What's Your Food IQ?
By Michele Meyer
Cooking Light magazine Editor
Which of these foods packs the biggest
antioxidant punch?
A.) A bowl of Total cereal
B.) Carrots
C.) Blueberries
D.) Oranges
Answer: C.
You could call the tiny blueberry a superfood, with the highest
antioxidant power of any fruit. Two-thirds of a cup boasts the antioxidant
capacity of 60 times the Recommended Daily Allowance of vitamin E and 21
times the RDA of vitamin C. Blueberries also contain anthocyanins,
chemicals that have cardiovascular as well as antioxidant benefits. These
substances can discourage blood clots from forming and possibly ward off
heart attacks, says Jim Joseph, Ph.D., chief of the neuroscience
laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging
at Tufts University in Boston. In addition, the antioxidants in
blueberries may improve night vision and possibly slow macular
degeneration (a condition that can lead to blindness with age), he says.
And Joseph's latest studies suggest the fruits may also protect against
age-related deterioration of the brain, thus preserving memory.
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