5 Antioxidant Rich Foods

If you haven’t heard of antioxidants yet and all that they can do for you, you really ought to kick yourself! No, not really. But what exactly are antioxidants? According to Thryve Inside, Antioxidants are substances that inhibit oxidation in the body. Their primary purpose is to fight against damaging oxidizing agents that enter the body. Their benefits range from aging deceleration to reduced risk of cancer, to improved immunity, and to better brain health, heart health, and joint health.

Okay, so you know what antioxidants are and what they do. Let’s have a look at a few common foods that can jazz up your antioxidants quota.

  • Blackberries: Blackberries are loaded with polyphenols and flavonoids. Studies show that not only are they a great source of antioxidants, but they can also help in the dilation of blood vessels. Blackberries are also a fantastic source of Vitamins C, K, and Manganese. Just one cup has 7 grams of fiber!
  • Walnuts: Walnuts are packed with fatty acids, minerals, protein, and essential amino acids. They also have high quantities of alpha-linolenic acid which is a type of omega-3 fatty acids often found in strawberries. ALA has been known to prevent various neurological disorders. It protects the brain from strokes and helps in learning and memory.
  • Dark Chocolate: Perhaps a fan favorite, dark chocolate is known to help reduce blood pressure and the risk of diabetes. Far better than their milk chocolate counterparts, they tend to drop down on the amazing antioxidant scores.
  • Cherries: Studies show that antioxidants extracted from cherries can help cure type 2 diabetes. They are also a rich source of melatonin which helps regulate your sleep cycles.
  • Artichoke: Artichokes have the highest content of antioxidants of any other vegetable. They are also loaded with folic acid, Vitamin C, and flavones among others. Not only that, but they are also a great source of magnesium.

You can get antioxidants from foods or supplements, some are even targeted to helping blood pressure, as you can see in this CardioRelax review.

Seven Ways Blood Pressure Can Damage Your Health

Every time you go to the doctor you’ll most likely have your blood pressure read. Your nurse or doctor will provide you with two numbers. The first is your systolic blood pressure, which measures the pressure in your blood vessels when your heart beats. This will be the higher of the two numbers. The second is the diastolic blood pressure, which indicates how much pressure is put on your blood vessels when the heart rests between beats. Ideally, you’ll want your blood pressure as close to 120/80 as this is normal. Anything too high and you risk bursting a blood vessel; anything too long and not enough blood is able to reach your organs.

Although most of us will have our blood pressure taken routinely – you can go to your pharmacy right now and have it measured or even buy your own monitoring kit – blood pressure is a serious epidemic that causes hundreds of thousands of deaths every year in the United States alone. In her book, The Blood Pressure Solution, Dr. Marlene Merritt describes how high blood pressure is a silent killer as the condition is often asymptomatic until a major event occurs. She notes that it is the primary or contributing cause of more than 1,000 deaths per day in the United States. 69% of people who have their first heart attack, 77% who have their first stroke, and 74% of people who have congestive heart failure also have high blood pressure.

Blood Pressure Harms Many Parts of the Body

  • It Can Destroy Your Body’s Blood Vessels
  • It Can Cause Heart Trouble
  • It Can Damage Your Kidneys
  • It Can Cause Brain Damage (stroke, dementia, etc.)
  • It Can Potentially Diminish Your Vision
  • It Can Cause Bone Loss
  • It Can Lead to Problems in the Bedroom

Many of these problems are very serious, which is why high blood pressure must be addressed as soon as possible through possible medical intervention and lifestyle changes. We highly encourage you to read more about the subject in The Blood Pressure Solution from Dr. Marlene Merritt and the Primal Health team. Primal Health reviews the latest research from the leading industry pioneers to present pertinent information to health-conscious individuals. In addition to that, we will discuss other topics raised in the book in future posts so you’re more informed on this terrible but potentially preventable and treatable condition.