Beverage shelves are overflowing with everything from fizzy, fiber-packed sodas to dessert-flavored drinks. But among the modern trends, it’s worth remembering drinks that have been consumed for centuries and are also rich in beneficial compounds like antioxidants.
A group of nutritionists shared six types of drinks for the Eating Well portal that you can enjoy and get antioxidants into your body at the same time.
Antioxidants are compounds that protect the body from free radicals, harmful molecules that can damage cells and contribute to the development of various diseases. Free radicals occur naturally in the body, but also as a result of external factors such as pollution, smoke and stress. When there are too many of them, they can cause serious damage.
Fortunately, antioxidants are found in many of the foods and drinks we already consume, especially fruits, vegetables, nuts, and teas. By including these beverages in our daily diet, we can help our bodies stay strong and resilient. Here are some drinks that are on their list.
Green tea
Green tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world, and experts regularly highlight it as an excellent source of antioxidants, especially catechins. As nutritionist Erin Davis explains, the plant compounds in green tea, especially catechins, can help lower blood sugar, protect the nervous system, and have anti-cancer properties.
Whether you drink it hot or cold, add a little lemon juice – research shows that citrus juice like lemons can improve the absorption of antioxidants from green tea, reports Eating Well.
Pomegranate juice
This ruby-red fruit hails from what is now Iran and India, and is a favorite beverage of nutritionist Marie Spano, who explains, “100 percent pomegranate juice is made by squeezing the whole fruit, which takes advantage of the polyphenols in the peel, pith, and seeds for maximum antioxidant benefits.” She adds that, according to one study, this juice has stronger antioxidant power than red wine, grape juice, and green tea.
Grape juice
If you’re not a fan of red wine and want to get your antioxidants in, Davis recommends starting with grape juice. “It contains many of the same polyphenols (like resveratrol) that act as powerful antioxidants and help reduce the risk of heart disease,” says Davis.
Grape juice is often overlooked, even though it’s also rich in beneficial antioxidants. Plus, unlike wine, it doesn’t cause a hangover.
Hot or cold chocolate
Chocolate lovers have another reason to rejoice – cocoa is full of antioxidants, and the higher the cocoa content, the greater its antioxidant power, writes Eating Well. Spano explains that “cold or hot chocolate drinks can improve circulation, increase cognitive abilities and lower blood pressure if consumed regularly.”
Coffee
For many people, the biggest source of antioxidants comes from a single beverage—your morning coffee. Davis points out, “Your favorite morning beverage does more than you think. Coffee is an excellent source of chlorogenic acid, a plant compound that has antidiabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity properties.”
Orange juice
Orange juice is an excellent source of vitamin C, carotenoids, and flavonoids, all of which are antioxidants. Spano adds that it also contains the powerful antioxidant hesperidin, which has anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, reports Eating Well.
Spano points out that most “hesperidin is found in the peel and skin of the orange. When an orange is squeezed for 100% juice, hesperidin is extracted from the peel, pulp, and skin, which is why 100% orange juice is one of the best sources of hesperidin.”
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