Certain times of the day you start to feel like a snack or drink and may find yourself wandering to Crafty overwhelmed with choices. It may be the type of day where you throw whatever diet, weight watching, calorie counting plan out the door and go for that candy bar or bag of chips. Hell, we’re allowed to eat whatever we want!
But maybe today or 5 out of 7 days you choose a few of these snacks to boost both your energy to last the day while feeding your body nutrients.
- Watermelons contain lycopene which can help protect your body from free radicals caused by sun exposure. They are also high in Vitamin C and mostly water for a tasty way to hydrate.
Lycopene is a natural colored pigment found in red colored fruits and vegetables. A popular pigment accepted by the food industry because of its health benefits, including being a powerful antioxidant.
2. Blueberries, blackberries, all berries are packed with Vitamin C for a no fuss on the go snack.
Let’s take a step back and remind ourselves about what free radicals and antioxidants are.
Free radicals are unpaired electrons in our bodies that attack important molecules leading to cell damage. They can occur from normal processes in the body and from outside exposure like the sun’s UV rays, cigarette smoking, and air pollutants. As mentioned in the US National Institutes of Health’s National Library of Medicine, an antioxidant is a molecule stable enough to donate an electron to a riot running free radical therefore neutralizing it. While our bodies are naturally producing antioxidants, an extra boost comes from our diet. A few key antioxidant vitamins are Vitamin E, Vitamin C, and Beta-Carotene.
3. Almonds and sunflower seeds are high in Vitamin E offering not only antioxidants but slows the aging process of your cells.
These snacks are just to name a few that can contribute to our internal sun protection and many other benefits when our bodies are fed nutritious foods regularly. Although this may take time to build up in your body, always use sunblock when exposed to the sun.
Leftovers Tip: Can’t get through the Costco size berries quick enough and they’re starting to wrinkle or a day away from mold? Make a berry compote by simply throwing berries in a pot with orange juice (I’ve used POG many a times), honey or maple syrup and bring heat up to medium high. Then lower heat, continue to muddle and stir berries so it doesn’t stick to bottom of the pot. Use this compote on yogurt, oatmeal, pancakes, and my favorite…macadamia nut ice cream!
Disclaimer: This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Speak with your doctor before beginning any new health regimen.
