Super-charge your diet with antioxidants

Because they're packed with a bounty of healthful properties, it's a good idea to add super-powered antioxidants to your diet through these simple means.

Linked to everything from better heart health to anti-aging, antioxidants have been all over the news in recent history. These compounds possess potent properties that can dramatically affect your health. Many supplement companies specialize in antioxidants, but learning how to add super-powered antioxidants to your diet by consuming the right commons foods and drinks is a much smarter and financially responsible option.

The intense flavours in many spices are indicators that they're bursting with a powerful kind of antioxidant known as a flavonoid. An article published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry tested 26 common herbs and spices and found that almost all had high antioxidant activity. Some of the most powerful spices were cinnamon, cloves, oregano and rosemary, all of which are easy to add to a variety of foods and beverages. The common spice turmeric, a staple of Indian curries, is another spice with high antioxidant values that has been linked to many health benefits including anti-cancer properties.

Beverages made from the tea plant are also an easy way to add super-powered antioxidants to your diet on a daily basis. A study published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer found that drinking green tea causes a rapid rise in the amount of antioxidants in the human blood, which is associated with numerous beneficial health effects. Black tea, which is the toasted version of green tea, also has high antioxidant power but not as much as green tea itself, which is the plant in its raw state.

The bright colours and intense flavors of natural fruits are also indicators of high antioxidant profiles. In fact, dark, sweet berries are often identified as being the most powerful source of antioxidants among all fruits. Eating blueberries, pomegranate and Canada's own Saskatoon berries are all easy ways to add some very healthy antioxidants to your diet on a daily basis.

Spices, tea and fresh berries not only all add an incredible antioxidant boost to your daily diet, but they are relatively inexpensive and easy to find. Try consuming all three each day to keep your antioxidant levels at their highest and improve your health dramatically without hurting your pocketbook.