Garlic, beets, sweet potatoes, carrots and beets are rich in antioxidants, which help prevent disease, improve health and fight aging.
According to Dr. Huynh Tan Vu, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City – Campus 3, antioxidants are found in many fruits, vegetables and herbs. Many studies have proven their benefits in disease prevention, health improvement and anti-aging.
Below are 5 types of tubers that are “warehouses” of antioxidants, according to Dr. Vu.
Garlic
Garlic keeps your heart healthy by lowering cholesterol and blood pressure. It boosts your immune system, helps with blood circulation, and plays a role in cancer prevention. Garlic also helps maintain youthful skin elasticity and slows down the aging process.
Garlic helps maintain youthful skin elasticity and slows down the aging process. Photo: Pexels
Radish
Betanin and vulgaxanthin in beets have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxifying properties. Beets are also good for vision and nerve tissue.
Scientists have proven that antioxidants can prevent tumor growth and monitor abnormal cell growth. It is especially effective in preventing breast, prostate, lung, colon and kidney cancer.
Sweet potato
Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, selenium, anthocyanin, vitamins A, C and E. Therefore, if you want your body to have many antioxidants to improve health, prevent disease and anti-aging, you should not ignore this food.
Vitamin C, vitamin B6, beta-carotene and manganese in sweet potatoes help this tuber have very high anti-inflammatory properties, reduce dark spots and prevent chronic non-communicable diseases.
Eating sweet potatoes 1-2 times a week will provide many beneficial vitamins, minerals, fiber…, not only tightening the skin but also reducing wrinkles on the face, preventing skin diseases such as dermatitis.
Carrot
Carrots are a rich source of beta-carotene, selenium, lutein, vitamins A, C and E. They come in a variety of colors, including red, yellow, purple, orange and white. Red carrots contain lucopene, a form of carotenoid that helps prevent heart disease and cancer. Yellow carrots are rich in xanthophylls, which are good for the eyes. Purple carrots contain a completely different pigment called anthocyanin, which acts as a powerful antioxidant. Lutein is abundant in orange carrots, one of the pigments that completes the color of the macula in the human retina.
However, you should not eat too much because the amount of carotene in carrots cannot be converted into vitamin A, causing stagnation in the liver, leading to jaundice, indigestion, fatigue…
Lutein is abundant in orange carrots, one of the pigments that completes the color of the dark spot in the human retina. Photo: Pexels
Beetroot
Research shows many health benefits of beetroot, recommending the use of this root in daily meals.
Research by scientists at Wake Forest University (USA) shows that beets contain an antioxidant called alpha-lipoic acid, which lowers blood sugar levels, increases insulin sensitivity, prevents oxidative imbalance in diabetic patients, helps increase brain oxidation, and slows down memory loss in the elderly.
In addition, choline in beets also helps improve sleep, is good for memory and especially increases muscle movement, so it can help enhance sports performance. At the same time, it helps maintain cell membrane structure, supports nerve impulse transmission, participates in fat absorption and reduces chronic inflammation.
In addition to the above list, spinach and cereals are also great sources of antioxidants, making daily meals more diverse and full of vitamins.