Antioxidants combat free radicals, the highly reactive chemicals produced during metabolism that are linked to aging, cell destruction and degenerative diseases. You should include plenty of high antioxidant foods in your diet.

The USDA's top 20 are:

Adding just a few of these to your cart during your next shopping trip can boost your diet's impact on your everyday health. Many of these go great together, by themselves or in a prepared meal.

For example, sliced gala or red delicious apples, mixed with some of the berries listed above and topped with chopped pecans would beat a bowl of cheap ice cream as an invigorating sweet treat. Throwing more than one kind of bean in your homemade chili is another great way to increase your anti-oxidant intake without having to resort to eating things you don't normally eat.