Many red fruits and veggies are loaded with powerful, healthy antioxidants like lycopene and anthocyanins-- that may do everything from fight heart disease and prostate cancer to decrease the risk for stroke and muscular degeneration (the leading cause of blindness in people aged 60 and older). Antioxidants also soak up damaging free radicals.
Read on for the skinny on some of the most popular red foods, along with ways to include more in your diet:
Strawberries
In season: May and June, but available year-round
Benefits: "They are a good source of folate, which helps heart health and is helpful for women in their childbearing years," Sandon says.
Folic acid is known to decrease the risk of certain birth defects called neural tube defects. "Strawberries are also a good source of the antioxidant powerhouse vitamin C," which boosts immune system function among other things, she says.
Get more by: Sprinkling some strawberries on your cereal or blending up some frozen strawberries in a skim milk and frozen yogurt smoothie.
Read on for the skinny on some of the most popular red foods, along with ways to include more in your diet:
StrawberriesIn season: May and June, but available year-round
Benefits: "They are a good source of folate, which helps heart health and is helpful for women in their childbearing years," Sandon says.
Folic acid is known to decrease the risk of certain birth defects called neural tube defects. "Strawberries are also a good source of the antioxidant powerhouse vitamin C," which boosts immune system function among other things, she says.
Get more by: Sprinkling some strawberries on your cereal or blending up some frozen strawberries in a skim milk and frozen yogurt smoothie.
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