Antioxidant-rich foods for a healthy you

A sneeze here, a sniffle there, a cough here and there a rising body temperature is common in winter as our bodies don’t have sufficient antioxidants to combat them. The saviours here are antioxidants. I like to think of them as the little soldiers that protect our body against damage caused by free radicals, pollution, toxins chemicals.

Antioxidants are your rainbow foods – white, red, yellow, orange, green and purple and are produced in phytochemicals (plant food). These are non–nutrients as they have no calories but are absolutely necessary for good health. Scientific research is claiming the benefits of antioxidants and how they can reduce, reverse and retard chronic conditions, heart diseases and even cancer.

Antioxidants are wonder drugs found in fruits, vegetables, grains nuts, herbs and spices and you can buy them anywhere. Though always remember to eat seasonally. Add on these winter magical guardians for your well-being:

Sweet potato
This helps in increasing your immunity as it is very rich in beta-carotene which is a major antioxidant that prevents degenerative diseases.

Purple Yam
It is low on the glycemic index and is a good source of carbohydrates. These also keep you full for a long time.

Strawberry
This fruit has one of the highest counts of antioxidants. Strawberries also contain other beneficial nutrients, such as fibre, magnesium, phosphorus, foliate, potassium and calcium.

Fresh Turmeric
Turmeric is a natural wonder and nature’s most powerful healer. It has powerful anti-inflammatory properties and Ayurveda uses it as a treatment for many ailments. The fresh root is available in the winter months a must add on your daily plate.

Lemons
Rich in Vitamin C which is a powerful antioxidant, it strengthens our immune system and reduces the chances of getting bacterial and viral infections.

Leafy Greens
They are your powerhouse of vitamins and minerals, nutrients and proteins. These are Spinach, Fenugreek and Coriander to name a few.

Guava
Your body uses the nutrients – Vitamin A, B, C and potassium - from Guava to fight diseases

Garlic
Allium group of vegetables this pungent condiment boosts your cellular health.

Walnuts
It contains several antioxidants. Include in your diet as it reduces the risk of diseases like cardiovascular, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, asthma and arthritis.

Purple and Green Grapes
The seed of purple and green grapes helps in lowering cholesterol without any added sugar.

Tomato
Call it a fruit or a vegetable, the tomato is a treasure of nutrients, including Vitamin C for immunity, the lycopene in it one of your most powerful antioxidants.

Ghee
It is easily digestible and has even been found to stimulate our stomach to release necessary stomach acids that help digest what we eat. Being rich in antioxidants ghee helps absorb various nutrients from our food.