Coffee is number one source of antioxidants

I just don't know!

Bill

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http://www.physorg.com/news6067.html


Coffee is number one source of antioxidants
 August 29, 2005
Coffee provides more than just a morning jolt; that steaming cup of java
is also the number one source of antioxidants in the U.S. diet,
according to a new study by researchers at the University of Scranton
(Pa.). Their study was described today at the 230th national meeting of
the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.
"Americans get more of their antioxidants from coffee than any other
dietary source. Nothing else comes close," says study leader Joe Vinson,
Ph.D., a chemistry professor at the university. Although fruits and
vegetables are generally promoted as good sources of antioxidants, the
new finding is surprising because it represents the first time that
coffee has been shown to be the primary source from which most Americans
get their antioxidants, Vinson says. Both caffeinated and decaf versions
appear to provide similar antioxidant levels, he adds.

He cautions that high antioxidant levels in foods and beverages don't
necessarily translate into levels found in the body. The potential
health benefits of these antioxidants ultimately depends on how they are
absorbed and utilized in the body, a process that is still poorly
understood, says Vinson, whose study was primarily funded by the
American Cocoa Research Institute.

The news follows a growing number of reports touting the potential
health benefits of drinking coffee. It also comes at an appropriate
time: Coffee consumption is on the rise in the United States and over
half of Americans drink it everyday, according to the National Coffee
Association.

Antioxidants in general have been linked to a number of potential health
benefits, including protection against heart disease and cancer. For the
current study, Vinson and his associates analyzed the antioxidant
content of more than 100 different food items, including vegetables,
fruits, nuts, spices, oils and common beverages. The data was compared
to an existing U.S. Department of Agriculture database on the
contribution of each type of food item to the average estimated U.S. per
capita consumption.

Coffee came out on top, on the combined basis of both antioxidants per
serving size and frequency of consumption, Vinson says. Java easily
outranked such popular antioxidant sources as tea, milk, chocolate and
cranberries, he says. Of all the foods and beverages studied, dates
actually have the most antioxidants of all based solely on serving size,
according to Vinson. But since dates are not consumed at anywhere near
the level of coffee, the blue ribbon goes to our favorite morning
pick-me-up as the number one source of antioxidants, he says.

Besides keeping you alert and awake, coffee has been linked to an
increasing number of potential health benefits, including protection
against liver and colon cancer, type 2 diabetes, and Parkinson's
disease, according to some recently published studies. But there's also
a downside: Java can make you jittery and cause stomach pains, while
some studies have tied it to elevated blood pressure and heart rates.
More research is needed, particularly human studies, to firmly establish
its health benefits, Vinson says.

While the findings would seem to encourage people to go out and drink
more coffee, Vinson emphasizes moderation. "One to two cups a day appear
to be beneficial," he says. If you don't like coffee, consider drinking
black tea, which is the second most consumed antioxidant source in the
U.S. diet, Vinson says. Bananas, dry beans and corn placed third, fourth
and fifth, respectively.

But don't forget about fresh fruits and veggies, the researcher
cautions. "Unfortunately, consumers are still not eating enough fruits
and vegetables, which are better for you from an overall nutritional
point of view due to their higher content of vitamins, minerals and
fiber," Vinson says. Dates, cranberries and red grapes are among the top
fruits for antioxidants on the basis of concentration (antioxidants per
serving size), he says.


The following chart shows the top ten sources of antioxidants in the
U.S. diet.


The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization, chartered by
the U.S. Congress, with a multidisciplinary membership of more than
158,000 chemists and chemical engineers. It publishes numerous
scientific journals and databases, convenes major research conferences
and provides educational, science policy and career programs in
chemistry. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

The paper on this research, AGFD 10, will be presented at 8:30 a.m.,
Sunday, Aug. 28, at the Washington Convention Center, Room 203A, during
the symposium "The Potential Health Benefits of Antioxidants."

Source: American Chemical Society

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