Health is wealth and having witnessed the pandemic, we believe in this saying now more than ever. We all saw the horror that declining oxygen levels caused and now that we are moving past coronavirus, it is the pollution depriving us of fresh, clean air. But for how long can you rely on air-purifiers or escape to the hills? Here we have a long-term solution for you – including oxygen-rich foods in your diet. Scroll ahead to know more:
Why Oxygen-Rich Foods?
While we get plenty of oxygen from our environment, our changing lifestyle is only hampering this. Sometimes our bodies might not absorb ample amount of oxygen naturally, and it’s crucial for surviving. It helps us break down food for ease of digestion, manage heart rate and enhance brain power, to name a few. So now all that you need to do is add oxygen-rich food in your diet.
These oxygen-rich foods are actually alkaline pH in nature with plenty of vitamins A, B3, B5, B9, B12, and C. They are also rich in minerals like iron, copper, potassium, and magnesium. These oxygen-rich foods help in maintaining oxygen level in our bodies. Besides that, these super foods also reduce chances of stroke, hypertension, control blood pressure, lower cholesterol level, and blood sugar level.
15 Foods That Increase Oxygen Level In Our Bodies
Here, we have made a checklist of all the oxygen-rich foods that are packed with ample amount of nutrients.
Avocados
Avocados have become infamous for being pricey. But wait till we tell you that avocados are an excellent oxygen-rich food. They come with plenty of nutrients, including vitamin B, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin K, which all helps in boosting oxygen level and supplying ample amount to our brains. They are a good source of fiber, helping in keeping our gut healthy and also lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Avocados contain fat, but of good kind, and are popular for low-carb diets. The fruit also helps in reducing cholesterol level and controlling blood sugar level. And if you don’t know it already, they are one of the best potassium rich foods too.
Pomegranate
The top benefits of pomegranate is that it is an antioxidant and has an anti-inflammatory substance, making it an oxygen-rich food. They contain vitamins like vitamin A,C, and E, and minerals like iron, zinc, and copper. This all makes it easier for the blood to flow freely through our body and improve the level of oxygen. Pomegranates also help in boosting oxygen level by controlling blood sugar level, preventing blockage and bad cholesterol, and preventing blood clots. These red goodies lower blood pressure and are great for preventing cancer. They are also one of the crucial iron-rich fruits, which can help in fighting anemia. Fun Fact – they are more beneficial than a cup of green tea!
Berries
Berries, like blueberries, strawberries and raspberries, are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, granting them powers to increase oxygen in the blood. These oxygen-rich foods contain vitamins like A, B3, B5, B6 and minerals like iron, potassium, zinc, and copper. Berries are also rich in a compound called anthocyanin that helps in vascular health and protects from free radical damages. Berries also lower blood pressure, improve blood sugar level, reduce inflammation, manage bad cholesterol levels and increase oxygen saturation in the blood. You can consume these delicious babies in smoothies, yogurts, pancakes, and with any other favorite dish of yours.
Citrus Fruits
Citrus fruits (read oranges) are rich in vitamin C, which is a major antioxidant component. If you have a citrus fruit rich diet, then you don’t have to rely on additional supplements. These antioxidants help in developing hemoglobin based oxygen carriers (HBOCs), which help in decreasing inflammation and boost blood circulation. These oxygen-rich foods help in preventing nerve cell damage, maintain cardiovascular health, and expand blood vessels to improve the blood flow. Citrus fruits also ensure that you don’t get blood clots easily. Apart from this, they are also a good source of fiber. The Vitamin C also ensures production of more melanin in our skin, making them melanin-rich food. And believe it or not, they also help in preventing cold and flu, or can help in shortening its duration.
Kiwi
These sweet and sour goodies are packed with vitamin C, more than any other fruit and should be in your list of oxygen-rich foods. This tropical fruit is a good source of dietary fiber and provides numerous health benefits. Apart from vitamin C, they are rich in B3, B5, B6 and minerals like iron, copper, carotenoids and other antioxidants. Kiwis also help in supplying an ample amount of oxygen to our blood cells, boost immunity, and lower blood pressure. The dietary fiber helps in reducing constipation and other discomforts, all while also lowering bad cholesterol and reducing the risk of many heart diseases. So go and grab that Kiwi and munch away!
Grapes
These juicy globes are an incredible source of vitamins like A, B and C and contain plenty of antioxidants. The antioxidants present in grapes help in reducing free radicals in our bodies. These free radicals can damage cells in our bodies which can in return result in poor supply of oxygen. By reducing these free radicals, these antioxidants help in increasing the blood flow properly. Apart from this, the oxygen-rich food also helps in lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart disease. Grapes also contain other enzymes that can help in maintaining hormonal balance.
