There’s a lot of talk these days about “antioxidants,” especially when it comes to juices and beverages.
Have you seen different products being marketed as “super antioxidants?” Want to know which beverages have the “best” antioxidant power?
Here’s the thing…claims of “superior antioxidant activity” can be misleading because testing is usually done on a “limited spectrum” of antioxidant activities.
So researchers from UCLA did some hard core testing to figure out which juices have the best antioxidant power. They used 4 tests to determine antioxidant potency, which provides us with a much better analysis of the juices.
Here are the top 10 juices in terms of their antioxidant potency:
1. Pomegranate juice
2. Red wine
3. Concord grape juice
4. Blueberry juice
5. Black cherry juice
6. Açaí juice
7. Cranberry juice
8. Orange juice
9. Tea (camellia sinensus - like white tea, green tea, and oolong tea)
10. Apple juice
Now, even though these juices provide a lot of antioxidant power, you still want to eat whole fruit more often than just driking the juice because the juice itself has so much sugar in it (fructose). This sugar IS way better than high fructose corn syrup that you find in pop and sweetened juice but it still can have a negative effect on the body if taken in mass quantities.
When you eat whole fruit, the fiber in the fruit will control the release of the fructose sugar into your bloodstream, so it’s easier on your body.
But if you’re looking for a healthy juice for yourself or your kids, this list will help you pick out the best.
Helping you live YOUR Vibrant Potential,
Dr. Chris Frykman
Sources:
Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry 2008; 56(4): 1415-1422
CBS News July 5, 2008