Coffee Number One Source of Antioxidants?

Americans eat so few fruits and vegetables that coffee is actually the number one source of antioxidants in the US diet! That's shocking to me. I do enjoy an occassional cup of coffee, but if we're getting the majority of our antioxidants from coffee, our caffeine addiction may be just a little bit out of control, and it's time to take a good hard look at what we're feeding our bodies.

From an article at cofei.com:

Most Americans are not consuming enough fruits and vegetables in their diet and are gleaning the majority of their antioxidants from coffee, according to research from the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania.

The research, presented [in 2005] 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, Americans are still not eating enough fruits and vegetables, which are better from an overall nutritional point of view due to their higher content of vitamins, minerals and fiber.

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).

Here at Acupuncture Fertility Center we recommend a modified Mediterranean meal plan that supplies ample antioxidants and phytonutrients to help your body function properly, help you sleep better, and help you feel more energized. Research indicates that this simple to follow way of eating can also reduce cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, insulin resistance and other health markers for CardioMetabolic Syndrome.  Ask us how easy it is to feel good again!