19 Foods High in Antioxidants to Eat More Often

In lab studies, antioxidants have been shown to counteract oxidative stress caused by free radicals — highly unstable molecules created when you exercise, digest food or are exposed to environmental factors like sunlight, air pollution and cigarette smoke.

It's thought oxidative stress plays a role in a variety of diseases, such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and age-related macular degeneration and cataracts, per the NIH. Antioxidant-rich foods also protect your skin from free radical damage, helping your skin look more youthful and radiant, per the Cleveland Clinic.

There are hundreds, if not thousands, of substances that can act as antioxidants, according to the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Some common antioxidants include:

• ​Vitamin C:​ An essential nutrient that occurs naturally in many foods
• ​Vitamin E:​ An essential nutrient that occurs naturally in many foods
• ​Beta-carotene and other related carotenoids​: Pigments that produce yellow, red and orange colors in plants (beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A in your body)
• ​Selenium:​ An essential mineral
• ​Manganese:​ An essential mineral
• ​Polyphenols:​ Plant substances with powerful antioxidant properties
• ​Flavonoids:​ A family of polyphenolic compounds
  • ​Anthocyanins:​ A type of flavonoid
  • ​Catechin:​ A type of flavonoid
  • ​Quercetin:​ A type of flavonoid

One of the most widely cited and comprehensive reports on antioxidants is a 2004 study in the ​Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry​ where USDA researchers ranked more than 100 common foods by their total antioxidant capacity (or their ability to combat free radicals).

Check out this list of the highest antioxidant foods based on the USDA report. Note that Americans get around 5,700 total antioxidant capacity per day, and many foods on this list provide more than that.

• ​13,727 total antioxidant capacity per ½ cup​

Although the researchers measured the antioxidants in dry beans, you'll still get plenty once they're cooked. Red beans contain polyphenols, plant substances with potent antioxidant properties, per a November 2017 study in the ​International Journal of Molecular Sciences​​.​

Red beans contain anthocyanins, per a November 2015 report from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Anthocyanins are a type of flavonoid, a family of polyphenols. These antioxidants are responsible for the red, purple and blue colors in fruits and vegetables, per an August 2017 study in ​Food & Nutrition Research​​.​

Both raw and cooked beans contain polyphenols — and cooking beans at high temperatures does not change the polyphenol content, per the study. Try these protein-packed canned bean recipes.

• ​13,427 total antioxidant capacity per 1 cup​

Wild blueberries, in particular, are the most antioxidant-rich fruits. Wild blueberries are high in anthocyanins, which are in the fruit's skin and are responsible for its blue hue, per the University of Maine Cooperative Extension.

More research is needed to confirm the health benefits of anthocyanins, but they're linked to lower blood pressure, improved vision, reduced cancer cell growth and lower rates of diabetes and heart disease, per an October 2015 report in the ​Journal of Food Processing & Technology​​.​ They're also thought to be anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial.

Like wild blueberries, cultivated blueberries pack antioxidants — with 9,019 total antioxidant capacity per cup. Anthocyanins account for up to 60 percent of all the total polyphenol antioxidants in ripe blueberries, according to a Mach 2020 review in ​Advances in Nutrition​​.​ The anthocyanins in berries increase dramatically as they ripen.

One cup of blueberries also contains 16 percent of the DV for vitamin C (a common, potent antioxidant) and 6 percent of the DV for vitamin E (another antioxidant). Try them in these healthy blueberry breakfast recipes.

• ​13,259 total antioxidant capacity per 1/2 cup​

Like their cousin small red beans, red kidney beans are rich in polyphenol antioxidants. In particular, they are an excellent source of anthocyanins, per an October 2016 study in the ​Journal of Functional Foods​.

Flavonoids appear to be able to affect cell signaling and have been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-thrombogenic (prevent blood clots), anti-diabetes, anti-cancer and neuroprotective activities in vitro and in animal models, per the Oregon State University Linus Pauling Institute.

Although the USDA researchers measured the antioxidant capacity of dried kidney beans, you'll still get plenty of antioxidants and other perks from cooked kidney beans: A 1/2 cup of cooked red kidney beans contains 18 percent of the DV of manganese (which also has antioxidant properties), 7.7 grams of protein and 6.5 grams of heart-healthy fiber.

• ​11,864 total antioxidant capacity per ½ cup​

Like small red beans and red kidney beans, pinto beans are chock-full of antioxidants, including the flavonoid kaempferol, per the November 2017 ​International Journal of Molecular Sciences​ research.

