Antioxidants

Sprouted-grain bread offerings in the market have been slowly but steadily on the uptick of late, and a number of health claims have attached themselves to the spongy, nutty-tasting loaves: more digestible, richer in protein and higher in vitamins and minerals compared with other breads. But are the claims true? Yes -- and no. Sprouted-grain products have distinct nutritional advantages over white breads, but when compared to other whole-grain breads, they're usually nutritionally comparable -- although nutrient contents can vary, depending on the sprouts included.

Maqui, mangosteen, lingonberry -- superfruits! Though the scientific jury's out on whether these superhero fruits are any better than the common kind, one thing is clear: A lot of the mystique is about marketing, as an article by Karen Ravn in The Times' Saturday section explained. Another fact that's evident: Their names invite punning. A recent conversation between writer and editor while crafting the aforementioned story on the superfruit trend: W: have a superweekend.

Legend has it that King Tut was fond of pomegranates, and so were the ancient Persians. They surely enjoyed the fruit in its natural form — not processed into pomegranate extract pills. These days, a number of companies sell pomegranate supplements and say the pills are a more convenient way to benefit from the fruit's potent antioxidants. The most aggressive of these manufacturers is POM Wonderful, the company that also makes pomegranate-based juices, teas and snack bars. Each of its Pomx Pills provides the same "antioxidant power" as 8 ounces of Pom Wonderful 100% pomegranate juice without the 160 calories or 34 grams of sugar, the company says.

It's expensive! It's exotic! It's superfruit! Meaning what, exactly? The term "superfruit" has been applied to acai berries, maqui berries, yumberries, chokeberries, goji berries, lingonberries, lychee berries - a lot of berries, in other words, but also baobabs, mangosteens, sea buckthorn, jujube fruit, cupuacus, pitayas, pomegranates ... the list keeps growing. You may wonder what is it about these fruits that lifts them out of the ranks of the ordinary into exalted superfruit status.

It was evidently good enough for Gilligan and Robinson Crusoe. But is coconut water a healthy choice for people who aren't stranded on a deserted island? A longstanding treat in tropical regions across the globe, coconut water hit U.S. supermarkets a few years back and is now being marketed with a vengeance. Sometimes billed as nature's sports drink, the slightly sour beverage has also acquired a reputation for being able to improve circulation, slow aging, fight viruses, boost immunity, and reduce the risk of cancer, heart disease and stroke.

A federal administrative judge ruled that pomegranate juice maker Pom Wonderful used deceptive advertising when it implied its products could treat or prevent serious diseases and other medical conditions. Judge D. Michael Chappell upheld much of a 2010 Federal Trade Commission complaint against the Los Angeles company owned by Lynda and Stewart Resnick. The judge said in his decision issued Monday that Pom used "insufficient" evidence to back its claims that Pom products "treat, prevent or reduce the risk of heart disease, prostate cancer or erectile dysfunction.

N-acetyl cysteine is a modified form of L-cysteine, an amino acid found in many high-protein foods. It doesn't occur naturally in our diets -- our bodies synthesize it from L-cysteine and then convert it into glutathione, an antioxidant. * Uses: NAC is a common treatment for acetaminophen poisoning and is sometimes used for clearing mucous from the lungs. Supplements are taken to protect against harmful agents, such as industrial pollution, radiation, heavy metals and cigarette smoke.

Antioxidant-rich products promise an easy way to stave off disease. Simply swallow two softgels daily or knock back a glass of goji-pomegranate juice and the "supercritical" compounds will neutralize those nasty free radicals that threaten your health. Such bold claims seem logical. There's evidence that free radicals, or oxidants, are involved in cancer, degenerative brain diseases and certain other illnesses. And when oxidants turn up in our bodies - it happens when we turn food into energy or are exposed to infection, smoking and other triggers - we fight back by producing antioxidants that can soak them up like a sponge.

Microhydrin, created by American inventor and doctor Patrick Flanagan, is a pricey supplement (bottles of 60 capsules sell for $35 to $50 or more) touted by some online and mail-order retailers as one of the most powerful antioxidants on the market. The supplement contains silicate minerals found in so-called Hunza water, which trickles through the mountains inhabited by the long-living Hunza people of northern Pakistan.

Mice genetically engineered to produce above-normal levels of an antioxidant in their mitochondria lived about 20% longer -- an extra 5 months -- researchers from the University of Washington reported this week in the journal Science. The researchers cited the findings as evidence that antioxidants can counteract the effects of aging and disease. Mitochondria are the cell's powerhouses, and the extra antioxidant was only effective there.

