Re: Coffee is number one source of antioxidants

William Wagner wrote:
: I just don't know!
:
: Bill

Coffee consumption is one of those J-shape things. Coffee has antioxidants,
which is the reason 1-2 cups a day might be beneficial, but high consumption
of coffee also raises homocysteine and the risk of acute cardiac events.
Limiting coffee consumption to 1-2 cups a day is probably the best thing to
do.

--
Juhana




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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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