Antioxidants

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.

After years of telling us to eat our fruits and vegetables, companies are increasingly suggesting that we also put produce on our faces. From apple eye cream to raspberry serum, skin-care products contain whole-food ingredients - along with claims that they reduce puffiness, erase redness or smooth wrinkles. In theory, adding plant ingredients to creams and moisturizers makes sense, experts say. Fruits and vegetables are full of antioxidant compounds that afford them natural protection from sun, pollution, smoking, insects and other damage - and if they work for plants, why not for us?

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.

The sweet potato is already the most nutritious of all vegetables, but its nutrient content can be significantly increased by running a small electrical current through it, Japanese researchers have reported. The Center for Science in the Public Interest once ranked sweet potatoes No. 1 of all vegetables in terms of nutrition, well ahead of No. 2 white potatoes. More than 95% of the global sweet potato crop is grown in developing countries, where the vegetable provides a crucial part of the diet.

The sweet potato is already the most nutritious of all vegetables, but its nutrient content can be significantly increased by running a small electrical current through it, Japanese researchers have reported. The Center for Science in the Public Interest once ranked sweet potatoes No. 1 of all vegetables in terms of nutrition, well ahead of No. 2 white potatoes. More than 95% of the global sweet potato crop is grown in developing countries, where the vegetable provides a crucial part of the diet.

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.

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.

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.

A widely used antioxidant supplement can reduce some of the symptoms of autism in children, a pilot study has found. The supplement -- N-acetylcysteine, or NAC -- lowered irritability in the children and reduced repetitive behaviors, researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine reported in the journal Biological Psychiatry. The team cautioned, however, that only 31 children were enrolled and that larger studies are needed to confirm the potential benefit. Currently, irritability, mood swings and depression in autistic children are treated with antipsychotic drugs.

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.

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.

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.

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.

If you're looking to get the biggest antioxidant boost for your bite, you might want to pile more beans, berries, apples and cooked artichokes on your plate. Maybe sprinkle on a few pecans. Researchers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture have calculated the antioxidant content of more than 100 common foods, including vegetables, fresh and dried fruits, nuts, spices, breads, snacks, cereals and baby foods.

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.)