Many berries are classified as “superfoods” due to being high in antioxidants, which promote good health inside and out. Antioxidants combat free radicals in the body that cause disease and premature aging. Fruit, in general, contains high levels of antioxidants, but berries top the list. Blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, strawberries, acai berries, and grapes have the highest concentration of antioxidants. The benefit to this is the recommended daily dose of antioxidants can be reached from just one cup of berries!

Not only will berries help combat disease, they do wonders for the overall health of your skin. I often refer to free radicals as “youth stealers” because they impair function of collagen and elastin in your skin, which increases the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. They also cause pigment damage as free radicals from the sun run amuck on your skin. Increasing your berry consumption is a delicious way to combat both internal and external aging!

My go-to for getting in those antioxidants is a morning smoothie. The great thing about smoothies is you can switch it up daily so your taste buds don’t get “bored”. My favorite recipe is below to provide some inspiration for you to get started on your antioxidant kick 🙂

1 1/2 Cup Liquid of Choice (I typically use filtered water)
1/2 Cup of Strawberries
1/2 Cup of Pineapple
1/4 Cup of Blueberries
1/4 Cup of Blackberries
1/2 Cup of Ice Cubes
– Optional –
1/4 Cup of Lowfat Yogurt
– or –
1 Whole Banana

Blend everything together until it reaches desired consistency, and don’t be afraid to add more or less of your favorite berries. If the Pineapple doesn’t sweeten things up enough, you can add a bit of honey or agave syrup.

xoxo