Lemons
Lemons are one of the top sources of oxygen-rich foods. Although they are acidic from outside, once within the body, they turn alkaline. Lemons have tons of vitamin C and flavonoids, which are antioxidants. These antioxidants help in developing hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers, hence increasing the level of oxygen in our bloodstream. It also helps in fighting common flu, hyperacidity, heartburns and other ailments. In short, it helps in boosting our immune system without any fuss. All you need to do is squeeze a lemon in a glass full of warm water, mix it with honey, and tada, you are ready with your daily dose of goodness!
Beetroots
Beetroots are an incredible source of fiber and a super oxygen-rich food. They are also very rich in antioxidants that help in controlling cell damage, reduce the risk of heart diseases, and prevent strokes. A powerful antioxidant called betalains, which give beets its color, helps in reducing inflammation, and may also protect us from cancer and other risky diseases. Beetroot also contains nitric oxide, which lowers blood pressure by widening and relaxing blood vessels, hence increasing the blood flow to our muscles. Other nutrients in beets include folate or vitamin B9, which helps in keeping the blood vessels healthy, and potassium to protect your heart.
Spinach
A list of oxygen-rich foods will be incomplete without a healthy dose of spinach. Also known as a superfood, spinach is packed with irons which helps in transporting oxygen in the blood. Spinach also helps in preventing anemia, an iron deficiency leading to dizziness, weakness and trouble in breathing. Apart from that, spinach contains nitrates which our body breaks down into nitric oxide ensuring blood flow throughout our body’s vital organs. These green leafy vegetables also controls blood pressure and dilates arteries. They strengthen our immune system and lowers the risk of heart related ailments, reduces blood sugar and aids in keeping our bones healthy. It also contains potassium, calcium and magnesium, all of which are very vital for a healthy life.
Carrots
We’ve always been told that eating carrots promotes healthy eye sight, and that’s absolutely true. Carrots are a great source of beta-carotene, a compound that changes into vitamin A. This compound protects our eyes from sun and reduces the risk of contracting other eye-sight related problems. Apart from this, carrots are rich in Vitamin A, B6, H(biotin), C, and K1, and minerals like choline, potassium, iron, zinc, and copper. This oxygen-rich food also maintains digestive health as they have high fiber content and helps in fighting constipation. The vitamin C in carrots also protects your immunity system by building antibodies and uses iron present in it to prevent any infections.
Garlic
If you love adding garlic in every dish that you cook, then we’ll give you more reasons. Garlic is antibiotic, antifungal, and have antiviral properties. It also contains other elements like calcium, phosphorus, iron and vitamins, all which helps to keep our lungs strong. They are also low in carbs and rich in vitamin C, B6, and magnesium. Apart from helping in supplying a good amount of oxygen in our blood, the oxygen-rich food protects us from common cold and flu, reduces blood pressure risk by increasing blood flow, improves cholesterol level and thus reduces the risk of many heart diseases.
Legumes
Legumes, beans or pulses, call them whatever you want, they are a power packed source of vitamins and minerals. They contain protein, vitamin B complex, fibers, iron, folate, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc, making them an excellent source of oxygen-rich food. The antioxidants in legumes help in preventing cell damage and risks associated with it and the iron it in increases hemoglobin production. Adding legumes in your diet will help in lowering blood sugar level, controlling blood pressure, hypertension, high cholesterol and will promote a healthy heart. If you want to avoid meat or animal-based products then this is what you need to add to your diet ASAP. You can have legumes in salads, tacos, as soup and what not.
Eggs
We all know that eggs are an excellent source of high-quality protein. But apart from that, they are also one of the oxygen-rich foods. They contain iron, zinc, protein, and vitamins like A, D, B5, B12, E, and K, folate, and beta-cartone. It also contains Lutien and Zeaxanthin, which helps in boosting eye health and protect against age-related macular degeneration. Another component which is there in eggs and hardly talked about is choline, an important nutrient which helps in brain development. Though eggs are known for high-cholesterol levels, they have anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, and don’t cause any heart related issues.
Dairy
We have been consuming milk since childhood. While some of us were forced by our parents, others consumed it because of the health benefits. Well, turns out milk is not only a good source of protein and calcium but is a good oxygen-rich food too. And not just milk, yogurt and clarified butter or ghee are packed with zinc, vitamin Bs, vitamin D, probiotics and healthy fats too. Consuming a glass of milk, a cup full of dahi or a spoonful of ghee is enough for you to maintain your daily dose of oxygen level in your body.
Meats & Seafoods
Meat and seafoods are a good source of oxygen-rich foods. They contain vitamins like B3, B6, B12, D and minerals like iron, zinc, selenium, calcium, omega 3 fatty acids, and proteins. Iron which helps in oxygen circulation in our body can be found in oysters, pork, and poultry livers. Fish like salmon and sardines are higher in protein than iron. Both meats and seafood also help in building hemoglobin content, which in turn helps in increasing oxygen flow in our body. Try to add these meats and seafood in your diet, that too fresh instead of processed meats. However, it is advised to have it once or twice a week to get the required amount of oxygen.
Now that you have become an expert in oxygen-rich foods, it’s time to start with a healthy lifestyle for a healthier future.
Featured Image: Pexels
