Have you eaten something red today? Red fruits and vegetables have lots of antioxidants and phytochemicals as well as Vitamin C. You already know what Vitamin C does, but what about those big words, antioxidants and phytochemicals?
The word “antioxidant” breaks down to “anti” = against, “oxidant” = an oxidizing agent. Basically, the oxygen that we breathe is very important for us to survive, but oxygen also causes some reactions in our body that cause damage and make us age. An “antioxidant” helps repair the damage the oxygen does in our bodies!
“Phytochemicals” are healthy chemicals that grow naturally in our food and there are hundreds of different names for them. They can help prevent several cancers, help us heal, improve our memory, and many more helpful things we are just starting to learn about. As you can see, eating our red fruits and vegetables is very important!
Which red fruits and veggies can you think of? Maybe strawberries, grapefruit, watermelon, tomatoes, potatoes, beets, and peppers? My favorite are red bell peppers! Tell me what your favorites are!