Kaempferol is a polyphenol antioxidant in plants. Several studies link it to a reduced risk of chronic diseases, particularly cancer and inflammation, per a June 2013 review in ​Food Chemistry.​

A 1/2 cup of cooked pinto beans also has 17 percent of the DV for manganese and 10 percent of the DV for selenium (which has antioxidant properties).

• ​8,983 total antioxidant capacity per 1 cup​

The USDA lists cranberries as one of the top fruits high in antioxidants, with just slightly less antioxidant capacity than traditional blueberries. Cranberries contain a variety of polyphenols, including the flavonoids anthocyanin and catechin, per a May 2018 study in the ​International Journal of Food Properties.​

A catechin is a type of antioxidant also found in green tea, and it's currently being studied in the prevention and treatment of cancer, per the NIH.

One cup of raw cranberries also contains 17 percent of the DV for vitamin C and 10 percent of the DV for vitamin E. Try them in these year-round cranberry recipes.

• ​7,904 total antioxidant capacity per 1 cup​

The top vegetable for antioxidants is the artichoke, according to the USDA report — and it's found to possess even more antioxidants than several types of berries.

Artichokes contain antioxidants such as the flavonoid luteolin, per a September 2004 report in the ​Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics​​.​ Luteolin has anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic and anti-cancer effects: In fact, it was found to cause colon cancer cell death through antioxidant effect (but had no effect on healthy cells) in an October 2017 study in the ​International Journal of Oncology​​.​

Try the veg in these canned artichoke heart recipes.

• ​7,701 total antioxidant capacity per 1 cup​

Blackberries have a high amount of phenolic compounds such as gallic acid and ellagic acid, plus catechins, quercetin, luteolin, proanthocyanidins and anthocyanins, per a February 2012 study in the ​Journal of Zhejiang University Science​​.​

The study analyzed three types of berries and found blackberries had less antioxidant capacity than blueberries but more than strawberries, which reflects the USDA report's findings.

Proanthocyanidins, like anthocyanidins, are a type of flavonoid with antioxidant activity. One cup of blackberries also contains 34 percent of the DV for vitamin C and 11 percent of the DV for vitamin E.

• ​7,291 total antioxidant capacity per ½ cup​

Dried plums, also known as prunes, are excellent sources of antioxidant polyphenols — namely chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid, caffeic acid, coumaric acid, rutin and proanthocyanidin, per an October 2013 chapter in ​Polyphenols in Human Health and Disease​.

Half a cup of prunes contains 6.2 grams of fiber. And fiber is linked to a lower risk of multiple conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, diverticular disease and constipation, per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

• ​6,058 total antioxidant capacity per 1 cup​

Red raspberries are rich in antioxidants such as vitamin C and flavonoid compounds, including cyanidin and quercetin, per a June 2012 study in the ​Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry​​.​

In vitro and animal studies have found quercetin is anti-carcinogenic, anti-inflammatory and antiviral — and it's even linked to improved mental and physical performance and lower infection risk, per a March 2016 review in ​Nutrients​​.​

One cup of raspberries provides 36 percent of the DV for vitamin C, plus 8 grams of fiber.

• ​5,938 total antioxidant capacity per 1 cup​

Strawberries are rich in phenolic compounds including flavonoids and phenolic acids such as hydroxycinnamic acids, ellagic acids and anthocyanins, according to the February 2012 ​Journal of Zhejiang University Science​ study.

One cup of strawberries also offers an impressive 108 percent of the DV for vitamin C, plus some vitamin E (3 percent of the DV) and 28 percent of the DV for manganese. Try them in these strawberry breakfast recipe ideas.

• ​5,900 total antioxidant capacity per apple​

Red Delicious, Northern Spy and Ida Red apples have more antioxidants than several other types of apples.

In particular, Red Delicious apples have two times the antioxidant activity of Empire apples, per a classic May 2005 study in the ​Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry​​.​ (That said, this Canadian study did not look at several types of apples popular in the United States, such as Gala or Granny Smith.)

The researchers found two types of polyphenols — epicatechin and procyanidin B2 — were the greatest contributors to total antioxidant activity in the apples. Procyanidins made up about 60 percent of antioxidant activity in the peel and 56 percent in the flesh of the apple.

One medium Red Delicious apple also contains 3 percent of the DV for vitamin E and selenium. Try them in these savory apple recipes.

