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2009

Food Sources the Best Choice for Antioxidants

June 5, 2009

Dear Mayo Clinic:

I keep hearing that antioxidants can help prevent disease and improve my overall health. Is this true?

Should I be taking antioxidant supplements each day along with my multivitamin?

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Answer:

It is true that antioxidants such as vitamins C and E, carotene, lycopene, lutein and many other

substances may play a role in helping to prevent diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease,

Alzheimer's disease and macular degeneration. However, research indicates that simply taking

antioxidant supplements is not the best way to go about getting what your body needs. In fact, it's

possible that some of these supplements could be harmful.

Fortunately, research is also increasingly showing that you can reap the potential health benefits of

antioxidant intake by eating a diet rich in antioxidant-containing foods.

Antioxidants are thought to be helpful because they can neutralize free radicals, which are toxic

byproducts of natural cell metabolism. Free radicals can also be introduced into the body by exposure to

certain substances, such as cigarette smoke, sunlight or pesticides.

Although free radicals perform some useful immune functions, in excess or in the wrong place, they can

damage healthy cells through a process called oxidation. Oxidation is thought to be a factor in the

development of certain diseases. Overall, free radicals do far more harm than they do good.

Our bodies naturally produce antioxidants and are quite effective at neutralizing free radicals. The

minerals copper, manganese, selenium and zinc are important players in this process. But this process

isn't 100 percent effective, and its effectiveness declines with age.

One reason foods appear to be a better choice than supplements is that foods contain an unmatchable

array of antioxidant substances. A supplement may contain a single type of antioxidant or even several

types. However, foods contain thousands of types of antioxidants vitamin A alone has several hundred

forms and it's not known which of these substances are able to confer benefits. In fact, many

researchers theorize that antioxidants in food form chemical networks that then interact with our own

cellular and genetic intricacies.

Although supplements containing antioxidants are generally considered safe, some studies have

suggested that taking higher doses of supplements, such as beta carotene or vitamin E, over time mayactually increase your risk of death.

When it comes to antioxidant intake, no one food or food group should be your sole focus. It's best to

include a wide variety of foods as part of a healthy, well-balanced diet. Some of the better sources of

antioxidants include:

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Berries Blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and cranberries are among the top

sources of antioxidants.

Beans Small red beans and kidney, pinto and black beans are all choices rich in antioxidants.

Fruits

Many apple varieties (with peel) are high in antioxidants, as are avocados, cherries, greenand red pears, fresh or dried plums, pineapple, kiwi and others.

Vegetables Those with the highest antioxidant content include artichokes, spinach, red cabbage,

red and white potatoes (with peel), sweet potatoes and broccoli. Although the effect of cooking on

antioxidant levels varies by cooking method and vegetable, one study showed that cooking generally

increased levels among select vegetables.

Beverages Green tea may come to mind as a good source of antioxidants, but other beverages

have high levels, too, including coffee, red wine and many fruit juices such as pomegranate.

Nuts

Walnuts, pistachios, pecans, hazelnuts and almonds are some of the top nuts for antioxidant

content.

Herbs These may be unexpected suppliers of antioxidants, but ground cloves, cinnamon and

ginger, dried oregano leaf and turmeric powder are all good sources.

Grains In general, oat-based products are higher in antioxidants than are those derived from other

grain sources.

And for dessert Done forget that a piece of dark chocolate ranks as high or higher than most fruits

and vegetables in terms of antioxidant content.

As a bonus, foods high in antioxidants typically offer many other health benefits. These foods are often

plant based and offer health benefits in addition to their antioxidant content, such as being high in fiber,

protein, and other vitamins and minerals and low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

Donald Hensrud, M.D., Endocrinology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.