Antioxidants are compounds produced in your body and found in foods. They help defend your cells from damage caused by potentially harmful molecules known as free radicals.

When free radicals accumulate, they may cause a state known as oxidative stress. This may damage your DNA and other important structures in your cells.

Sadly, chronic oxidative stress can increase your risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer ( 1 ).

Fortunately, eating a diet rich in antioxidants can help increase your blood antioxidant levels to fight oxidative stress and reduce the risk of these diseases.

Scientists use several tests to measure the antioxidant content of foods.

One of the best tests is the FRAP (ferric reducing ability of plasma) analysis. It measures the antioxidant content of foods by how well they can neutralize a specific free radical ( 2 ).

The higher the FRAP value, the more antioxidants the food contains.

Here are the top 12 healthy foods that are high in antioxidants.