Antioxidants are our body's front line defense against free radicals.

Carotenoids are a family of antioxidant phytonutrients including alpha carotene, beta carotene, lutein and lycopene. Leafy green vegetables and foods with red, yellow and orange colored pigments are characteristic of foods high in carotenoids.

Lutein is found in fruits and vegetables like mango, papaya, oranges, kiwi, peaches, squash, peas, lima beans, green beans, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, kale, lettuce, prunes, pumpkin, sweet potatoes and honeydew melon.

The red color in fruits and vegetables comes primarily from the carotenoid lycopene. Dietary sources of lycopene are tomatoes, pink grapefruit, the skin of red grapes, watermelon, red guavas, papaya and apricots.

Some dietary sources of beta-carotene include mango, cantaloupe, carrots, pumpkin, papaya, peaches, prunes, squash, sweet potato, apricots, cabbage, lima beans, green beans, broccoli, brussel sprouts, kale, kiwi, lettuce, peas, spinach, tomatoes, pink grapefruit, honeydew melon and oranges.

Alpha-carotene is another important antioxidant. Sources of alpha-carotene are sweet potatoes, apricots, pumpkin, cantaloupe, green beans, lima beans, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, kale, kiwi, lettuce, peas, spinach, prunes, peaches, mango, papaya, squash and carrots.