So, I saw this article today on the Wii news channel: http://www.spokesmanreview.com/ap/story.asp?AP_ID=D8NIG37O1

So I went to google news, and found this article:
http://www.npicenter.com/anm/templates/newsATemp.aspx?articleid=17847&zoneid=2

My roommate seems to think that Antioxidants are a scam, but I think there's at least some benefit to them. Like, in high quality vitamins and foods. I'd like some more opinions.

DISCUSS!

2/28/2007 12:19:10 AM

so what rock have you been under for the past 5 years?

antioxidants are natural chemicals found in various foods that are extremely beneficial to health. some of them several times more beneficial than vitamins and minerals. some vitamins and minerals are also anti-oxidants.

here are some of them, with their name and where they are found.

allicin: garlic
resveratrol: red grapes
hesperidin: citrus fruits
bioflavonoids: class of anti-oxidants, found in many fruits and vegetables
polyphenols: another class, found in red wine, green tea, cocoa
lycopene: tomatoes, watermelon
carotenoids: another class, found in several fruits, vegetables, salmon, berries (beta-carotene is the most famous one)
selenium: a mineral, found mainly in brazil nuts
vitamin c: you know this
vitamin e: you know this
pycnogenol: bark of french maritime tree
curcumin: turmeric

anti-oxidants are usually responsible for the deep colors of fruits and vegetables (red grapes, sweet potatoes, berries, bell peppers, oranges, leafy greens, etc)

there is no kookiness about this topic. this isn't like some miracle cures touted by people, or chiropractic or osteopathy. no controversy here.

see:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antioxidants
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_antioxidants_in_food
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phytochemical
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free-radical_theory

the anti-oxidant capacity of foods can be measured in labs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxygen_Radical_Absorbance_Capacity

check out this geat list here:

http://optimalhealth.cia.com.au/OracLevels.htm

that's why i eat a lot of prunes (also because i love them)

you can see from the list that the deeply colored fruits and vegetables are towards the top of the list. that's why that advice is given, i.e., to eat depply colored fruits/veggies.

the only controversy is whether supplements of anti-oxidants have any benefit or not. (just as with vitamin/mineral supplements)

my contention is that they do, but not [nearly] as much as eating the whole food, because the anti-oxidants probably need all the extra stuff found in fruits/'veggies to be metabolized properly.

[Edited on February 28, 2007 at 12:43 AM. Reason : ]

2/28/2007 12:34:38 AM

ooh ooh, and dont forget, fellatio cures breast cancer too. Its science. You cant argue with science.

2/28/2007 12:53:00 AM

wtf?

oh, and i forgot to mention in my earlier post, is that certain anti-oxidants in foods are known to ward off diseases caused by oxidative damage, such as certain cancers, alzheimer's, certain heart diseases, etc.

drop the stupid pale lettuce, eat the kale and the spinach!

2/28/2007 1:04:52 AM

Antioxidants may not be good for those already suffering from heart disease:

http://heartdisease.about.com/library/weekly/aa082001.htm

I also read a recent Reader's Digest article that supported this, but I can't find a link.

2/28/2007 1:06:30 AM

exactly as i said earlier:

the only controversy is whether supplements of anti-oxidants have any benefit or not.

and as the authors of the study said:

Quote :

"Because of the failure of randomized trials to demonstrate a benefit from taking antioxidants, both the American Heart Association and the Institute of Medicine have released recent statements saying that, while a diet rich in antioxidant vitamins seems prudent, there is insufficient evidence to recommend using supplements of of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotine, selenium, or other antioxidants to prevent heart disease."

Quote :

"So far, there is insufficient data from well-designed randomized trials to issue a general recommendation for people to take supplements of the antioxidant vitamins in order to prevent heart disease. Eating lots of fruits and vegetables - in other words, a good diet - seems the most prudent course at the moment. But are antioxidants actively harmful? Based on data from randomized trials completed to date, it is likely that they are usually not harmful."

who knows what happens when you ingest isolated anti-oxidants, vitamins, or minerals? there might be some interactions between them, or with other drugs that might render them at best, neutral, or at worst, harmful.

eat the fruits, vegetables, beans, spices, and oils whole.

[Edited on February 28, 2007 at 1:16 AM. Reason : ]

2/28/2007 1:13:53 AM

I take an antioxidant supplement. I have zero immune system to speak of and it's helped me not get sick as much, and when I do get sick it's not nearly as bad.

2/28/2007 6:56:45 AM

I just get them naturally through blackberries, blueberries, pomegranate juice, grapes, red wines, tomatoes, and Green Vibrance (powder.)

2/28/2007 12:26:16 PM

antioxidants are incredibly important. whether or not a supplement of them does the same thing as eating foods rich in antioxidants - I don't know.

2/28/2007 12:36:17 PM

Quote :

"that's why i eat a lot of prunes "

no wonder beavis and butthead had such an easy time reeling you in old lady

2/28/2007 12:37:37 PM

STFU you immature boy.

No wonder everybody hates you.

2/28/2007 12:56:20 PM

its funny that oep takes everything so literally

2/28/2007 12:57:47 PM