ANNOUNCER:
You’ve heard about the healthy properties of antioxidants
BONNIE TAUB-DIX, RD, AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION:
Antioxidants are kind of like powerhouses that help to fight disease and they actually can be protective and help preserve your body.
ANNOUNCER:
But where’s the best place to find them?
RISA SCHULMAN, NUTRITION EXPERT:
Carbohydrates and proteins do not contain antioxidants; only fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants. That's why it's so important to eat fruits and vegetables
ANNOUNCER:
How do you know which ones to choose?
BONNIE TAUB-DIX, RD, AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION:
The foods that are high in antioxidants, very often, are the foods that are the most colorful.
RISA SCHULMAN, NUTRITION EXPERT:
For instance, in pomegranates, the polyphenols that cause that beautiful, really red color are antioxidants. Things like blueberries, cranberries, spinach – nice dark green leafy vegetables, orange peppers, red peppers.
ANNOUNCER:
And don’t forget to mix it up
BONNIE TAUB-DIX, RD, AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION:
When you have more variety in your diet, there's a greater chance of having a variety in this antioxidant activity.
RISA SCHULMAN, NUTRITION EXPERT:
It's important to have many different kinds of antioxidants so they'll be working in all the different parts of the body where they're needed.
ANNOUNCER:
Antioxidants aren’t just in food - a recent study dubbed coffee the number one source of antioxidants in the u-s diet. And as for antioxidants in alcohol
BONNIE TAUB-DIX, RD, AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION:
If you don't drink at all, then I don't know that it's necessarily something that you should add to your diet. However, if you are drinking, then red wine would be the beverage of choice.
ANNOUNCER:
So make sure your diet is antioxidant-rich!
RISA SCHULMAN, NUTRITION EXPERT:
It really is an easy way to improve your health and to prevent disease later in life.
ANNOUNCER:
Thanks for joining us on today’s Once Daily!
