How to Lose Weight With Antioxidants

Antioxidants are nutrients that block the formation of free radicals in the human body. Jumping back in your mind to high-school chemistry, free radicals are parts of atoms that are busy floating around looking for a molecule to join. When too many of them develop in human tissue, aging and immune system problems result. Free-radicals buildup has been linked to cancer and heart disease. Antioxidants are nutritional heroes that can eliminate free-radicals. Antioxidants have fantastic health benefits but have not been clinically proven to induce weight loss. However, they support it and can be part of a healthy weight-loss diet.

Instructions

• 1

  Select a weight-loss plan that allows for significant consumption of fruits. Numerous berries, several varieties of apples and most citrus fruits are good sources of antioxidants. Whether you consume them in solid form or juice them, you'll get the antioxidant value just the same, according to Diet Health Club. Blueberries, raspberries and acai berries are known for their antioxidant values.

• 2

  Take antioxidant supplements as part of your daily routine. Physicians and nutritionists support the use of antioxidants to boost your body's immune system and metabolism, which in turn enables your body to better burn fat, say authors and experts at the Family Education and Weight Loss Center. However, proper diet and exercise are still necessary to get the job done.

• 3

  Drink green tea. Unlike most hot beverages, green tea is rich in antioxidants, including Vitamin C. It contains caffeine, which is a metabolic booster, and some argue that the flavonoids, or catechins, in it also enhance weight loss. Researchers at the University of Oregon maintain that top-quality green tea gets better results than cheaper grades, which are often missing much of the antioxidant and flavonoid values.

• 4

  Eat vegetables high in antioxidants. Most diet plans encourage vegetable consumption and some even allow unlimited vegetables. Take advantage of this to get your fill of antioxidants. Choose leafy greens, collards, green peppers, broccoli, asparagus, squash and carrots. While not always as diet-friendly, most types of beans and nuts contain significant amounts of antioxidants, too. If your diet allows them, take advantage.

• 5

  Choose foods that boost your oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC). Nutritionist Keri Glassman published a book entitled "The O2 Diet," in which she presents a theory of weight loss based on consuming high quantities of antioxidants. Glassman also lays out sample diets that hit 30,000 ORAC points per day. She claims that the diet stands alone and that it eliminates the need to calorie count or use other methodology. However, there are no clinical sources backing Glassman's approach at this time. Some physicians suggest the diet is essentially a decent low-calorie diet but should be modified to include some protein, calcium and carbohydrates.