Did you know that you can practically grow antioxidants in your backyard? And did you know that antioxidant-rich plants are easy to grow? Antioxidants are not only present in capsules of food supplements, nor only available in the pharmacy’s counters, but literally, you can get them by eating fresh fruits and vegetables.
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, antioxidants are natural or artificial substances that help delay or prevent some types of cell damage. Some types of antioxidants that you can quickly get are vitamin C, lycopene, beta-carotene, etc. These antioxidants are proven effective in preventing cell damages caused by human activities, aging, and external factors.
To prevent these diseases, it is highly recommended to eat foods rich in antioxidants. There are plenty of foods that contain high antioxidants, and you can find most of them in your garden. These are fruits and vegetables that you can easily grow and readily harvest. To help you identify them, here’s a list of the best plants to grow. In no time, you’ll be harvesting some of the healthiest, pesticide-free fruits and veggies.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes are one of the significant sources of antioxidants. It is proven rich in lycopene which is a form of antioxidants. Lycopene is proven to give plenty of health benefits, including reduced risk of heart disease and a reduced risk of some cancer types.
Tomatoes are also abundant in vitamin C, which is another form of antioxidant. Vitamin C helps flush out harmful free radicals found in the human body. These free radicals may become harmful that can degenerate body functions. And thus, the role of antioxidants comes in to neutralize damages it can cause. Tomatoes are also a great source of vitamin K as an anti-blood coagulant and folate that helps produce red blood cells in the bone marrow.
There is a long list of benefits to eating tomatoes, and what’s impressive is you can easily have tomatoes in your garden. Learn More about growing tomatoes in your garden by visiting Gardener’s Path. Tomatoes can be hard to grow because of the number of pests this plant has, but with extra care and attention, you can easily grow ripe tomatoes that taste extremely well.
Carrots
Carrot is a root vegetable that is best grown in mulch under partial shade or indirect sunlight. Carrot is an excellent source of beta-carotene. When the body metabolizes beta-carotene, it will become an excellent source of vitamin A. Vitamin A is a form of antioxidants that is a good nutrient for your vision, healthy cell growth, and health maintenance of organs like lungs, heart, and kidneys.
Also, the beta-carotene in carrots improves cognitive function and memory. It also helps reduce symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and age-related memory decline. Beta-carotene also improves skin health and prevents certain types of cancer.
Broccoli
Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable that resembles a miniature tree that can be eaten either raw or cooked. Broccoli boasts of many beneficial nutrients like vitamin K, vitamin C, iron, and fiber. Fiber is good for normalizing bowel movements, lowers cholesterol, and helps control blood sugar levels in the body. Raw broccoli also contains 90% water, 3% protein, and 7% carbs.
Chili Peppers
Chilli pepper is one of the many healthy spices commonly used in cooking. But apart from being a meal ingredient, it contains compounds with notable health benefits called capsaicin. This compound is the antioxidant property of chili pepper that induces a burning sensation. The sensation makes the pain receptor insensitive without causing actual burning injury. And this chemical causes the brain nerve to get numb and stops headaches or migraines.
Another study points to capsaicin to promote weight loss by increasing the fat-burning sensation, reducing calorie intake, and subsequently reducing appetite. Thus chili is a good aid in weight loss and reduces the risk of diabetes and heart disease.
Chilli pepper quickly grows in your garden. Plant through seed germination, wait for sprout, and after about 8-12 weeks, you can transfer them in your garden lot or pots.
Avocado
Avocado is also known as butter fruit, is best for salads, smoothies and ingredients to your baking favorites. The fruit contains many micronutrients that are beneficial to health; thus, it is called a superfruit.
The fruit has about 20 vitamins and minerals to offer. Among them are vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, folate, vitamin B6, etc. All these are good antioxidants that address different health concerns of the body. Also, the fruit is high in monounsaturated fat that helps reduce bad cholesterol. Warning: eat in moderation.
Takeaway
Healthy food is always available in your garden. Don’t be surprised that eating freshly harvested and commonly grown fruits and vegetables always keeps you healthy. Among the famous and quickly grown health-boosting plants are tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, chili pepper, and avocado. Because of their antioxidant property, you will enjoy the many benefits for your health and, ultimately, your well-being.
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