7 Drinks with Antioxidant Properties to Discover

There is a good chance that when you think “antioxidant drink”, you think “green tea”. A traditional Japanese drink, green tea is associated with many benefits, including its antioxidant effects! Antioxidants are popular because they slow down the natural aging of the human body. In this article, let’s discover 7 antioxidant drinks together. This will change you from green tea! 🍵

SUMMARY

Mugicha

Sobacha

Green tea

Matcha

Other teas

Coffee

Fruit juice

But what are antioxidants?

Barley is a cereal that has been consumed since ancient times for its taste and benefits. In addition to having anti-inflammatory properties , it is rich in antioxidants thanks to its richness in flavonoids. Barley is consumed in Japan, as an infusion, under the name “mugicha”. Infused hot or at room temperature, you will be surprised by the light roasted taste of this drink, between coffee and tea.

And to take care of your health, opt instead for an organic mugicha : pesticides and preservatives can attack our cells! The mugicha developed by us comes from French organic farming and is 100% prepared in France.

Sobacha is the name of the infusion made from roasted buckwheat, consumed in Japan. This drink contains many benefits, including antioxidants from its flavonoids. Consuming it, hot or cold, allows you to benefit from its benefits but also its delicious taste!

Because pesticides and preservatives are not good for your health, we recommend that you opt for a sobacha made with buckwheat from organic farming 🌿. Our sobacha is organic and 100% prepared in France.

Green tea is THE antioxidant drink par excellence. Rich in these substances, it has been democratized by the Japanese who consume it daily, especially during their meals! If green tea can sometimes be bitter, we particularly recommend genmaicha (its version garnished with puffed rice) and jasmine green tea.

Matcha is a highly concentrated quality green tea: the green tea leaves are selected and picked by hand, before being dried and ground into matcha powder. Thus, matcha contains even more antioxidants than green tea.

💡 Did you know? Matcha contains caffeine! (In green tea, it's called theine but it's the same molecule.) Also, if you're looking to reduce your coffee consumption , consider limiting your matcha consumption and opting for other drinks!

Besides green tea, white tea is particularly rich in antioxidants. Studies suggest that white tea has similar antioxidants to green tea while having a milder taste. One in-vitro study found that white tea extract may specifically help protect nerve cells from damage caused by a free radical called hydrogen peroxide.

As appreciated and criticized because of the caffeine boost it gives, coffee is nonetheless a drink that has many benefits. Including its richness in flavonoids and thus in antioxidants!

To protect your health in the long term, opt for organic coffee instead: coffee can contain many pesticides and endocrine disruptors. Furthermore, for ethical reasons, we recommend that you turn to fair trade coffee.

In their natural state, antioxidants are found in vitamins, minerals and flavonoids, which is why, in addition to the hot drinks presented above, fruit juices can be excellent antioxidant drinks!

We particularly recommend the juices of:

• grenade
• grapes
• blueberry
• cherry
• acai
• cranberry

💡 Did you know? Fruit juices are great to consume because they allow you to eat more fruit, quickly. However, they are also very high in sugar and low in fiber. Try to alternate between consuming fruit juices and whole fruits.

Antioxidants neutralize the body's natural oxidation process and thus delay aging. It is a good idea to consume them regularly as part of a balanced diet.

What is an antioxidant?

Antioxidants are substances that help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals, either over the long term or when they are produced in excess by the body.

Free radicals are unstable molecules. They are released naturally by cell renewal and can attack cells and their genetic material – this is called “oxidation”. Free radicals are the main actors in the aging of the body.

Antioxidants neutralize the damaging effects of free radicals by trapping their electrons, making them less active.

The balance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body is the key to maintaining health and youthfulness of the body for as long as possible.

What are natural antioxidants?

There are two types of antioxidants:

• Endogenous antioxidants , generated directly by our body. These are certain enzymes, proteins and endonucleases;
• Exogenous antioxidants , coming from outside the body (usually from food). Natural antioxidants are essentially vitamins (A, C, E) , minerals (zinc, selenium) or flavonoids (present in fruits and vegetables).

Consuming antioxidants regularly in your diet helps supplement the antioxidants naturally produced by your body.

What are antioxidants actually used for?

Antioxidants are often presented as miracle substances. And it must be said here that they really do have very interesting powers, both on health and on beauty.

• Health: Slow down the degeneration of cells, slow down or even eliminate the appearance of infections and diseases such as certain cancers, lower cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, protect the eyes and vision, counter the effects of pollution, particularly on the lungs;
• Beauty: Slow down the aging of the skin and body.

Can you consume too many antioxidants?

If excess free radicals tend to damage the body and skin, what about overconsumption of antioxidants? Is there a limit?

YES. Excess antioxidants are dangerous for your health. Research now tends to show that too much antioxidant supplementation could be harmful to the body (article in English 🇬🇧) and cells. Moreover, each antioxidant has a specific role in the body and antioxidants are not interchangeable: excess beta-carotene could thus be partly responsible for lung cancer and cardiovascular diseases.

This is why it is more interesting to consume antioxidants through a balanced diet rather than through food supplements.

Antioxidants are substances that protect against the natural aging of the human body. Consuming antioxidant drinks is a good way to regularly include them in your diet. In addition to green tea, known for its antioxidant properties, mugicha and sobacha are drinks that are as delicious as they are rich in antioxidants. Discover them!