Although we’d all like to have the time and
inclination to practise ‘the good life’ and pick from
an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables in our back garden, many
of us don’t eat produce fresh from our local farmers or even
grown in our own country.
The ‘trafficking’ of fruit and vegetables across the
world means we can now eat whichever food we like, whenever we
like. But fruit and vegetables out of season, shipped great
distances, are less nutritious and possess fewer antioxidants than
locally grown seasonal produce. Our tendency to stick to the same
foods regardless of season, coupled with the fact that our average
intake of fruit and vegetables is only half of what is recommended,
means it’s often hard to achieve the ideal levels of
vitamins, minerals and, most importantly, the antioxidants our
bodies need.
Our choice of fruit and vegetables is also important, as some
are more nutritious and possess significantly higher amounts of
antioxidants than others. ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity)
is a measurement of the antioxidant rating of different foods and
has recently become the ‘source of wise counsel’ in
nutrition. It suggests that we should all be aiming to obtain
around 7,000 ORAC units per day.
To help augment even the best of diets, Healthspan has developed
OptiFive, which combines concentrated extracts of pure fruit and
vegetables, ripened across the four seasons, to provide the best
antioxidants in two complementary tablets. By supplementing your
diet with a multi-antioxidant blend and eating with the seasons,
you are more likely to improve the nutrient content of your
diet.
Look out for these top antioxidant foods in each season
Spring
Strawberries*
Spinach* Bilberry*
Onions
Kale
Summer
Tomatoes*
Cherries*
Raspberries*
Beetroot
Blueberries
Autumn
Grapes*
Cranberries*
Plums*
Peppers
Brussels sprouts
Winter
Wild cabbage*
Carrots*
Broccoli*
Sweet potato
Green cabbage
- Optifive contains these specially selected fruits and
vegetables, covering you throughout the seasons.
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