Home Healthy Eating Antioxidants

Antioxidants

Debunking 6 Probiotic Myths

Some people use supplements and fermented foods containing probiotics-beneficial bacteria and yeasts-in an effort to improve health. But, is there good science behind them? Probiotic experts help clear up six common myths.

The Lowdown on Leaky Gut

As the popular depiction of leaky gut goes, damage to the lining of the small intestine can release undigested food particles, bacteria and toxins into your bloodstream. And, that can potentially spur a myriad of health problems ranging from digestive issues to joint pain. Without a doubt, this description is oversimplified and misleading. But, its worth looking at whether leaky gut-or more precisely, increased intestinal permeability-is a legitimate concern.

Step Away from the Smorgasbord

With the holidays approaching, a new study in PLOS One reinforces the importance of staying a good distance away from festive food tables to help avoid overeating.

More Antioxidants in Loose Tea or Tea Bags?

Tea (from the Camellia sinensis plant) is a rich source of flavonoid phytonutrients, which function as antioxidants. The amount and relative proportion of these compounds in tea leaves depends on a variety of factors, including growing conditions, post-harvest processing (including the fermentation that converts green tea to oolong and black teas) and storage time before brewing. The form of tea, whether as loose leaf or the broken leaf (pekoe) and even smaller particles (fannings or dust) in bags, is not a clear determinant of its antioxidant capacity.

Q. Is it a good idea to soak raw nuts before eating them?

Q. Is it a good idea to soak raw nuts before eating them?

Q. How do heating and freezing affect antioxidant levels in food?

Q. How do heating and freezing affect antioxidant levels in food?

Q. Does it matter when I eat fruit? Should I eat fresh fruit before...

Q. Does it matter when I eat fruit? Should I eat fresh fruit before lunch and before dinner or after lunch and after dinner?

Q. How long can you store tea before it starts to lose its taste...

Q. How long can you store tea before it starts to lose its taste and nutritional benefits?

New Dietary Approach Against Alzheimers

While both a Mediterranean-style diet and the DASH eating plan are associated with brain benefits, a hybrid dietary pattern that combines the best of both with the latest cognitive research may protect memory and thinking even better. A new study reports that the MIND (Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay) diet was associated with a slower rate of cognitive decline-equivalent to 7.5 years of younger age. Those with the highest MIND diet scores were 53% less likely to develop Alzheimers disease than those with the lowest scores.

Is Chocolate Actually Good for Your Heart?

Chocolate lovers are turning their candy wrappers into celebratory confetti over recent headlines (The More Chocolate, the Better) linking chocolate consumption to lower risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. While previous studies have suggested the flavonoid compounds in dark chocolate might have heart benefits, the findings also associated milk-chocolate consumption with reduced risk.However, this result is not unexpected, says Jeffrey Blumberg, PhD, director of Tufts HNRCA Antioxidants Research Laboratory, because milk chocolate does contain flavonoids (about 75 milligrams per 100 grams)-more than found in a comparable amount of red wine or tea, though less than dark chocolate (170 milligrams per 100 grams). Flavonoids in milk versus dark chocolate vary markedly by brand, however; these values are averages.