The total antioxidant content of more than 3100 foods, beverages, spices, herbs and supplements used worldwide - PMC

The Nugget

This comprehensive study on the total antioxidant content of over 3,100 foods, beverages, spices, herbs, and supplements shows that plant-based foods introduce significantly more antioxidants into the human diet than non-plant foods, potentially contributing to reduced risk of chronic diseases related to oxidative stress.

Key quotes

"The results demonstrate that there are several thousand-fold differences in antioxidant content of foods."
"Plant-based foods are generally higher in antioxidant content than animal-based and mixed food products."
"The antioxidant content of foods varies several thousand-fold and that antioxidant rich foods originate from the plant kingdom."
"Herbal and traditional plant medicines emerged as many of the highest antioxidant-containing products in our study."
"The large variations in antioxidant capacity observed in the present study emphasize the importance of using a comprehensive antioxidant database combined with a detailed system for food registration in clinical and epidemiological studies."

There are vast differences in the antioxidant content of foods, with some foods being almost devoid of antioxidants while others are exceptionally rich. The study identifies foods, beverages, herbs, and spices with the highest antioxidant values, highlighting the importance of plant-based foods for antioxidant intake.

Plant-based foods, including berries, nuts, chocolate, and vegetables, have been identified as common foods with high antioxidant values. The study highlights that these foods provide significantly more antioxidants than animal-based and mixed food products, supporting the role of a plant-based diet in protecting against oxidative stress-related diseases.

Spices and herbs, as well as traditional plant medicines, are highlighted for their exceptional antioxidant content. These include common spices and culinary herbs as well as more unique items like Sangre de Grado, Triphala, Amalaki, and Arjuna, demonstrating the potent antioxidant potential within these products.

The study suggests that the antioxidants obtained from foods may not only work as antioxidants in their own right in vivo but also contribute to health benefits through mechanisms such as inducing antioxidant defense and cell maintenance. This underscores the potential role of dietary antioxidants in the prevention of chronic diseases.

🍇 Berries for the win: Berries and berry products stand out for their high antioxidant content.
🌿 Spice it up: Common spices not only add flavor to food but are also among the most potent sources of antioxidants.
🌱 Plant power: Emphasizing plant-based foods in your diet can significantly increase your antioxidant intake.
🍵 Drink to health: Beverages like green tea and coffee can be good sources of antioxidants, enhancing your diet's protective potential against oxidative stress.

This summary contains AI-generated information and may have important inaccuracies or omissions.