Coffee surpasses fruit and veg as dietary antioxidant source

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Coffee surpasses fruit and veg as dietary antioxidant source

http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?n=

62125 & m=1NIU829 & c=lqeudkujayvvlpc

by Jess Halliday

8/29/2005 - Most Americans are not consuming enough fruit and

vegetables in their diet and are gleaning the majority of their

antioxidants from coffee, according to new research from the

University of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

The research, presented yesterday at the national meeting of the

American Chemical Society, involved analyzing the antioxidant power of

100 foods and beverages common in the American diet and comparing this

to a USDA database on estimated per capita consumption of each item.

In terms of antioxidant content per serving, dates came out as a clear

winner with an antioxdiant value of 1744.

Coffee – both caffeinated and decaffeinated – was lower down

on the

list, at 936, but since most Americans consume considerably more

coffee than the higher-ranking items, it makes it the biggest overall

antioxidant contribution to the average American's diet, offering

936mg of antioxidants per day on average.

According to the latest annual report from the National Coffee

Association of the USA, 49 percent of adults are coffee-drinkers,

averaging 3.4 cups a day.

" 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, "

said lead researcher Joe Vinson of the University of Scranton,

Pennsylvania.

The USDA's dietary guidelines for Americans recommend between five and

13 portions of fruit and vegetables per day, depending on calorie

intake. But the average American eats just three portions (excluding

potatoes, which are a starch).

Antioxidants are believed to play a role in warding off a number of

serious health conditions, including heart disease and stroke, high

blood pressure and some types of cancer. Nutrients found in certain

fruits and vegetables have also been linked to a reduced risk of other

health conditions, such as beta-carotene (from sources including

carrots and cantaloupe) and cataracts, and folic acid (from spinach,

asparagus, oranges and others) and Alzheimer's disease.

Some studies have also attributed health benefits to coffee; in this

month's issue of International Journal of Cancer (vol 116, issue 1, pp

150 - 154) researchers reported further evidence for coffee's role in

preventing liver disease, and the International Journal of Obesity

also investigated the putative connection with diabetes.

But since other studies have implicated coffee as leading to high

blood pressure and increased heart rate – not to mention the

jitters

and stomach pains that can be caused by excessive consumption –

Vinson

said that more human studies are needed to clarify its role in health.

In the meantime, he said: " One or two cups a day appear to be

beneficial. " ,p> Black tea was ranked as the second highest

source of

antioxidants in the American diet, contributing 269mg on average per

day. A recent report from market researcher Packaged Facts showed that

black tea is still the most popular type of tea drunk in the US, but

media attention on green tea and its health benefits has meant that

the market for this is growing apace.

This is despite the fact that Vinson's team has found little

difference in the antioxidant value of the different teas.

The US market for tea and ready-to-drink tea is estimated to be worth

$6.8 billion in 2005, a 9.4 percent increase over last year. By 2010

Packaged Facts projects that it will reach $10 billion.

Vinson issued another important caveat. Despite focusing his research

on antioxidant levels in food, he said that these do not necessarily

translate to high levels in the body.

Different foods are absorbed and utilized by the body in different

ways, and this has an impact on the antioxidants made available to the

body. According to Vinson, this process is not fully understood.