Looking for simple, effective ways to improve your health, both for now and in the future? Our list of 5+ foods high in antioxidants is a great place to start!
Why Should We Eat Foods High in Antioxidants?
You probably didn’t come here to read a scientific article, so I’ll spare you all the complicated, technical details.
Our bodies produce what are known as ‘free radicals.’ We form free radicals by being exposed to environmental stressors, or waste byproduct from the foods we eat.
Over time, if our bodies aren’t processing and eliminating these free radicals efficiently, we experience oxidative stress.
Oxidative stress can create an ideal environment in our bodies for disease to flourish.
Some conditions with a strong link to oxidative stress are:
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Arthritis
- Strokes
- Liver disease
- …and most diseases where inflammation is the primary cause
How Do Foods High in Antioxidants Work?
How many of you are familiar with the arcade game, Pac-Man? In the game, Pac-Man goes around eating bright, flashing dots that give him energy and allows the ‘cartoon’ to keep going.
In my oddball mind, that’s how I see antioxidants working for us.
Each time we feed our body foods high in antioxidants, they go around like Pac-Man, gobbling up the free radicals and inflammation that make us ill.
Every time we choose a food that gives our body what it needs to fight for us – rather than against us – we take one more step toward health and wholeness.
These are only a few of the best foods high in antioxidants to add daily to your diet.
1. Dark Chocolate
You might not think chocolate should be part of a healthy diet, but dark chocolate is excellent for us in small amounts.
It is packed full of antioxidants, and, dark chocolate has been shown to help reduce inflammation in the body which reduces our risk of many diseases.
Unfortunately, not all chocolates are created equal! Milk chocolate is usually highly processed, and often, filled with unhealthy sugars.
Next time you need a chocolate fix, consider a recipe using dark chocolate. Not only is it one of the best foods high in antioxidants, but it’s delicious too!
Can’t stand the bitterness of dark chocolate? Try using Stevia to add some natural sweetness. I use this liquid Stevia every day in my coffee and love it!
2. Mushrooms
Mushrooms are a great food to eat a lot because they’re rich in antioxidants and offer high levels of vitamin D, which is a common vitamin deficiency.
There are several different types of mushrooms and they do vary in the levels of antioxidants.
Black truffles are one of the best for you. They do tend to be pricey, so eating them regularly may be out of the question on many budgets.
If black truffles just aren’t an option for you, here are some other mushroom varieties that pack a big health punch:
- Reishi
- Shiitake
- Porcini
- Chanterelle
- Chaga
Curious about the different types of mushrooms, and want to add more foods rich in antioxidants into your diet?
This list from Health Fitness Revolution might help!
3. Blueberries
There’s no way we could have a list of foods high in antioxidants and not mention blueberries! After all, there is a reason blueberries often get grouped as a ‘superfood.’
Blueberries are a brilliant food to add to your diet because they’re very low in calories and have one of the highest antioxidant levels of all other fruits and vegetables.
In general, blueberries are delicious and nutritious! They’re not only rich in antioxidants, but also contain high levels of:
- Vitamin C for a strong immune system
- Fiber for a healthy digestive system
- Vitamin K for healthy bones and blood clotting
- Manganese for reducing inflammation & much more!
Snacking on blueberries can help us maintain a healthy weight, overall well-being, and boost our moods!
4. Kale
In our home, we love kale! It’s delicious raw in salads and baked as yummy ‘kale chips.’
In my post, “Small Changes That Could Make A Big Difference,” I mention baking them. They’re simple to make and absolutely delicious!
Kale has gained in popularity because it’s high in antioxidants, low in calories, and packed with all sorts of vitamins and nutrients.
It’s easy to add it to your diet because you can switch it out for other leafy vegetables, like spinach.
You can also make some great kale smoothies, which are the perfect way to start your day and give yourself a big boost of antioxidants.
Kale is the ultimate vegetable for versatility that offers incredible health benefits.
