Drinking To Your Health:
The 10 Healthiest Beverages!
Index of Diseases / Health Conditions ... Medicinal Foods, Herbs, Spices & Household Items
The below provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. Any treatment protocol should be discussed with a qualified healthcare practitioner ... Please refer to: Medical & Legal Disclaimer.
Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles have ranked 10 beverages according to their antioxidant levels. This study was led by Dr. David Heber at the Center for Human Nutrition, and David Geffen School of Medicine, the University of California Los Angeles. The results were published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry (ANI).
Dr. Heber stated that all the beverages included were run against several tests resulting in a more complete assessment of the beverages' antioxidant activity and capability.
The rankings turned out as follows:
The Winner is ...
1. Pomegranate Juice - but not any! - scroll down for info, or click here ...
The Runner-up ...
2. Red Wine - check out which wines rank highest ... and if you don't drink, there are alternatives with the same or similar health benefits. For further info scroll down, or click here ...
The below beverages are also the "top of the crop" in the world of beverages! They are known for their own sets of health benefits ... click on the respective links for info - or scroll down ...
6. Açaí Juice
8. Orange Juice
9. Tea
10. ... last, but not least, Apple Juice / Extract
1. Pomegranate Juice -The Most Medicinal Fruit
To date, 47 total studies - including 14 clinical studies - have been published in peer-reviewed journals documenting the beneficial effects of POM Wonderful 100% Pomegranate Juice on human health, including prostate and cardiovascular health as well as erectile dysfunction.
Noted has been its rich antioxidant composition and excellent safety/bioavailability. The antioxidant potency composite index of POM juice was at least 20 percent greater than any other beverage included in the study.
The POM Wonderful 100% pomegranate juice is the leader in the healthy beverage category as it contains the most of every type of antioxidant and is the only pomegranate juice guaranteed to contain 100% pomegranate juice.
2. Red Wine
In 1992, Harvard researchers included moderate alcohol consumption as one of the "eight proven ways to reduce coronary heart disease risk."
However, research has suggested that red wine is the most beneficial to your heart health. Another study found that the antioxidant resveratrol - prevalent in the skin of red grapes - may inhibit tumor development in some cancers. Other research indicated that resveratrol aided in the formation of nerve cells, which may be helpful in the treatment of neurological diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Which wine is best? Researchers at the University of California at Davis tested a variety of wines to determine which types have the highest concentrations of flavonoids. Their results concluded that the highest amount of flavonoids is found in Cabernet Sauvignon, followed by Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir. Merlots and red zinfandels turned out to have fewer flavonoids. White wine had significantly smaller amounts than red wine. The general rule is that the sweeter the wine, the lower the levels of flavonoids found in the wine.
Who should avoid alcohol: Please note that recommendations to consume moderate amounts of alcohol are limited to healthy individuals who are not inclined towards alcoholism and addiction.
Non-alcoholic alternatives: Studies lead by the University of Wisconsin and the University of California at Davis concluded that purple grape juice and non-alcoholic red wines also provide cardiovascular benefits.
3. Concord Grape Juice
Concord grape juice is a valuable source of potent antioxidants that are heart-protective and may help reduce blood pressure.
4. Blueberry Juice
Blueberries have notably high levels of the essential dietary mineral manganese, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin K, and dietary fiber.
Mounting evidence from tissue culture, animal, and clinical models suggest that flavonoid-rich fruits, such as blueberries (Vaccinium spp.), have the potential to limit the development and severity of certain cancers and vascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, ischemic stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases of aging.
5. Black Cherry Juice
Not only is this juice high in antioxidants, but there is evidence that black cherry juice can expedite the healing of exercise-induced muscle injuries. Compounds in cherries may also help to relieve pain caused by gout and and other forms of arthritis. Cherries or cherry juice consumption may also significantly reduce your risk for colon cancer.
A study at the University of California Davis showed that consuming a serving of cherries daily significantly lowered the blood uric acid levels by as much as 15 percent. The general recommendation is to consume about two tablespoons of tart cherry juice concentrate a day, or one to two servings of fresh or dried cherries. Results will vary.
6. Açaí Juice
Açaí is naturally rich in Omega fats, amino acids, electrolytes, antioxidants, protein; as well as vitamins A, B1 and E. Açaí berries / juice are used in holistic treatment regiments for various health concerns, including digestive problems, skin irritation and insomnia.
7. Cranberry Juice
Cranberries or Cranberry Juice are high in antioxidants and vitamin C. Cranberry tannins have anti-clotting properties. Cranberries, or cranberry juice, are recommended by medical professionals to help reduce urinary tract infections as well as potentially being effective against dental plaque-causing oral bacteria.
Mounting evidence from tissue culture, animal, and clinical models suggests that flavonoid-rich fruits, such as cranberries have the potential ability to limit the development and severity of certain cancers and vascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, ischemic stroke, and neurodegenerative diseases of aging.
8. Orange Juice
The major nutritional content in oranges is Vitamin C. This powerful antioxidant neutralizes harmful elements within the body. Vitamin C also stimulates the absorption of non-heme iron and thus reduces iron deficiency. As a whole, the Vitamin C content in orange fruits strengthens your immune system.
9. Tea
Tea offers health benefits that have been supported by numerous studies. Potential benefits appear to be gained from actually drinking tea, and supplements - such as tea extract capsules - might not provide the same potential health benefits.
Evidence suggests that regularly drinking green tea may reduce the risks of heart attack or atherosclerosis. Early lab tests with white tea may offer some protection against colon cancer. Another study found that older adults in Japan who drank green tea daily showed less risk of memory loss, compared with those who didn’t drink tea regularly.
New research in animals suggests that drinking tea may help prevent diabetes and its ensuing complications, including cataracts. Researchers fed green and black tea to diabetic rats for three months and monitored the chemical composition of the rats' blood and eye lenses. Joe Vinson, Ph.D. - a chemist at the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and lead author of the paper - reports that at levels that would be equivalent to less than five cups of tea per day for a human, both teas significantly inhibited cataract formation relative to a control group which did not get tea.
10. Apple Juice / Extract
Apples contain a variety of essential nutrients and vitamins that may help protect the body from certain illnesses, including the common cold.
Some scientific research shows that apple juice may help improve brain function and provide heart-protective qualities.
The antioxidants in apples may protect the body from various types of cancer. Apple extracts were added to human liver cancer HepG2 cells. There was a large variation in the effects of the different apple varieties on the inhibition of cell proliferation, but all apple varieties inhibited liver cancer cell proliferation. Apples without skin were less potent in inhibiting HepG2 cell proliferation, whereas apples with skins exerted greater inhibitions of cell proliferation.
Sources / References:
- Pubmed
- Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry
- CBS News July 5, 2008
- http://www.pomegranatetruth.com/.
- http://www.articlesbase.com/
- http://www.joint-pain.com/cherry-juice-gouthumans.html
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