As research goes on into diet and its implications for disease and health, one fact becomes more apparant -- antioxidants are essential for good health. Another fact is that most of us don’t get enough of them! Many people assume that if they don’t like blueberries or raw broccoli, their bodies will just have to go without. Well, antioxidants are found in a wide range of both raw and cooked foods, as well as in organic whole food supplement form. Today we are looking at the richest sources in food, and the best products to help you get the boost you need.
Food sources
Blueberries have been the poster child for antioxidants for some time now, but a recent scientific study showed that they are actually quite a way down the antioxidant list. Most of us buy cultivated blueberries, which have around a third less antioxidants than the wild variety. However, small red beans pack the biggest antioxidant hit, even more than in some organic whole food supplements. They have a capacity according to the study of around 13,700, compared to wild blueberries at 13,400 and cultivated ones at 9,000. Dried red kidney beans came in at 13,200, and pinto beans had around 11,800 in the study.
Here are some of the other foods involved in the study and their respective antioxidant capacities, rounded to the nearest hundred:
- Cranberries, 8,900
- Cooked artichoke, 7,900
- Blackberry, 7,700
- Raspberries, 6,000
- Strawberries, 5,900
- Red delicious apple, 5,900
- Pecans, 5,100
- Russet potato, 4,600
- Plum, 4,100
Best antioxidant whole food supplements
Garden of Life is one of the most respected names in the whole food supplement industry, and also makes two of the most popular antioxidant products. Vitamin Code Raw Antioxidants is just over $15 for a 30 capsule pack and contains:
- 100% daily intake of vitamin C, E, A and selenium
- Live enzymes and probiotics
- Raw formulation - no cooking, treating or adulteration
Another popular Garden of Life product is the Fruits of Life Antioxidant formula. You may have noticed that just about all of the super antioxidant foods on the list are fruits, and this whole food supplement brings them to you in a convenient form. All of the fruits are organic, and there is also oat bran fiber included with its beta glucans.
New Chapter's Supercritical Antioxidants is heavily discounted at Beyond Probiotics, and has been shown to elevate detox enzyme systems. It contains turmeric, green tea, rosemary, parsley, peppermint and ginger.
1 comment:
Well,
Whole food supplements come in many different variety and forms and they can have many great health benefits. The fact that these kinds of supplements are made from natural foods and generally do not have any synthetic ingredients or chemicals means that our bodies can handle them much better and thus they can provide us with the nutrients that we need.
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