Antioxidant Rich Foods or a Quick Supplement by Mouth?

Camille McClellan
Jul 19, 2017
3 min read

Sometimes the best antioxidant rich foods can be the most surprising. Blueberries may be the poster children for antioxidant-rich foods but what few of us know is that this humble fruit may actually be an antioxidant powerhouse candidate.

As a woman it’s really important to stay functional, and have vital energy. Therefore, I encourage you to look into antioxidant-rich foods as not only a great energy source, but also for protective benefits. Our bodies to respond positively to organic fruits and vegetables, hands down! However, antioxidant supplements may be able to fill the gap when your time is limited.

To date, the largest and most advanced research of antioxidant-rich foods shows that disease-fighting antioxidants may be found in the most unlikely fruits and vegetables. For example, artichokes and even Russet potatoes can be rich antioxidant powerhouses as well.

Blueberries have always been known for its very high antioxidant content. The interesting part of this scenario is that many people are using it as supplement rather than eating it’s rich ingredients and high fiber count. Would you use supplements over rich foods to reach your daily antioxidant content?

Other antioxidant-rich foods that the study focused on include nuts and spices, such as ground cloves, cinnamon, and oregano. What kept these foods away from the antioxidant-consuming public for so long is that they are generally consumed in much smaller amounts than fruits and vegetables. However, spices are an absolutely fantastic resource for high concentrations of many various nutrients, including antioxidants!

The study used updated technology to assess the antioxidant content of more than 100 foods, including fruits, vegetables, raw nuts, herbs and spices. Each food was analyzed for antioxidant concentration and ranked according to antioxidant capacity per serving size.

Cranberries, blueberries, and blackberries were ranked highest among the fruits studied. Artichokes, and Russet potatoes were tops among the vegetables. In addition, pecans, walnuts, and hazelnuts were the winners in the nut category, and ground cloves, cinnamon, and oregano were the top three antioxidant-rich foods in the spice category. Some of the best herbs are antioxidant in nature and I really recommend adding them to your food daily. These top three herbs are vital in your health, so I highly suggest making sure they’re all organic and from a reputable source.

In another study of 100,000 participants, oral supplements did show the ability to prevent chronic disease, cardiovascular disease and cataracts. It was also noted that those using supplements should be made aware of potentially adverse medication interactions if supplements are taken in high doses.

However, researchers noted that the total antioxidant capacity of antioxidant rich foods does not necessarily reflect their potential health benefits. It seems that a big factor in the health benefit of antioxidants is what happens in the digestion and absorption process. In other words, much like oral supplements, just because you may be taking a particular amount of antioxidants does NOT mean that your body is fully absorbing all of them.

Furthermore, antioxidant-rich foods have been credited with helping prevent and even cure a majority of diseases which are said to have been caused primarily by harmful free radicals that attack healthy, normal cells. By eliminating these free radicals, antioxidants not only stop the free radical chain reaction but also repair damaged cells in most organs. Antioxidants have been linked to the treatment of such disorders as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, cancer and heart disease,.

But when you’re on the go and have no time for a sit-and-eat ritual, would you gravitate more to a quick oral supplement or a veggie snack? Natural foods are definitely the way to go! However, when you have a busy lifestyle with a family including kids, dogs and a career life can get into the way. So a high-quality oral supplement should be able to fill those gaps for you.

In conclusion, supplements can improve your overall health just as foods, herbs and spices high in antioxidants can. However, buyer beware when taking supplements as it’s important to be careful of your daily intake. Always do your homework to make sure you’re getting the highest quality supplement.

Camille McClellan

Naturopathic Practitioner

www.mcclellannaturalhealth.com

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