There are lots of products that claim to be high in antioxidants - and some of these also claim to be able to reduce disease - but the reality is that some of the claims are just marketing hype.
The so-called superfruit juices are a good example. Their claims were so extreme that Choice magazine conducted their own analysis to compare the antioxidant content of a serve of these juices to a red delicious apple. The results simply reinforce that eating apples is a much better and more affordable way to optimise antioxidant intake.
Choice tested the antioxidant activity of a range of these "super" juices at a laboratory and compared the antioxidant capacity of a "serve" of the juice (30ml) to a red delicious apple.
#Total antioxidant capacity of red delicious apple 5,900. Source: Wu et al, 2004 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 52, 4026-4037
What the Choice comparison tells us is that apples are the perfect everyday choice for boosting antioxidant intake.
Even compared to a serve blueberries (usually a small handful of around 75grams) an apple - skin 'n' all, is a better antioxidant choice. Of course, other fruits like berries should be part of a healthy varied diet but the wide availability and affordability of apples make them the ideal antioxidant boost.
