Antioxidants Over Hyped?
by Jeremy Olson, contributing writer for AnaiRhoads.org
AnaiRhoads.org -
It has been much publicized recently that antioxidants can provide exceptional benefits to one's body such as reducing cholesterol, breaking down built-up plaque in artery walls, and preventing cardiovascular disease. But many researchers are now suggesting that the benefits of foods containing antioxidants are being over publicized and that people should stick to a well-balanced diet in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Researchers and health experts alike contend that people should put their focus on eating a variety of quality foods while keeping them in moderation. Professor of internal medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign John Erdman Jr. seems to think that healthy diets are similar to a good investment portfolio, diversified.
Still, food manufacturers continue to push any product with an abundance of antioxidants. And for good reason too as foods that are said to be plentiful in antioxidants account for over 500 million dollars worth of food sales yearly. However, there has been no conclusive evidence shown that proves large amounts of antioxidants can provide substantial gains in one's health.
This may come as a blow to the many people who have hailed antioxidants as a "health miracle" or "superfood". Shedding some light on this line of thinking, researcher Jeffrey Blumberg said. "People would rather be told there is a superfood, a term I hate because in fact there is no such thing."
It should be mentioned that antioxidants can still be considered to be an important part of a good diet. But one shouldn’t predicate the bulk of their eating habits around foods that are antioxidant-rich. A diet consisting of an abundance of antioxidants won’t make up for eating fast-food cheeseburgers daily.
Even claims that antioxidants can help cure specific health problems should be looked at with caution. John Erdman Jr. was quoted as saying, "When people get prostate cancer, all of the sudden they make changes in their diet. We don’t know if those changes make a difference then."
Consumers need to be wary of companies that trying to convince the masses that antioxidants are the key to living better. Because, as of now, the only proven way to maintain good health is by keeping a balanced diet and exercising regularly.
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