5. Foods High in Antioxidants: Beans
Sorry, jelly beans don’t count! 😀
In all seriousness though, beans are one of the very best foods high in antioxidants.
Beans are also a great source of protein because they are very low in fat, especially when compared with most meats. They’re also high in fiber so they improve digestive health.
Aside from blueberries, beans are one of the best vegetable sources of antioxidants and they are a very versatile food, so you can easily add them to your diet.
Combine all of those healthy benefits together and you’ve got another ‘superfood’ right in your pantry!
Best of all? Most beans are very affordable.
Which Antioxidant-Rich Foods Are Your Favorite?
Adding foods high in antioxidants to our daily diets may not seem like much, but they pack a big punch.
Over time, we begin to see and feel the health benefits of this one positive change.
Which of these foods mentioned above are your favorite? Do you have another antioxidant-rich favorite food? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
Thank you for sharing this post with your friends and family too! Together, we can encourage each other to be healthier and happier!
Warmest Regards,
All such great foods! I really enjoy mushrooms with my eggs. Kale, mushrooms, and a touch of salsa. Mmmmmm
Oh yum! Your ideas sound fantastic. 🙂 Now you’re making me hungry!
I had taken a break from making my grocery list and I saw this amazing information! I’ll definitely be adding dark chocolate and blueberries to my list now. I can’t do mushrooms, but I’ll just double up on the chocolate to make up for it. 😉
🤣 You crack me up! I love the way your mind works, my friend. I’ll be honest with you; I’m not a mushroom fan either. Bill is though. His sister says they remind her of old, musty books. hah! For me, it’s a texture issue, I think? I don’t mind them as much when they’re finely chopped for flavor benefits. What about you?
Thank you for another thoughtful comment, Michelle. Hope you enjoy your extra chocolate! 😉 Sending my love and prayers your way. 💕
“Old, musty books.” HAHA! That cracked me up! Now I’ll never think of mushrooms the same again! It’s a texture thing with me, too. I agree – if they’re finely chopped their not too bad. 🙂
🤣 Glad you liked that. She’s a character!
I love all the images you’ve chosen Holly, they look so attractive.
My favourite antioxidant food would have to be the blueberries. Strangely enough, although I love fruit and veg (salads), I don’t eat them enough. I like to combine blueberries with strawberries and a banana to make smoothies. Delicious!
Disappointed though to hear about the jelly beans! 😉
Aw, Carol, how kind of you to say! Thank you! 🤗 Don’t you think crafting blog posts is a bit of an art? I love how it all comes together.
I wholeheartedly agree with you about blueberries! Looks like great minds think alike. I know what you mean about enjoying them, but not eating them enough. I wonder why that is? I absolutely love salads but find myself not taking the time to make one at lunch time.
Oh yum, Carol! Your smoothie sounds incredible, packed full of nutrients too. Do you add anything other than the blueberries, strawberries, and bananas?
I laughed when I read your last line, haha! It’s tragic, isn’t it? 😀
I appreciate you so much, Carol. Hearing from you always makes my day. I count you as a dear friend. Praying you and your loved ones are well. 💕
Thank you Holly. Your thoughts and prayers are deeply appreciated. And I hope you know that you, hubbie and loved ones are also in my prayers. 🙂
We feel them every day, my friend. Incredibly blessed to call you a friend. Thank you for WHO you are and for all you do to encourage, inspire, and support. You are loved! ❤
🙂 xx
The “Jelly beans don’t count” part got me. 😁
Thanks for sharing this list of foods, ma’am. Informative. ❤
🤣 Terrible tragedy, isn’t it? I’m glad I got a laugh out of you, sweet sis. That’s what I was hoping for!
Sending my love your way. I pray you and yours are well. It’s really wonderful to hear from you. Sorry, I’m so far behind on reading and responding to blogs. I’m having some medical issues at the moment and am trying to keep up. 🤗
I’m so glad I eat beans! At the moment anyways. And one day I’ll be able to add dark chocolate to the list. Depends what foods I’m eating at the time…
I really hope to try blueberries too one day. Just because I need to add more foods to my bones existent repertoire (that’s not ED related but sensory and pickiness).
