There are two ways to meet your essential
fat requirements: From dietary intake,
meaning the foods that you eat; and through
supplement use. Eating oily fi sh three times
per week, adding raw nuts or seeds and
supplementing essential omegas is the best
practice to meet your daily requirements.
The older you are, the more antioxidants
you will need. Taking an antioxidant complex
in addition to a high-potency multi-vitamin,
multi-mineral, extra vitamin C along with
essential fats (omega-3 and omega 6), B6,
B12, folic acid and a brain
food formula make for an ideal
defense protocol.
Accustomed to warm, tropical
climates, moringa (commonly
referred to as the drumstick
tree) grows abundantly and
locally in Florida. It is rich in
minerals, vitamins (especially
C and A) and when boiled,
iron is made bioavailable to
the body. The bright green
leaves that are found on the
moringa bush are a perfect
example of plant chemicals
or biofl avonoids. Nutrient
dense vegetables supply the
body with phytonutrients. The
benefi ts of phytonutrients by
far, are their antioxidant and
anti-infl ammatory qualities.
Enhancing immunity, repairing DNA
damage from exposure to toxins, and more,
phytochemical use has also been routinely
used in traditional medicine. Wheatgrass
is an incredible superfood that provides
over 100 nutrients. Packed with 17 essential
amino acids and the best source of the
phytonutrient chlorophyll, it is a powerful
source of wide spectrum antioxidants. Due
to its impressive antioxidant profi le, several
studies have revealed wheatgrass is not
merely a storehouse of antioxidants, it is
an important catalase that aids in reversing
graying of hair and slowing the aging
process.
Topping the list of superfoods are berries.
High in fi ber, berries are naturally sweet,
contain rich colors which indicate high levels
of fl avonoid and antioxidants. Tinctures
used in herbal medicine are most often
42 GASPARILLA MAGAZINE • July/August • 2021
made from various berry extracts including:
blueberry, chokeberry, black currant,
goji, and perhaps the most widely used-
elderberry. Elderberries have long been
cultivated for natural medicinal purposes.
Many of elderberry’s health benefi ts can be
attributed to anthocyanin. Working to clear
the body of free radicals that damage cells at
the DNA level, anthocyanin also has antiviral
properties that may prevent or reduce the
severity of certain common infections in the
body.
PLANT BASED FOODS
THAT ARE HIGH IN PROTEIN
Plant-based foods are always the best
source for antioxidants. High in fi ber, low
in cholesterol and saturated fat, excellent
sources of vitamins and minerals, fruits and
vegetables pack the most power. An easy
step to take toward eating more plant based
foods is to include many colors to your diet.
Experiment by fi lling at least ¾ of a dinner
plate with plant foods. Eat more of the
ones that you enjoy. Remember when free
radicals outnumber anti-oxidants, it can lead
to a state called oxidative stress. Prolonged
oxidative stress leads to an increased risk
of negative health outcomes. Maintaining
a balance between free radicals and
antioxidants is the task we give our bodies
over to. When the equilibrium is disrupted, it
leads to oxidative stress.
Consuming antioxidants is essential for
the survival of all living things and that even
includes drinking a little wine.