Most people wouldn’t enthusiastically rattle off artichokes and beans as their top favorite foods, however findings on the high levels of antioxidants in these two foods might move them up the most eaten foods list. One of the largest antioxidant studies conducted revealed that these foods contained a significant amount of disease-preventing compounds.
In addition to the highly touted antioxidant-filled blueberries and cranberries, researchers have discovered some other less common antioxidant-rich food sources such as russet potatoes, pecans and cinnamon. It has been theorized that antioxidants could benefit people by providing protection against chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s.
These findings have motivated doctors to advise people to increase their intake of fruits and vegetables, particularly the ones known to contain high levels of antioxidants.
A study on antioxidants consisted of assessing the amount of antioxidants in over 100 types of foods including fruits, vegetables, spices and nuts.
Highest Ranking Antioxidant Food Sources:
Experts stressed that consumers should understand that not all antioxidants produce the same benefits because of the various ways they are absorbed and utilized in the system.
Presently, recommendations for antioxidant intake do not exist, however until such guidelines are established, doctors recommended consumers continue to eat several kinds of fruits and vegetables to reap their antioxidant benefits.
Journal of Agricultural of Food Chemistry June 16, 2004;52(12):4026-4037
Please be aware that the total antioxidant capacity of the foods does not necessarily reflect their potential health benefit, which depends on how they are absorbed and utilized in the body.
Certain fruits and vegetables should be eaten in moderation because of their high sugar levels. For instance, potatoes ranked high on the list for vegetables, but are not necessarily the best choice because they cause increased insulin levels in most people.
In order to determine the amount of fruits and vegetables your body requires you need to figure out your nutritional type. This could be done by taking a simple test which is detailed in my book, Total Health Program It's important to remember that what works for your best friend might not work for you. For example,carbohydrate nutritional types need far more vegetables in their diet than protein nutritional types.
Researchers at the USDA Human Nutrition Center (HNRCA) have ranked blueberries #1 in antioxidant activity when compared to 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables.
In addition to the high number of antioxidants blueberries also provide you with a number of valuable health benefits such as protection against urinary-tract infections, cancer, age-related health conditions and brain damage from strokes. They may also reduce the build-up of so-called "bad" cholesterol, which contributes to heart disease and stroke.
Whole blueberries are associated with numerous health benefits such as improving brain function and the European blueberry, known as bilberry, is known to prevent and even reverse the most common cause of blindness, macular degeneration. And, since blueberries are low in sugar they won’t stimulate severe insulin swings if eaten in moderation.
Along the same vein, you can also enjoy the same benefits dark chocolate provides via flavonoids in fruits like apples, grapes and blueberries and most all vegetables, including broccoli, greens and onions too. Particularly, as I mentioned above, blueberries are the top-rated food as far as antioxidant capacity.
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