It was really interesting to read this. Thank you!
How are you doing?
Hi, Eliza! How are you, my friend? It’s always nice to hear your thoughts! Beans are definitely a nutritionally packed food. I’m glad you are eating them too. Like you, I also pray you can soon add dark chocolate as well. It is a powerful antioxidant with so many benefits for the brain and body!
I get your sensory pickiness. I used to be very sensitive to textures, smells, etc. I had very little variety in my diet. I think you’d really enjoy blueberries, though. Do you like creamy things? Perhaps you could make it into a smoothie with some crushed ice?
Having a bit of a rough go here lately. Dealing with some major medical and waiting on lab results, but staying in faith, and trusting God that it’s all going to be okay. So many people are really going through tough times at the moment.
Sending my love to you, Eliza. Thank you for your thoughtful comments. I appreciate you!
I’m sending hopes and prayers. Keep me/us updated? Being okay doesn’t mean the outcome you want but that it us the best for you. I pray though that it really is all okay.
(((Hugs)))
Not into smoothies though maybe one day. Don’t like smushy things.
Sending sunshine and sparkles
This is very interesting. I love blueberries and mushrooms. I wasn’t aware that kale has lots of anti oxidants too. I never buy it or use it my cooking, I need to look how to use it more often. Great post!
Hi, Svet! How are you? Thank you for your kind reply. I genuinely enjoy hearing your thoughts and opinions. 😊
I think you’d really enjoy kale. It’s highly versatile in many dishes. Do you like spinach, by any chance? Kale reminds me a lot of spinach when it is steamed. I’ll be honest and say that I don’t prefer it cooked this way. To me, the flavor is best when drizzled with olive oil and seasoning and baked for a bit on around 350* in the oven. They are crispy, light, and oh so delicious!
Kale can also be cooked into pastas and other dishes. I hope you find a way to cook it that you absolutely love. With your cooking talent, I have no doubt you will. 🙂
Perfect timing! I’ve been thinking about anti-inflammatory & anti-oxidant foods lately. I’d started a blog post aaaaages ago but never got further than a brief draft and I always intended on looking at the foods I could add to my diet for greater anti-oxidant benefit.
I do a cup of green tea each morning, so I might go for two or three instead. I can’t get my tastebuds around the dark chocolate though. I love chocolate, could probably live the rest of my life on it, but I’ve never liked the darker stuff because of the bitterness. I hadn’t thought of Stevia, but that might help me get into coffee as I can’t stand that either! I adore the smell & love the look of a frothy coffee, but hate the taste. I have blueberries in squash but not to eat on their own, so that’s going on the grocery list. Maybe I’ll get some frozen too and try some smoothies, which is another thing I never get around to doing.
Ditto the kale – that’s definitely had more media attention in the last couple of years, and I quite like the idea of either shoving into a delicious, nutrition-packed smoothie or baking it to make kale chips as a snack.
Excellent suggestions, Holly! You really do make healthier options seem so much easier & more appealing xx
I hope you’ll be resurrecting that blog post and sharing your thoughts with all of us. 🙂 I love your writing and always come away with some valuable nuggets of information. You’re awesome.
I know what you mean about trying to incorporate healthier options more often. Anti-inflammatory foods make *all* the difference. I’ve been surprised a few times at how differently I felt, doing this one change. The biggest challenge, in my humble opinion, is how when we feel poorly, we often go for those ‘comfort’ type foods. Do you find that’s true too?
Oooh, green tea is amazing, isn’t it? Do you have a brand you particularly love? We’ve been drinking Bigelow teas (most of their flavors) and they’re delicious!
