Antioxidant Rich Foods

Foods High In Antioxidants

There are many antioxidant rich foods. Where to begin and which ones to choose can seem overwhelming or even downright confusing.

So where do we start?

Below is a list of the top 10 foods high in antioxidants that should be included in your diet. But before we get to that there are a couple things I want to mention.

Most of the foods high in antioxidants come from fruits and vegetables. Not only do fruits and vegetables have the vitamin antioxidants you need (such as Vitamin A and Vitamin C)... but they also have numerous antioxidant phytonutrients (such as lycopene and lutein).

And then there are a few other foods with antioxidants benefits you may not know about. Some of these sources include...

- Protein such as chicken, turkey, meat, beef, whey, seafood, eggs, tofu.
- Omega 3 fatty acids which come from salmon, mackerel, anchovies, herring, sardines or you can supplement on them (good for vegetarians).

Let me explain the importance of these sources.


Protein... I mention protein because protein is made up of amino acids. And amino acids have many important functions in the body. But the most important function, regarding antioxidants, is they help create your body’s most powerful antioxidant... glutathione.

Quick side note... lean protein is also an excellent part of your diet if you are looking for healthy weight loss.

Glutathione is created from the amino acids cysteine, glutamic acid and glycine. These 3 amino acids are found in proteins. Protein sources include chicken, turkey, meat, beef, whey, fish & seafood, eggs.

Eating lean protein sources gives your body the amino acids needed to create glutathione... which is the body’s most powerful antioxidant.


Omega 3’s... they are a type of unsaturated fat (aka. healthy fat) that is very beneficial for your body. Without getting too nerdy, these include alpha linolenic acid (ALA), EPA and DHA.

The research shows that omega 3’s are great in fighting cancer and cardiovascular disease, protecting and keeping your brain healthy, reducing inflammation and could help with immunity.


So proteins and omega 3’s, along with fruits and vegetables, are some of the best foods with antioxidants.

Now that we got that covered let’s talk about the top antioxidant rich foods you should add to your diet!


The Top 10 Antioxidant Rich Foods

Below is a list of the top 10 foods high in antioxidants. I base this list on a combination of criterion including how many beneficial nutrients are available, how much of the vitamin antioxidants they have, the phytonutrients available, research done, their price and availability.

Another criterion I thought about is “If I was stuck on an island and there was only 1 antioxidant rich food available... what would be the best for my health?”

Here are they...

1. Bell peppers – mostly red and green
2. Oranges
3. Strawberries
4. Blueberries
5. Broccoli
6. Spinach
7. Tomatoes
8. Apples
9. Prunes
10. Eggs

This is my opinion on the overall Top 10 antioxidant rich foods.

And if you can, definitely go organic. Less pesticides, less hormones, less junk getting in the way of your health and these foods high in antioxidants.

And if I could add just 1 more to the list... I would add onion.


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