Best Antioxidant
Blueberries, cranberries, red
berries, purple berries – say what? Yes, there is such a thing as a
purple berry. You may not be that familiar with the term but new
research has shown that when it comes to finding the best
antioxidant source, nothing compares to purple berries.
A group of USDA scientists have come
up with a study which suggests that among the highest fruits for
best antioxidants, purple berries are even higher than blueberries
and cranberries. Their preliminary laboratory studies told them that
the elderberry, black currant, and chokeberry – collectively known
as “purple berries” due to their dark color – are as much as 50
percent higher in best antioxidants than some of the more common
berry varieties. This further proves that purple berries are the
best antioxidant source and have the potential to provide more
health benefits, from boosting the immune system, cutting down
cholesterol, and preventing the onset of degenerative diseases such
as Alzheimer’s, cancer, and heart disease.
In the near future, scientists
predict that best antioxidants from purple berries will play a
bigger role in the marketplace where they are poised to be used as
part of a growing number of specialty health foods, drinks, and
nutraceuticals.
Besides purple berries, there are
also other rich sources of best antioxidants. According to the
largest USDA study yet, artichokes and beans may not be at the top
of your list of favorite foods but when it comes to best
antioxidants, these veggies earn a coveted place. According to the
study, these vegetables are among a growing variety of foods to
contain surprisingly high levels of the disease-fighting compounds
known as best antioxidants.
In addition to artichokes and beans,
researchers have also found that Russet potatoes, pecans, and even
cinnamon are all excellent, although lesser-known, sources of best
antioxidants.
This new study is more complete and
much more accurate compared to previous studies, due perhaps to
updated technology. It also includes a wider variety of foods for
their best antioxidant test. Over 100 different foods were used as
researchers analyzed their antioxidant levels, including fruits and
vegetables, as well as spices and nuts.
Among the fruits tested, purple
berries, cranberries, blueberries, and blackberries ranked highest
when it came to best antioxidant sources. Beans, artichokes and
Russet potatoes were also the top contenders among the vegetables
tested. Pecans, walnuts and hazelnuts also had best antioxidants in
the nut category.
But no matter which food source is a
better antioxidant source or which one isn’t, the bottom line
remains the same: eat more fruits and veggies. This was according to
Ronald L. Prior, Ph.D., a chemist and a nutritionist with the USDA’s
Arkansas Children’s Nutrition Center in Little Rock, Ark.
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