Caz, I hear you on the bitterness of dark chocolate. I am the same exact way. Bitter foods turn me off terribly as well. I hadn’t had coffee until very late in life when my job required me to be up at 3AM each day. That’s when I learned how to turn bitter into semi-sweet! 😀 I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that you and I are twins on this issue. There are some liquid Stevia options that are naturally flavored and taste incredible. If you’re interested, let me know, and I’ll tell you what I use. 🙂
You are so kind. Your comments always make me smile, because you add so much value to the conversation. I hope you know how treasured you are! 🤗
Glad mushrooms and blueberries are on this list! I looooove eating both and it’s great how good they are for you!
That’s amazing you love them so much! Sounds like your Pac-Man is working quite well over there. 😉 Protecting our health is truly a treasure.
Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts with us. I love hearing from you and highly value your opinions. 😊
I was SO HAPPY to see #1 haha! I am a dark chocolate lover. Mushrooms is another one of my favorites. Thanks for sharing! Hugs!
Hi, Christina! How are you doing, friend? Do you enjoy foods that have a bitter taste? Or are you just particularly fond of dark chocolate simply because it’s yummy?
Sending my love your way. I am so grateful you take the time to come and share your thoughts! 🤗
Great post, as always, Holly! I’m a huge fan of chocolate so it’s nice to see the dark choco variety here. The good thing about the dark stuff too is that I only want a little bit and then I’m ready to stop because my craving is done, whereas the milk variety I’m going, going, going… 😉 I love the visuals in this post too! xo
Hi, Christy! What a joy it is to hear from you. 😊
I agree 100% with you about dark chocolate vs. milk chocolate. I find the exact same to be true, especially if the goodies are baked. Milk chocolate is highly addictive! They blend those flavors together so beautifully, ha ha! It certainly was no accident.
Thank you so much for your kindness and your compliments. You’re amazing.
Thank you for sharing such an interesting and informative post Holly. I love all the things you mentioned here luckily . Hope to include more kale in my diet as well . Will share this post !
Hi, Nisha! Wow – I love that you enjoy pretty much everything on this list. That’s fantastic! I pray your health shows the benefits of having such great foods in your diet. We need you sticking around this Earth for a very long time. 🤗 Thank you, my friend, for sharing this post and for always having such amazing thoughts to add. I value you!
I love most of these foods, so the fact they’re high in anti-oxidants is a bonus! I’m not a huge fan of kale, but I do use it in my lentil soup, and I sometimes make a salad from baby kale, dried cranberries, and walnuts. A simple dressing of oil and balsamic vinegar, and you have a really nice salad. Thanks for another great post and some fabulous suggestions Holly! Sharing this on FB and Pinterest!
Hi, Terri! Hearing from you always makes my day, thank you! You always add so much value to the conversation.
Oh yum, Terri. Your salad idea sounds absolutely amazing. Baby kale, dried cranberries, and walnuts are favorites here as well. They have such a beautiful combination of flavor, don’t they? Now I’m hungry! 😀
You are so very kind, my friend. Thank you so much for all you do to encourage, inspire, and share. I appreciate you! 🤗
As if we needed more reason to eat dark chocolate and mushrooms! I love this post, Holly. It is so important to focus on the effects of what we take inside our body. Food is like medicine. It affects us for better or worse so it pays to be mindful of our choices.
Hi, Micah! I love hearing from you, thank you!
You’re right – it really is important to protect our health by feeding our bodies what they need to heal, flourish, and be well. Some things about our health we can’t control, but there are many we can. What you said is true – food is like medicine. It can either poison us or make us healthy. 🙂
Sending my love to you, dear new friend. Thank you for always sharing such valuable thoughts, adding to the conversation! 💕
And I, you, Holly. Thank you! I had a phase in life when I had to take so much medicine. And now, it occurs to me that anything we ingest works in the same way. They have an effect, for better or worse.
Great post, Holly! We definitely are what we eat, and healthier food choices make all the difference in so many ways!
Sadly, I am not a dark chocolate, mushroom or kale lover – ha ha! Dreadful, I know!
