Power Foods: Doctors' Top Choices for Antioxidant Rich Foods

It’s common knowledge that antioxidants protect us from dangerous substances called free radicals that can lead to many chronic diseases. Science touts antioxidants and their role in everything from preventing cancer and heart disease to boosting the immune system and slowing the aging process.

Agincare.com has asked top doctors to give their choices for antioxidant-rich foods and drinks for the elderly.

Blueberries are at the top of the list for every doctor surveyed. Dr. Richard J. Flanigan, director of the Heart and Health Sciences Center, assistant clinical professor of cardiology at the University of Colorado Health Science Center explains why: “Blueberries are a great source of antioxidants and dietary fiber. Blueberries contain more antioxidants than any other fruit or vegetable.  The powerful compounds in blueberries belong to the flavonoid family.  These combat free radical damage linked to heart disease and cancer.  Studies show blueberries may boost your brainpower also.  Blueberries, like cranberries, also fight off urinary tract infections.”

Green tea is another antioxidant-rich choice, says Dr. Narinder Duggal, medical director of Liberty Bay Internal Medicine and teacher at the University of Washington, Seattle. “Green tea contains a unique antioxidant called EGCG, which stands for epigallocatchin-gallate. These antioxidants are only found in green tea, which help eradicate free radicals and slow the aging process.”

Dr. Kathleen Hall, a stress/work-life balance expert, founder and C.E.O. of The Stress Institute: Tomatoes, adds to the list: tomaotes. “Tomatoes cooked in soups, sauces or ketchups reduce the risk of prostate cancer and other cancers of the digestive tract.  Tomatoes contain a powerful antioxidant called lycopene.  A Harvard University study found that middle aged women, who consumed high levels of lycopene for an average of 5 years, were 30 percent less likely to develop heart disease than women who got far less of the antioxidant.”

An alcoholic beverage also makes the list: Red wine. “Red wine contains bioflavoniods, phenols, resveratrol, and tannins, which have antioxidant and anticlotting properties; raises HDL cholesterol,” says Kate Flanigan-Sawyer, reviewing medical officer for the Occupational Health Division of the Dept. of Health and Human Services, and CEO of Colorado Prevention Consultants, LLC.

Others that rank high doctors’ list for the elderly include:

Dr. Hall:

Strawberries. Strawberries promote heart and circulatory health by reducing artery damaging inflammation according to a study by Gene Spiller, Ph.D. of the Sphera Foundation in Los Altos, CA
  
Black Tea. Black tea may help protect against various forms of cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer s, Parkinson s disease, and rheumatoid arthritis, reports Dr. Jack Bukowski and other researchers at the Brigham and Women s Hospital in Boston.  They found that drinking 20 oz. of tea every day for two weeks doubled or tripled the immune system s output of an infection fighting substance called interferon gamma.
  
Cinnamon. Cinnamon taken daily reduced total cholesterol, bad cholesterol and triglycerides anywhere from 13 to 30 percent in study done by Richard Anderson, Ph.D. of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  This is comparable with statin drugs.  Cinnamon seems to help the body use insulin more efficiently.  Cinnamon also cuts blood sugar levels by 20 to 0 percent.
  
Beans. Beans are close to the perfect food.  They are chock full of protein, vitamins, calcium, fiber, and more.  Red beans have more antioxidants per serving than any other fruit or vegetable.
  
Sauerkraut. Sauerkraut appears to unlock strong anti-carcinogenic elements, according to a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.