  “Avoid food products containing ingredients that a third-grader cannot pronounce.” 

What are some processed foods that can occasionally be part of your healthy plant-based diet?  (use these foods with caution as they can be high in calories and/or sodium)

• Pretzels

• Baked tortilla or veggie chips

• Rice cakes 

• Fat free crackers

• Some fruit & nut bars (like Larabar - check ingredients)

• Store bought hummus or other spreads (try making your own)

• Plant-based milks (check the ingredient list)

• Whole grain breads like Dave's Killer Bread or Ezekial Bread

*Remember that foods like bread and crackers, even those made from whole grains, are still processed and can cause blood sugars to rise after eating.  For your best health, limit servings of these foods to once or twice a week.

Are there any processed or convenience vegan foods that you eat?  Ask yourself what you could try instead.  Need ideas?  Send me an email or let me know in the comments below.

Myth #3: Dairy products are the only source of calcium

Despite the increasing number of people adopting plant-based diets, there are still many myths about this way of eating.  One of those myths is that vegans do not get enough calcium.   (Read about Myth #1 HERE and Myyth #2 HERE).

While it’s true that dairy products from cows, goats, and sheep contain calcium, many of us are led to believe these are the only foods that should supply us with this bone-building mineral. There is much evidence showing that plant-based sources of calcium, such as legumes, greens, nuts, and seeds contain high amounts of calcium—and more importantly, these plant-based sources of calcium are frequently more readily absorbable than dairy

Calcium is best known for its structural role - giving hardness to bones and teeth.  It is also an essential mineral for numerous body functions-regulating heartbeat, conducting nerve impulses, stimulating hormonal secretions and clotting the blood. 

How much do you need?
Current calcium RDA for adults is 1,000 mg per day and 1,200 mg per day for women over 50 and men over 70. 

Consuming more calcium is not the only answer to building a stronger body.  A Yale study that analyzed 34 published studies from 16 countries found that the countries with people who consumed the highest levels of dairy and animal-based products had the highest levels of osteoporosis. Additionally, they found that South Africans’ daily calcium intake was 196 mg and yet they were nine times less likely to suffer hip fractures than their American counterparts.

How is that possible?  To protect your bones you do need calcium in your diet, but you also need to keep calcium in your bones. Avoid excess salt - high sodium intakes result in increased calcium losses. Get your protein from plants, not animal products - animal protein (fish, poultry, red meat, eggs, and dairy products) tends to leach calcium from bones and encourage its passage into the urine.  Quit smoking - it robs your body of calcium.   Exercise is important - active people tend to keep calcium in their bones, while sedentary people lose calcium.  Vitamin D is also important as it controls your body's use of calcium - get 15 minutes of sunlight on your skin each day or take a supplement. 

 What are the best calcium rich foods to eat?

Tofu: firm, set with calcium sulfate (1/2 cup) = 861 mg
Soy beans: green, raw (1 cup) = 504 mg
Almonds: whole, roasted, no salt (1 cup) = 370 mg
Black-eye peas: cooked (1 cup) = 211 mg
Turnip greens: cooked, no salt (1 cup) = 197 mg
Collard greens: frozen, uncooked (10 oz) = 191 mg
Bok choy: shredded, cooked, no salt (1 cup) = 158 mg
Nay beans: cooked (1 cup) = 128 mg
Black turtle beans: cooked (1 cup) = 102 mg
Sunflower seeds: toasted (1 cup) = 76 mg
Navel orange: (1 medium) = 60 mg
Raisins: (2/3 cup) = 54 mg
Kale: fresh, raw (1 cup) = 53 mg
Beet greens: raw (1 cup) = 44 mg
Brussels sprouts: raw (1 cup) = 37 mg
Spinach: raw (1 cup) = 30 mg
Figs: fresh, 2.5" (1 each) = 22 mg

Note:  You may need a supplement to be sure you're getting enough calcium or vitamin D.  Check with your physician as too much calcium and/or vitamin D might be harmful.  

Need help with meal planning, shopping, batch cooking, and learning which simple, yet tasty recipes fit best with your lifestyle? Want to develop habits to reduce stress, increase movement, and improve sleep?

