ExoTerra - Anti Oxidant Nutrients

Insects possess a suite of antioxidant enzymes and small molecular weight antioxidants that may form a concatenated response to an onslaught of dietary and endogenously produced oxidants. Antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione transferase, and glutathione reductase have been characterized in insects. Water-soluble and lipid-soluble antioxidants such as ascorbate, glutathione, tocopherols, and carotenoids have not been well studied in insects but may play very important antioxidant roles. Additionally, the peritrophic matrix and trehalose may possess important antioxidant functions in insects. The enzymatic recycling of ascorbate, first noted in green plants, also exist in insects.

Certain Insects contain more Antioxidant enzymes than the below examples of fruits and vegetables known to contain an abundance of healthy antioxidants. 

‘ Allium sulphur compounds: Leeks, onions, garlic
‘ Anthocyanins: Eggplant, grapes, berries
‘ Beta carotene: Pumpkin, mangoes, apricots, carrots, spinach, parsley
‘ Catechins: Red wine, tea
‘ Copper: Seafood, lean meat, milk, nuts, legumes
‘ Cryptoxanthins: Red peppers, pumpkin, mangoes
‘ Flavonoids: Tea, green tea, red wine, citrus fruits, onion, apples
‘ Indoles: Cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower
‘ Lignans: Sesame seeds, bran, whole grains, vegetables
‘ Lutein: Corn, leafy greens (such as spinach)
‘ Lycopene: Tomatoes, pink grapefruit, watermelon
‘ Manganese: Seafood, lean meat, milk, nuts
‘ Polyphenols: Thyme, oregano
‘ Selenium: Seafood, offal, lean meat, whole grains
‘ Vitamin C: Oranges, berries, kiwi fruit, mangoes, broccoli, spinach, peppers
‘ Vitamin E: Vegetable oils, nuts, avocados, seeds, whole grains
‘ Zinc: Seafood, lean meat, milk, nuts
‘ Zoochemicals: Red meat, offal, fish