—especially if there are variables (like
illness, pollution, an aggressive exercise
routine, or a less-than-healthy diet) that keep
pumping more free radicals into our system.
Vegetables and fruits have the highest
natural concentration of antioxidants—things
we bet you’ve heard of, like vitamin C,
vitamin E, and beta-carotene—so it makes
sense that a diet rich in these noble martyrs
would help us fight free radicals and reduce
systemic inflammation.
But remember, food is complex, and
vegetables aren’t just antioxidants. You
cannot attribute the benefits gained from
eating certain foods to one particular nutrient,
even if that nutrient is kind of a big deal.
(Remember the “I eat whole grains for fiber”
argument?)
People don’t eat nutrients, they eat food.And like all real food, vegetables aren’t