Summertime is a great time to increase your consumption of local, organic fruits and vegetables. Here in the arid southwest, it can be a challenge, but with just a bit of water and generous shade, lettuce, tomatoes, basil, oregano, mint, eggplant and a few other favorites will grow and produce the most local of local produce. So, while you're busy enjoying the fruits (or veggies, as it were) of your labor, you can also know you're eating the healthiest food available. So here's a question for you - do you know which foods are the highest in anti-oxidants? Take this little quiz...
1. True or false: Anti-oxidants protect us from the evils of free radicals.
2. True or false: Some anti-oxidants are made in our bodies.
3. True or false: Organic farming methods can increase anti-oxidant levels in foods.
4. True or false: Commercial, pasteurized juice has 20% more anti-oxidants than an equal amount of fresh fruit.
And the answers? Virtual drumroll please...
1. T
2. T
3. T
4. F - commercial pasteurized juice has about 20% less anti-oxidants than most organic juice or homemade juice.
Here's a list of foods with the highest anti-oxidant power and many of them are in season now. Boost your immune system, aid your overall health and add 3 or 4 servings of these anti-oxidant heavy hitters to your diet.
Blueberries
Cranberries
Blackberries (noticing the theme, berries berries berries!)
Raspberries
Strawberries
Red grapes
Apples
Plums
What the full list? Read this great article from the Organic Center. (PDF format)
Read more!
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