The antioxidant-based O2 Diet is relatively simple. Instead of counting calories, dieters add up ORAC points, short for oxygen radical absorbance capacity. The ORAC number reflects the potential antioxidant activity of a food, as defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In general, berries, nuts and teas have high ORAC values. But eating according to ORAC won't necessarily make you any healthier, experts warn. ORAC testing is not standardized across the industry, and it was never designed to compare two foods, such as cranberries versus blueberries.

Antioxidant-rich products promise an easy way to stave off disease. Simply swallow two softgels daily or knock back a glass of goji-pomegranate juice and the "supercritical" compounds will neutralize those nasty free radicals that threaten your health. Such bold claims seem logical. There's evidence that free radicals, or oxidants, are involved in cancer, degenerative brain diseases and certain other illnesses. And when oxidants turn up in our bodies - it happens when we turn food into energy or are exposed to infection, smoking and other triggers - we fight back by producing antioxidants that can soak them up like a sponge.

You wouldn't last very long without oxygen. But just as rust slowly eats away at a nail, oxygen can age your body. As your cells use this vital element, they produce free radicals — unstable molecules that can damage your tissues and add wear and tear to your entire body, including your skin. Many anti-aging products promise younger-looking skin through the power of antioxidants, compounds that help neutralize free radicals before they can do any harm. Antioxidants such as vitamin E, vitamin C and beta carotene show up in a lot of sunscreens and lotions.

Legend has it that King Tut was fond of pomegranates, and so were the ancient Persians. They surely enjoyed the fruit in its natural form — not processed into pomegranate extract pills. These days, a number of companies sell pomegranate supplements and say the pills are a more convenient way to benefit from the fruit's potent antioxidants. The most aggressive of these manufacturers is POM Wonderful, the company that also makes pomegranate-based juices, teas and snack bars. Each of its Pomx Pills provides the same "antioxidant power" as 8 ounces of Pom Wonderful 100% pomegranate juice without the 160 calories or 34 grams of sugar, the company says.

Maple syrup: It's sweet, it's calorific, and -- this just in -- it contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatories and stuff. Which must mean -- reasoning leap alert! -- that it is a superfood that can help ward off myriad health problems, like cancer and diabetes. In a study just reported at a meeting of the American Chemical Society, researchers analyzed the various compounds in maple syrup. They found 54 antioxidants, including five new ones. (One they've dubbed Quebecol, after the region where much maple syrup is produced.)

The radiation leaking from crippled nuclear power plants in Japan has unleashed fears on this side of the ocean. Despite assurances from experts that the amount of radiation reaching the U.S. is miniscule and harmless, many people here are worried that the fallout could pose a serious health threat. And if William McBride's inbox is any indication, they're also wondering whether they should protect themselves by taking supplements or changing their diets. "I've been getting emails from friends asking me if they should take this or that," said McBride, professor of radiation oncology at the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Honey could have "sweet health benefits." That's the conclusion drawn by a group of five researchers from UC Davis and one from Konju University in South Korea, who conducted a small, nearly monthlong study evaluating the effects of daily consumption of honey on 25 participants. They found a direct link between honey consumption and the levels of polyphenolic antioxidants in the plasma, which are said to help reduce risk of heart disease and some cancers.

Add red tea, or rooibos tea, to the expanding spectrum of antioxidant teas. The name, pronounced roy-boss, means "red bush" in Afrikaans. Rooibos tea is made by drying and fermenting the green leaves of the native South African shrub Aspalathus linearis, which redden during the process. The tea -- fruity, caffeine free, mineral rich and packed with antioxidants -- has been used by indigenous South Africans for centuries.

Consumers who buy organic fruits and vegetables because they think they're tastier, more nutritious and better for the environment are getting at least some of what they're paying for, according to a study published online Wednesday. The finding is based on a detailed comparison of organic and conventional strawberries from 13 pairs of neighboring farms in Watsonville, Calif., where 40% of the state's strawberry crop is produced. A team of ecologists, food chemists, soil scientists and other experts analyzed a variety of factors before concluding that the organic berries — and the dirt they were raised in — were superior.

You can't miss Dr. Andrew Weil's new restaurant, True Food Kitchen, at Fashion Island in Newport Beach. It's big and wedged right between Roy's and Fleming's, two of the biggest players in the high-end chain game. But True Food Kitchen purports to be something different: vegetarian-friendly and based on the bearded doctor's anti-inflammatory-diet food pyramid. Most of the produce is organic and local, I'm told, though it's not specifically labeled as such on the menu. (The wines, however, are labeled organic when that description applies.