Let's talk about it - grab a spot on my calendar here. Send me an email - Michelle@sarandwellness.com. Or reach me at 865.268.5312

Iron's Irony

Iron's Irony: It Can Make You Strong or Kill You

Despite the increasing number of people adopting plant-based diets, there are still many myths about this way of eating.  One of those myths is that vegans do not get enough iron.   

The truth is that it is entirely possible for anyone, vegan or omnivore, to be low in iron. In fact, many studies show that iron deficiency in vegans is about the same as in the rest of the population.

Iron (in your red blood cells) plays a central role in transporting oxygen throughout your body, releasing it where needed, and carrying away carbon dioxide.  Iron also plays a role in your immune system functioning, in detoxification, and in the mental processes surrounding learning and behavior. 

How much do you need?
The RDA of iron for most people is 8 mg per day.  Women of childbearing age need 18 mg.  Pregnant women, infants, teens, and athletes may have different needs so check with your medical provider to see what's ideal for you.  Because iron has such a vital role in transporting oxygen throughout the body, you might be exhausted, irritable, cold, have headaches, and pale skin if you are low in iron.  

Heme or Non -Heme?
There are two types of iron: heme iron, which is found in animal foods, and non-heme iron, which is found in plant-based foods. 

Heme iron, found in meat, is more readily absorbed even when the body doesn’t need any iron.  Once heme iron has been absorbed, the body has limited mechanisms for ridding itself of any excess.  Heme iron is a pro-oxidant which mean that too much in the body promotes cancer cell growth, suppress the immune system, and triggers the creation of blood-clotting platelets increasing the risk for heart disease and stroke.  Research indicates that high iron intakes and excess iron in the body is associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, arthritis, and type-2 diabetes.

Relying on a non-heme iron, found in plant foods, gives your body more control over how much is absorbed.  If iron reserves are low, the body absorbs more iron from plant foods.  If iron reserves are abundant, the intestines can absorb a lower proportion of nonheme iron.

Iron Supplements?
Only people with a confirmed diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia should consider supplementing their iron intake, and even then, it can be risky. A recent study found that a significant increase in oxidative stress happened within the bodies of women on iron supplements. Before going on iron supplements, talk to your physician about using diet to optimize your iron intake. 

Iron is a double-edged sword. If we don’t absorb enough, we risk anemia; but if absorb too much, we may increase our risk of cancer, heart disease, and a number of inflammatory conditions. Because the human body has no mechanism to rid itself of excess iron you should choose plant-based (non-heme) sources, over which your body has some control.

What are the best iron rich foods to eat?

• Legumes, soybeans, & tofu

• Oatmeal, brown rice, and other whole grains

• Nuts and seeds (especially pumpkin seeds, squash seeds, pine nuts, pistachios, sunflower seeds, and cashews)

• Dried fruit

• Dark chocolate

• Dark leafy greens

Good to Know: 

• Eating vitamin C-rich foods, such as citrus, tropical fruits, broccoli, bell peppers, at the same meal with iron rich foods, will improve iron absorption.  

• Eating onions & garlic can with grains and legumes can increase availability of iron (& zinc) by 50%

• Iron absorption is impaired by drinking tea and coffee with your meals - have your tea or coffee about an hour after the meal.

• Researchers have found that cooking acidic foods, like tomatoes, in an iron skillet greatly increases the iron content of many foods.  

• Soaking, fermenting, yeasting, and sprouting plant foods increases the body’s absorption of iron and other valuable minerals. 

• Surprisingly, spinach is NOT a good way to get iron due to it's high oxalate content. 

• Donating blood is a good way to rid your body of excess iron (especially for people with genetic hemochromatosis). Check with your doctor.

Need help with meal planning, shopping, batch cooking, and learning which simple, yet tasty recipes fit best with your lifestyle? Want to develop habits to reduce stress, increase movement, and improve sleep?

Let's talk about it - grab a spot on my calendar here. Send me an email - Michelle@sarandwellness.com. Or reach me at 865.268.5312