The Best Food or Drink for Antioxidants

The National Cancer Institute states that antioxidants are "substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals." Lycopene, beta-carotene and vitamins A, C and E are examples of antioxidants, thus foods and drinks that contain these substances are considered rich in antioxidants.

Foods That Contain Lycopene

• Characterized as a "potent" antioxidant by the National Cancer Institute, lycopene can be found in foods like tomatoes, guava, papaya, watermelon, apricots, blood oranges and pink grapefruit. According to estimates, 85 percent of the lycopene consumed by Americans is from tomatoes and tomato products.

Foods That Contain Beta-Carotene

• Many foods that are orange or green in color contain the antioxidant beta-carotene. Some examples are carrots, sweet potatoes, squash, cantaloupe, pumpkin, apricots, mangoes, spinach, collard greens and kale.

Foods That Contain Vitamin A

• Liver, carrots, sweet potatoes mozzarella cheese, milk and egg yolks are all rich in vitamin A, which is mainly found in three forms: retinol (vitamin A1), 3,4-didehydroretinol (vitamin A2) and 3-hydroxy-retinol (vitamin A3).

Foods That Contain Vitamin C

• Also known as ascorbic acid, vitamin C is abundant in a variety of fruits, fruit juices and vegetables and can also be found in beef, poultry, fish and cereals.

Foods That Contain Vitamin E

• Also known as alpha-tocopherol, vitamin E is commonly found in almonds and other nuts, mangoes, broccoli and oils such as safflower, corn, wheat germ and soybean oils.

Other Antioxidants Found in Foods

• Lutein and selenium are additional antioxidants commonly found in foods. Commonly associated with eye health, lutein is found in leafy vegetables. While a mineral as opposed to an antioxidant nutrient, selenium is often found in plant foods such as wheat and rice and is a component of antioxidant enzymes.