• ​5,381 total antioxidant capacity per apple​

The USDA report found Granny Smith apples had just slightly less antioxidant capacity per apple than Red Delicious apples. Granny Smiths contain phenolic compounds including catechin, epicatechin and quercetin, per an August 2015 study in the ​South African Journal of Plant and Soil​​.​

One medium Granny Smith apple also contains 3 percent of the DV for manganese and 2 percent of the DV for vitamin E, plus 4.7 grams of heart-healthy fiber. Try them in these tasty apple dessert recipes.

• ​5,095 total antioxidant capacity per 1 ounce​

Pecans have more flavonoids than other nuts, including high levels of proanthocyanidins, per a February 2012 study in ​Food & Function​.

In the United States, nuts provide 19 percent of total food polyphenols per day and are a major source of antioxidants in the American diet. One ounce of pecans also contains 56 percent of the DV for manganese and 3 percent of the DV for vitamin E.

• ​4,873 total antioxidant capacity per 1 cup​

Cherries are high in flavonoids that can help protect against oxidative stress, inflammation and endothelial dysfunction (a type of non-obstructive coronary artery disease), all of which can play a role in heart disease, per a February 2020 review in ​Foods​​.​

This sweet fruit also contains melatonin. Although melatonin is most commonly known as a sleep hormone, it has powerful antioxidant properties with anti-inflammatory effects, per an April 2019 study in ​Cell Death & Disease​​.​

One cup of sweet cherries also contains 10 percent of the DV for vitamin C. Try them in these savory cherry recipes.

• ​4,844 total antioxidant capacity per plum​

Black plum peel extract contains nine phenolic compounds, 23 percent of which are anthocyanins, per a September 2019 study in ​Food Hydrocolloids​​.​

One plum also contains 7 percent of the DV for vitamin C. Fresh plums can be a good antioxidant-rich alternative to prunes (dried plums) if you want to be especially mindful of your sugar intake.

Because dried fruit is much smaller than fresh fruit due to its lack of water, it's easy to load up on calories when eating it — especially because manufacturers often add sugar to dried fruit.

• ​4,649 total antioxidant capacity per potato​

Potatoes don't always get the same fanfare as other vegetables, but they're actually an excellent source of antioxidants.

This root vegetable has flavonoids including flavonols, flavanols and anthocyanins, per a June 2016 study in the ​International Journal of Molecular Sciences​. The potato peel has the highest amounts of phenolic compounds, so skip peeling your taters when you can.

One baked Russet potato also contains 16 percent of the DV for vitamin C and 17 percent of the DV for manganese, plus small amounts of selenium and vitamin E. Try them in these healthy potato recipes under 300 calories.

• ​4,181 total antioxidant capacity per ½ cup​

Beans contain antioxidants such as flavonoids, tannins and phenolic compounds, per North Dakota State University.

Beans with color (like black, red or brown beans) have more antioxidant activity than white beans. Although some of these antioxidant compounds are lost during typical cooking methods, a significant amount of antioxidants still remain.

A 1/2 cup of cooked black beans contains 5 percent of the DV for vitamin E, plus 17 percent of the DV for manganese and some selenium (2 percent of the DV). It also provides 7.5 grams of heart-healthy fiber.

• ​3,903 total antioxidant capacity per apple​

After Red Delicious and Granny Smith apples, the USDA report found Gala apples to have the highest antioxidant capacity out of the apple varieties tested. Golden Delicious apples (3,685 antioxidant capacity) and Fuji apples (3,578 antioxidant capacity) were close behind.

In general, antioxidants commonly found in apple peels include procyanidins, catechin, chlorogenic acid and quercetin, per the Department of Food Science at Cornell University. Apple flesh includes these antioxidants as well (with the exception of quercetin, which is found exclusively in the peel), but in much lower quantities than the peel.

One medium Gala apple also contains some manganese and vitamin E, plus 4 grams of fiber.

• ​3,344 total antioxidant capacity per avocado​

Avocados are rich in phenolic compounds such as gallic acid, anthocyanidins and tocopherols, which may have significant neuroprotective and cardioprotective effects, per an October 2019 study in ​Antioxidants​.

Avocados also contain carotenoids, which are antioxidants made by plants. Although more research is needed, eating plenty of carotenoid fruits and vegetables is linked to a significantly reduced risk of some chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease and eye-related diseases, per a February 2014 study in ​Nutrients​.

One avocado also provides 28 percent of the DV for vitamin E, 22 percent of the DV for vitamin C, 12 percent of the DV for manganese and small amounts of selenium. Try them in these avocado recipes that aren't toast or guacamole.

For quick reference, refer to the top foods high in antioxidants chart below.