But you may pass me those blueberries anytime 😉 They are so expensive over here for some reason, and I just can’t grow them. But whenever I can, I try and buy a punnet 😉
Sending lots of love and virtual hugs your way, dear Holly <3
Dearest Meg, it’s wonderful to hear from you, my friend! I think it’s important we have a ‘right relationship’ with food by not overly labeling something ‘good’ or ‘bad.’ I believe our diets shouldn’t be overly indulgent or restrictive. I’d say it’s okay that you don’t like dark chocolate, mushrooms, or kale. Our tastebuds are all unique. As long as you add other healthy foods you do enjoy, you’re on the right track! I’ll be honest, dark chocolate and mushrooms aren’t on my ‘like’ list either. Dark chocolate needs to have something to cut the bitterness for me to enjoy it, and the texture of mushrooms is a no-go for me. If they’re finely chopped and added into food, much better. 🙂 Have you tried that perhaps?
I am so sorry to hear blueberries are expensive there. 🙁 That’s a shame! Do they have organic and non-organic varieties, or is it basically just all the same? Oh, and guess what? You just taught me something. I had no idea those little plastic containers were called punnets! Huh! Thanks Meg, I’ve been educated today! 😀 I love learning new things.
I am sending many hugs and much love right back to you. Know that you are loved and deeply cherished. 💕
Oh Holly! You’re a sweetheart! <3
I HAVE actually tried mushrooms chopped finely… and if they're cooked into a meal, then I can stomach them 😉 They're okay on pizza too 😛 but that's not exactly the healthiest of options, ha ha ha!
I'm definitely trying regarding healthier options, and do great most days 😉
Lots of love to you, beautiful friend <3 xx
Hi Holly,
Thank you, I am doing well. I hope you are well too. I actually like spinach a lot. I do steam the spinach and then add cheese and eggs to it to make it like a quiche. Lately, I have been rushing my shopping at the grocery store and I did not stop to look for kale. I need to take it easy and find that kale, once and for all. I will try to do it by your method, olive oil, spices and bake in the oven. Thank you for the suggestion.
Oh yum, your spinach dish sounds amazing, Svet! I might even try making that tonight. Yum!
Believe me, I fully understand what you mean about rushing the shopping. I think if you like spinach prepared the way you described, you’d enjoy kale prepared the same way. I hope you try it soon and love it. Be sure to let me know! 🙂
[…] lovers – get excited! If you read my post, “5 Delicious Foods High In Antioxidants To Eat and Enjoy,” then you know dark chocolate is packed full of health […]
Definitely love the fact you can have Dark Chocolate without much guilt. Great list! Thanks for sharing!
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Thank you so much, Nishtha! 😊
I understood this post more easily than how my prof explained oxidation reaction in my Chem 15 subject back in the day 😂 I love blueberries and mushrooms, so I can definitely add them on my diet for anti-oxidant purposes (I dont really check on my health but this post made me more aware of the importance of maintaining a good and gealthy diet), but does milk chocolate count? Or only dark chocolate? 😂 Thank you for sharing this post, Holly! 💕
Hi, Elle! You cracked me up! 😀 I can only imagine the complexities of Chem 15, yikes! Glad I could assist in bringing understanding with my Pacman story, ha ha!
I’m afraid the milk chocolate doesn’t count. 😉 I know, I know, but don’t shoot the messenger, okay? If you’d like, I can pretend and tell you that it’s the best thing you could ever do for your health – eating milk chocolate. How’s that sound?
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and for taking the time to comment. I appreciate you, Elle! ♥
I love #1 and #3, but I also eat the other numbers, too. This is an excellent post to benefit our health and wellbeing! It is kind of you to share! 🥗 🍫 😋
Aw, thank you so much Tamara! I genuinely appreciate you. Each of your comments this evening has made me smile. Thank you! I’m glad you have enjoyed. 😊
P.S. I like the way your signature is written at the bottom of the post. It’s so stylish! How do you do this? If it’s a secret, it’s okay! You don’t have to tell me. I will understand. ♥️
Thank you for the compliment! No, not a secret at all. There are actually a few ways you can create your own. You can either use a generator that does all the work for you or use the free version of Canva to create one. Try doing a Google search for “name signature generator.” Take a look at the free options, because there are quite a few! If you’re handy with the free version of Canva, you can create them any kind of way you choose there as well. I hope this helps!
