primitives swallow antioxidants

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/11426627

Oh my.

xchrom (86,574 posts)    Fri Jan 11, 2013, 08:19 AM

The antioxidant myth is too easy to swallow

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/10/antioxidant-myth-easy-to-swallow
 
'Blueberries best be eaten because they taste good, not because their consumption will lead to less cancer.'
 
***SNIP

This isn't going to be a Goldacresque run-down of study after study of evidence (although here's a handy Cochrane review for the nerds). What's so interesting about the antioxidant myth is its wider cultural and social dimension. Why is this perception so hard to shift? And is there anything we can do about it?
 
One possible reason for our entrenched attitudes is the ubiquitous use of the word "antioxidants" in adverts proclaiming the health benefits of various foods and drinks. This isn't for want of regulation, and the Advertising Standards Authority have repeatedly upheld complaints about adverts that make unsupported claims about antioxidants' benefits.
 
But the much weaker claim that a product merely "contains high levels of antioxidants" leaves health claims implicit, and keeps regulators at bay. A brand of "super-broccoli" – launched with much fanfare in late 2011 – was bred to contain high levels of a chemical that ultimately, according to the product's website, "boosts our body's Antioxidant Enzyme levels". So good it's Capitalised.
 
So the relentless drip drip of health product advertising – particularly against a background of continual reports of Britain's ill-health, and our supposedly irresponsible behaviour – makes our trenchant hold on the antioxidants myth all the more understandable. We need this stuff, we're told.

tridim (40,119 posts)   Fri Jan 11, 2013, 08:44 AM

1. And fat is good for you. Even saturated animal fat.

And you also need sodium to live.

As for antioxidants, I trust carrot juice because I can feel it working. Vitamin A is amazing. Thank you Costco for making it affordable!

nenagh (1,193 posts)    Fri Jan 11, 2013, 09:07 AM

2. Article is confusing as hell... and we can't read the actual report..

Big difference between "supplements" of antioxidants and whole foods containing antioxidants...
 
The study seems to be about supplements.. so why the big photo of blueberries?

When I phased out of my frozen blueberry addiction... I found carrot juice.. Why is it so delicious?

tridim (40,119 posts)    Fri Jan 11, 2013, 09:22 AM

3. I'm addicted to carrot juice. I had no idea it would be so delicious!

I mix it with everything, especially good quality OJ. I just wish it came in a high-pulp version.
 
1/3 Carrot juice, 1/3 OJ, 1/3 milk or kefir and some vanilla tastes like an Orange Julius/Push-Up popsicle.

DustyJoe (120 posts)    Fri Jan 11, 2013, 10:10 AM

5. mixed view

In a routine CT a kidney artery was found to be 70-80% blocked. The nephrologist I was sent to blamed it on oxidized due to smoking and suggested anti-oxidants. He didn't specify any special one, just one to counter oxidation effects smoking causes. My daughter an ER trauma nurse suggested krill oil due to its high anti-oxidant properties. The next 2 CTs over the following 2yr period showed the blockage reduced to 60-70% and the most recent CT showed no blockage. Annual CTs have been done following a AAA aneurysms growth rate.
 
I can't think of anything other than the krill oil to cause the partial blockage to disappear. I don't believe in most OTC or herbs, but having this result has me scratching my head and rethinking my views.

SheilaT (11,761 posts)    Sat Jan 12, 2013, 06:42 PM

6. The underlying problem is that too many people are eager to believe that some one food is magic and will cure everything, or that some one food is poison and no one, absolutely no one should eat it.
 
Now, if you're severely allergic to a food (or several foods) then yes, for you that food is poison and you better not eat it. But some of us have no food allergies and can eat anything we want. Really.
 
The best kind of eating you can do is to eat a balanced diet of varied foods. Honest.

<<<has never paid attention to antioxidants, but if they're a good thing to consume, probably does chow down on them, in one thing or another.

[JohnnyReb]

Just heard the other day that a government funded study proved that antioxidants in red wine when consumed with red meat lowered and stopped the absorption of cholesterol.

So, there you have it DUmmies......now go forth and get drunk.