The Antioxidant Story
Sunday, December 30th, 2007 
by Camille Macres
Everywhere I turn right now, there are health food and supplement companies claiming that they have found the secret to the “fountain of youth” through their product’s antioxidant effects. There is bountiful evidence that supports that antioxidants are linked with slowing the aging process by repairing oxidative stress, a process that damages cells within the body. Antioxidants reduce inflammation, which is associated with cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease. The question I have posed in light of all of this is: What are the best natural sources of antioxidants and how we get them into our diet?
A team of USDA nutritionists published a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, “Lipophilic and hydrophilic antioxidant capacities of common foods in the United States.” The USDA nutritionists examined more than 100 different kinds of fruits, vegetables, nuts, spices, cereals and other foods. (more…)