What are Antioxidants?
You’ve probably heard of them, but maybe not what they are or what they do. Simply, antioxidants are substances that can help defend your body’s cells from damage caused by free radicals (unstable molecules that can accumulate and produce oxidative stress, which can cause damage to DNA and other cell structures. Over time, this can increase risk of diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer). Antioxidants can be natural or artificial - many natural antioxidants can be found in plants and natural foods, as well as produced by the body itself. So, making sure to eat a diet rich in antioxidants can help prevent chronic oxidative stress and reduce the risk of disease!
Where Antioxidants Are Found:
Great news - antioxidants are present in lots of different foods, many of which you probably already enjoy! Here are some of our favorites:
1. Dark chocolate: Any chocolate lovers out there? Same here. Cocoa is very rich in antioxidants, so foods with higher concentrations of cocoa (ie. dark chocolate vs. milk chocolate) have even greater benefits. Some studies have linked dark chocolate’s antioxidants to reduced inflammation and risk of heart disease! As if we needed more reasons to indulge in this decadent treat… Get all the cocoa benefits and more in our chocolatey faves: Mocha Super Coffee, Coconut Mocha Super Coffee, and Coconut Mocha Super Creamer
2. Blueberries: Blueberries are our new favorite super fruit - they’re truly awesome and packed with antioxidants. They’re believed to have one of the highest antioxidant levels of all vegetables and fruits, and some studies have indicated they help support brain function! They’re also low in calories and nutrient dense meaning that even a small serving packs a powerful punch of benefits. But that’s not all - read our full write-up on why blueberries are so amazing here. And, hop on the blueberry craze by trying our Blueberry Latte Super Coffee for a refreshing caffeine fix. It tastes like blueberry muffins, and is packed with added protein, MCT oil, and monk fruit.
3. Monk fruit: This new sweetener on the market is rising in popularity because it’s a natural zero-calorie alternative to sugar. But what people may not know is that monk fruit has tons of other benefits as well! Because it is sugar-free, it gets its sweet flavor from compounds called mogrosides, which have impressive antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. You can learn even more about this awesome sweetener here and here. Want to try all the benefits for yourself? We love monk fruit, so that’s what we use to sweeten all our products! Try our Super Coffee Variety Pack for our fan favorite flavors.
4. Coffee: Yes, coffee! Coffee beans are actually pretty high in antioxidants, so you can feel great that your morning brew is doing double duty for you! Coffee is rich in multiple different types of antioxidants, and therefore is one of the most significant sources of antioxidants in the human diet (for those who drink coffee). This is already awesome, but we wanted to extend the benefits even further, so we enhanced our ground coffee beans with even more antioxidants, as well as vitamins! Get all the mood and immune-boosting benefits for yourself with our Super Grounds or Super Pods.
Bottom line:
Antioxidants are found in many delicious natural foods and they help prevent inflammation and oxidative stress in the body. Making sure to incorporate lots of antioxidant-rich foods will help you lead a healthy, and more importantly, delicious, life!
Some top antioxidant-rich foods are cocoa, monk fruit, and even coffee. So, triple up on these powerhouse ingredients with our Mocha Super Coffee!
