Consume antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables such as berries, kiwis, kale and broccoli at every meal. When these components are missing, seemingly nutritious meals that contain high-quality protein and fat actually can cause oxidative stress and reduce your blood antioxidant level significantly. This is one reason that studies may have linked greater consumption of red meat and other protein with increased risk of disease. The solution is to boost your antioxidant intake so you’ll get all the good of animal-based protein without the bad.
Researchers suggest that the average 500-calorie mixed meal requires about 1-5 servings of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables in order to prevent oxidative stress. They suggest as much as nine servings a day of highly antioxidant foods for a typical 2,500-calorie diet if stressors such as dietary pro-oxidants, disease or cigarette smoke and drugs are not present. To achieve this level, consume antioxidant-rich produce with every meal and consider supplementing with an organic vegetable or fruit antioxidant powder.
Comments