We're pro antioxidants in this house — and everyone else should be, too. Antioxidants are nutrients (vitamins and minerals) as well as enzymes (proteins in your body that catalyze chemical reactions). They protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals, which are unstable molecules that the body produces as a response to environmental and other pressures.
Foods and drinks rich in antioxidants can help you lose weight, keep your skin clear, make your hair strong, and maintain good overall health. Yes, antioxidants pretty much have superpowers!
While there are many foods that are high in antioxidants, we're going to focus on drinks today (who doesn't like to sip on stuff throughout the day?). Plus, having healthy drinks is a good way to keep unhealthy cravings at bay. You won't be munching if you're sipping.
So, here are 7 antioxidant-rich drinks you need to try ASAP. Bottoms up!
1. Pomegranate Juice
Pomegranate juice is full of antioxidants, including punicalagin and ellagic acid. Punicalagins are unique to pomegranates and have been shown to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation. This juice can also improve heart health and even fight cancer. Additionally, it can help you burn fat, shed unwanted weight, and suppress your appetite. Low in calories but high in nutrients — it sounds perfect!
While you should always focus on getting antioxidants from whole foods, pomegranate juice is a great way to increase your intake if you're struggling to eat enough pomegranates. This stuff is seriously powerful. Not to mention, it's also quite delicious.
You can also go for our Detox Cherry Bomb, which contains the goodness of pomegranates (along with green tea, cherries, and mate leaves).
2. Green Tea
This list would be criminally incomplete without mentioning green tea, the holy grail of healthy beverages. Green tea is loaded with catechins, a type of antioxidant that has been shown to boost metabolism and burn fat. This magical elixir can also improve brain function, lower the risk of cancer, and reduce inflammation. There's a reason why green tea is considered a superfood!
Pro Tip: If you love green tea, you'll love our Detox Cherry Bomb, Green Cleansing Elixir, and Tropic Tone Up blends which contain green tea, are rich in antioxidants, and are great at reducing bloating!
3. Açaí Berry Juice
Açaí berry juice is another excellent source of antioxidants and has been shown to aid digestion, boost immunity, and support heart health. The best part is that this juice is also helpful when it comes to shedding those unwanted pounds — it is rich in fiber and thus suppresses your appetite by helping you stay full for longer.
While acai berry juice is great, it's important to remember that whole foods will always be the best source of nutrients. However, fresh açaí berries are actually pretty difficult to find (unless you live in tropical Central and South America) on a regular basis, so most of us will have to settle for juice.
The good news? Our Green Cleansing Elixir contains açaí berries (along with green tea) so you won't have to think too much about getting your fix!
4. Cranberry Juice
Who doesn't love a cosmopolitan? Except a cosmopolitan isn't good for you (oops). So, let's take the cranberry juice out of the cosmo because that's where the antioxidant power is. Cranberry juice is rich in polyphenols and other nutrients that can improve heart health, help with weight loss, prevent UTIs, and lower blood sugar. Plus, it contains a good amount of Vitamin C!
Cranberry juice is also a natural diuretic, which means that it helps your body get rid of excess water and thus can help you lose water weight. Since cranberries are relatively tart, most cranberry juices have added sugar to make them more palatable. This does make them less healthy, so be sure to check the label before you buy. You're looking for a juice that has no added sugar and is 100% cranberry juice.
Or, you can go for our Green Cleansing Elixir which has the goodness of cranberry (along with 22 superfoods and probiotics!).
5. Tropic Tone Up
Superfruits are here to save the day! Our Tropic Tone Up blend is rich in antioxidants because it contains mango, papaya, pineapple, and passionfruit, along with green tea, beetroot, and hibiscus. This drink is ideal if you're looking for something that supports post-workout recovery and boosts energy levels.
Need a recipe? Here's a yummy Tropical Sports Drink that you can make using Tropic Tone Up and coconut water (a.k.a nutrients galore!). We love a tasty but healthy drink that reminds us of breezy, sunny days on the beach while toning up the body and providing an antioxidant boost.
6. Green Cleansing Elixir
Our Green Cleansing Elixir is a fantastic way to load up on antioxidants (and feel like a Green Goddess). This blend contains matcha green tea, açaí berry, spirulina, turmeric, and kale — all of which are excellent sources of nutrients and antioxidants.
Plus, it has 22 superfoods and probiotics to support gut health, boost metabolism, reduce bloating, and improve immmunity. Truly, this is the ultimate drink for anyone looking to improve their health and wellness by consuming antioxidants and cleansing their body. You can add this blend to your fruit juices and/or smoothies, or simply mix it with cold water.
7. Detox Cherry Bomb
The power of red superfruits and antioxidants in your hand! Our Detox Cherry Bomb is the perfect drink for anyone looking to detox and cleanse their system.
This yummy blend contains cherries, green tea, beetroot, mate leaves, and pomegranate, all of which are rich in antioxidants and other nutrients. Plus, this drink is a Vitamin C powerhouse, and we all know that Vitamin C is one of the best antioxidants to protect the body from oxidative stress!
In fact, you can combine Detox Cherry Bomb with lemon juice to make a refreshing Cherry Lemonade that will boost your Vitamin C intake (and give you a burst of energy in the process).
So there you have it — 7 antioxidant drinks that you need to try ASAP. Stay hydrated, babes!