Wonderful; thank you!
I knew about all of these except for mushrooms. Blueberries are great, I find when I consume them post workout, my recovery time is reduced. Thanks for sharing this Holly.
Hi, Mark! Blueberries are incredible, aren’t they? I too have found that blueberries and bananas help with muscle or fatigue recovery post-workout! I’m glad you’ve found the same to be true. 🙂 I’m grateful for you taking the time to read & share your thoughts, my friend!
Wow, your web page is really beautiful and bright. While I was reading your post, I was actually reminded about God. Specifically Ecclesiastes 9:7 – “Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do”. This brought joy to my heart. I also see that you know the Lord. I see your video of the day is “way-maker”, a gospel song. Keep shining the light of the Lord, God’s grace is here for us. Lovely pictures, article, and website.
Hi there! I’m so thankful you’ve stopped by for a visit. Thank you kindly for your compliments as well. I’m glad you enjoy the layout and design of Wholeness Haven. It’s always nice to get feedback from those who visit. You’ve brought joy to my Tuesday! ♥
I do know the Lord and I’m grateful to see you do as well. He is at the center of all I do, say, and think. There’s no way I would’ve made it this far in life if it had not been for His protection, mercy, and grace! “Way-Maker” is such an awesome reminder that hope is never lost. In this difficult season – so many of us need this very reminder.
I pray you will return and continue to share your thoughts. It’s wonderful to have you here! Thanks again for your thoughtful comment. Sending much love & many blessings to you and your loved ones. God bless!
Thank you so so much. I appreciate you.
I have heard that lemon can be a quite strong antioxidant, it is nowhere in these foods. But yes, these foods look great and delicious
Hi, Wilford. Thanks for stopping in with your thoughts. You’re right – lemon is great for a whole lot of health purposes. It’s one of the most powerful detox foods we can add to our diets. There are so many powerful antioxidant-rich foods that it would be impossible to include them all in one blog post. This was just a short introduction of a few foods we could add to increase our wellness. Perhaps there will be more to come!
I have tried dark chocolate. It works so well for you!
Hi, Cletus! Thank you for your comment! I agree with you- it’s amazing how great the benefits are! 🙂
[…] foods that are high in antioxidants, along with cutting out refined, sugar-laden, processed, and junky foods make a HUGE impact from a […]
[…] your body foods that are high in antioxidants to give you a healthy and easy replacement for foods that offer no nutritional benefit. Best of […]
I love your mention of every time we make a decision that helps our body work for us and not against us. This is one of the main reasons I take the stairs 99% of the time, and try to walk everywhere I go in town. (I’m lucky enough to live in a city where this is possible.)
Thank you for sharing more easy to follow suggestions to living a healthier life. ❤
Hi Hamish! What a joy it has been today to catch up on your comments! Love them! I couldn’t agree with you more — those simple decisions like taking the stairs, walking more whenever possible, and just choosing one healthy food over a sugar loaded option makes all the difference in our longevity and vitality.
Living in an area where you can’t walk to anything, you’re right; there are definitely perks to living in a city where everything is closeby. 🙂
Thank YOU for all of your amazing insight, my friend! ♥ I hope you are well! Keep writing. You’re awesome!
[…] is a soluble fiber naturally found in foods such as barley, whole grains, Baker’s Yeast, some mushrooms, oats, and other fungal […]
[…] is a soluble fiber naturally found in foods such as barley, whole grains, Baker’s Yeast, some mushrooms, oats, and other fungal […]
[…] in a whole lot of ways and our eyes are no exception to this rule. For example, eating plenty of antioxidant-rich foods is a simple way to improve eyesight […]