As most of us know there are many health benefits that are associated with following a nutritious diet. Among them are lowering your cholesterol, preventing heart disease and diabetes along with preventing excessive weight gain. One thing that has not yet been proven is whether eating a nutritious diet can help prevent diseases such as cancer. Scientists are conducting various studies to determine what role antioxidants and free radicals play in this matter. It is known that antioxidants shield cells from free radicals that cause cell damage which could possibly lead to cancer. There have been numerous studies done and it has been proven that eating foods that are high antioxidants can cause damage to the free radicals thus reducing cancer risk. Even though some studies have not shown positive results, they are ongoing and hopefully they will show concrete evidence in the future that they do reduce cancer. Eating a diet that is rich in antioxidants is still very good for your body and it may prove to be more beneficial in future years to come.

The primary way to get antioxidants into your body is to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. The various colors of these foods are said to represent different benefits. If they are the same color, they represent the same cancer-fighting nutrient. This is why it is a good idea to eat a variety of colors because that way, there will be different antioxidants in your body to fight different types of cancers and they will also provide your body with different types of vitamins and minerals.

You should also eat plenty of red fruits and vegetables because they contain lycopene which may also prevent cancer. It is also very good for your heart and good for your memory. Red foods include things such as watermelons, tomatoes, strawberries, red apples and cherries to name a few. There are many more that you can choose from.

Another important antioxidant that is good for your body is beta-carotene. It can be found in orange-colored foods such as carrots, cantaloupe, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and papayas.

Carotenoids are an antioxidant that can be found in yellow fruits and vegetables such as oranges, pineapples, lemons, yellow squash and corn. They also contain vitamin c which is great for your immune system.

Lutein and indoles are two other antioxidants that are good for your body. Along with reducing your risk for cancer, they are also good for your eyes and they promote strong bones and teeth. Examples of these foods include broccoli, spinach, avocado, green apples and grapes, green pears and cucumbers to name a few. There are also beans such as green lentils and edamame that contain these antioxidants.

Anthocyanins and phenolics are anti-aging antioxidants that can be found in blue and purple foods. These antioxidants may have the added benefit of helping you with memory function. Examples of these foods include blackberries, blueberries, black olives, plums and raisins.

Last of all, you should eat plenty of foods that are rich in Vitamins A,C, and E as they are very good for your health. You can find Vitamin A in liver, sweet potatoes, milk and egg yolk. Vitamin C can be found in most fruits and vegetables and Vitamin E can be found in nuts and oils.

You can improve your overall health greatly by eating a nutritious diet that includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and best of all, you could possibly be preventing cancer during your lifetime.

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