Antioxidants are vital to health as they protect our cells from damage. Food marketing would sometimes have us believe that antioxidants are only found in a handful of superfoods. In fact, good levels of antioxidants can be found in many foods.

Scientifically speaking, antioxidants prevent oxidation – a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals and cause harm to the body. Excess free radical formation can happen for a variety of reasons. These include air pollution, cigarette smoke, drinking alcohol, eating too much sugar, infections and over-exposure to the sun – to name but a few.

If there are too many free radicals in the human body, they can cause illnesses such as cancer and heart disease. The body has its own in-built antioxidant response to keep free radicals under control. But adding antioxidants from food can help to boost this reaction.

Health fads in the news would have you believe that green tea and goji berries are some of the only sources of antioxidants. And while these are excellent sources, you’ll find good levels of antioxidants in many other foods too. Here are some of our favorite alternative sources of antioxidants.

Chocolate and Candy

Although many people wouldn’t believe it, dark chocolate is a great source of antioxidants and other nutrition. When made with at least 70% cocoa, dark chocolate has a higher proportion of a range of minerals that have excellent antioxidant properties.

In particular, dark chocolate has a fantastic amount of copper, iron, magnesium and manganese, as well as potassium, phosphorous, selenium and zinc. In some studies, dark chocolate has been found to have more antioxidant properties than berries such as blueberries!

Other candy that has a surprising amount of antioxidants is caramel, with the richer-colored caramels showing the best antioxidant capacity. CBD gummies are also incredibly rich in antioxidants, particularly in Vitamin C and Vitamin E. CBD gummies benefits also include supporting the body’s inflammatory function, promoting healthy sleep and stimulating mental clarity.

Switching from refined sugars to natural sugars such as honey or maple syrup will also give you a boost of antioxidants. Brown sugars and molasses also contain a significant amount of antioxidants, and can make a difference to overall health too. Just remember these are still sugars and should still be consumed in moderation if you want to keep an eye on your calorie intake as well.

Pecans

As one of the nuts more often associated with sweet treats than health (pecan pie, anyone?) – it is great news that pecans also have excellent antioxidant properties. Various studies have shown that people who consume pecans experience a notable increase in antioxidant properties in their blood within hours.

As pecans contain a great amount of health fats and minerals as well as antioxidant properties, this is a great way to get a health boost in your day. Walnuts are almost as good as pecans in terms of antioxidant and nutritional values too.

Artichokes

This vegetable often flies under the radar in discussions about antioxidants, yet it is a brilliant addition to anyone’s diet if they want to boost their antioxidant intake. Importantly, the way you cook artichokes can increase or decrease the antioxidant value. Steaming them is said to be the best method, as it can increase the antioxidant value by a massive 15 times.

It is also interesting to note that some other foods have a naturally high antioxidant level, but cooking them to make them digestible to humans destroys this. That is what makes artichokes a great find on the antioxidant list, as cooking by steaming or boiling only makes them better for you. And artichoke dip is an all-time favorite in many households too!

Coffee

This is one of the examples of a foodstuff whereby the process that makes it consumable to humans destroys some of the antioxidant properties. Yet in the case of coffee, while roasting can destroy some of these antioxidants, it also creates others. It means that even in a standard cup of coffee, there can be up to 550 milligrams of antioxidants. This makes it one of the best sources of antioxidants out there.

To maximize the amount of antioxidants in your coffee, opt for an organic variety and either a light or medium roast. These contain more polyphenols, which are plant compounds that help to neutralize free radicals.

Popcorn

Often marketed as ‘delicious and nutritious’, popcorn is a wonder food that is entirely whole grain. Polyphenols are naturally found in plant-based foods and have numerous health benefits. As well as the antioxidant properties, polyphenols help to reduce inflammation, improve digestion and support mental clarity.

If you pop your corn at home, you’ll benefit from the freshness of the newly created antioxidants when the kernel transforms. In fact, popcorn has four times more polyphenols than most fruits. Just try not to top it off with too much sugar or salt to maintain the health benefits!