USDA Releases Antioxidant Ratings
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Posted On :
Aug-24-2011
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Article Word Count :
513
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has posted the antioxidant values for various foods online. Researchers have determined that blueberry juice has the highest antioxidant levels, beating out other juices such as apple, cranberry and grape.
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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has posted the antioxidant values for various foods online. Researchers have determined that blueberry juice has the highest antioxidant levels, beating out other juices such as apple, cranberry and grape.
However, don’t limit yourself to juices when it comes to boosting your diet with antioxidants. According to the USDA, many foods scored higher on the list than blueberry juice did.
So which foods made the top 10? Well, here’s some good news: both chocolate and cocoa scored high on the list. Of course, that doesn’t mean that you should rush out and buy a chocolate bar at the corner store. You need to find some good-quality dark chocolate (at least 70% dark) to give yourself a big dose of antioxidants.
Surprisingly, a lot of spices also scored near the top of the list. Cinnamon, sage, basil, marjoram and clove can all help fight “free radicals.” Free radicals are molecular in size and roam around your body, causing cellular damage. This cellular damage is thought to be the starting point of all sorts of health problems, including diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart disease, as well as being implicated in the aging process.
Fruits and vegetables scored lower on the list compared to spices and other foods. However, don’t think that fruits and vegetables are no longer a valuable addition to your diet. They still pack a big punch when it comes to nutrition — mainly in the form of vitamins and minerals. So, continue to eat lots of fresh produce every week to keep healthy and strong.
One particular food that scored high when it came to antioxidant rating was “sorghum bran.” Try using some of this bran in your favorite muffin, bread and cookie recipes to give them some free-radical-fighting power.
Researchers used the Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) testing procedure for detecting the free-radical scavenging ability of foods. Simply check the column marked “mean” — the higher the number, the greater the food’s antioxidant capacity.
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Keywords :
boosting your diet , USDA , Green Tea, health news, health e-letter,
Category :
Health and Fitness
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Health and Fitness
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