9 replies to this topic

[chubtoad]

Here is what I currently drink each day,
6-8 cups grean tea,
1-2 cups orange juice.
Does anyone have any suggestions or want to say what they drink? I have heard arguments that a glass of wine is worthwhile but I still don't think so. Also, there is no need for pure water is there?

[JonesGuy]

I personally don't believe that it's the glass of wine that's important. It's the type of person who drinks the wine that's important.

Previous to the release of the study, people who drank one glass of wine tended to do it in a certain atmosphere. They'd sit back, relax, and enjoy the wine. I think that's the reason they live longer, the antioxidants are mostly coincidental.

I personally drink tomoto juice almost every day, because I like the nutrient profile of the stuff. You couldn't hurt yourself by drinking some carrot juice too - I can't get an economical source, or I would.

As well, during an attempt to get the 50g of fibre a day (tough!), I drank some of my fibre. I'm not 100% sure it's a good idea, mainly because how it's packaged - lots of sugar or sweeteners usually.

As well, if you can stand it, milk is a pretty good idea - especially if consumed strategically. The sugars in milk are a little strange biologically (the galactose is converted to glucose in our liver), but the calcium and slow-digesting protein can be valuable. Personally, I drink milk because I drink coffee - but only early in the waking day.

[shpongled]

Wine: Not worthwhile.

Pure water: Highly recommended. Many beverages have a diuretic effect, including many fruit juices and definitely tea. The 8 cups a day recommendation for water refers to pure water and nothing else (also, I have heard that the body utilizes pure water more effectively for some reason, not sure if it's true).

Other than that I would get some milk, has tons of good stuff.

[JonesGuy]

Well, the water doesn't have to be pure ... just clean. Heck, we generate water by respirating. The burning of oxygen with food produces water as a byproduct.

But, I'm a strong believer in drinking quite a bit of water. Not insane amounts - I'd not recommend going above a litre per 20 lbs. But, it keeps you clean, and cool.

[chubtoad]

http://www.scienceda...31106051159.htm
Source: American Chemical Society
Date:
2003-11-06

Hot Cocoa Tops Red Wine And Tea In Antioxidants; May Be Healthier Choice
There's sweet news about hot cocoa: Researchers at Cornell University have shown that the popular winter beverage contains more antioxidants per cup than a similar serving of red wine or tea and may be a healthier choice.

The study adds to growing evidence of the health benefits of cocoa and points to a tasty alternative in the quest to maintain a diet rich in healthy antioxidants, chemicals that have been shown to fight cancer, heart disease and aging, the researchers say.

Their study, which they say is the most complete comparison to date of the total antioxidant content of these three popular beverages, will appear in the Dec. 3 issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Chemical Society, the world's largest scientific society.

"Although we know that antioxidants are important for good health, nobody knows the exact daily amount required per person," says Chang Yong Lee, Ph.D., head of the study and a professor of food chemistry in Cornell's Department of Food Science and Technology, located in Geneva, N.Y. "Nevertheless, a cup or two of hot cocoa every once in a while can provide a delicious, warm and healthy way to obtain more antioxidants."

Many recent studies have touted the health benefits of red wine and tea, all of which are known to be high in antioxidants. Although researchers have been aware for some time that cocoa is also rich in these compounds, its relative contribution in comparison to other beverages has been unclear, says Lee.

To gain a better understanding of how these beverages compare in terms of antioxidants, the researchers tested them using similar serving sizes and conditions. The beverages tested included a cup of hot water containing two tablespoons of pure cocoa powder, roughly equivalent to the amount of cocoa in a normal-size packet of instant hot chocolate; a cup of water containing a standard size bag of green tea; a cup of black tea; and one glass of red wine (California Merlot).

Using special analytical techniques to evaluate the total antioxidant content in each beverage, the researchers showed that, on a per serving basis, the antioxidant concentration in cocoa was the highest: It was almost 2 times stronger than red wine, 2-3 times stronger than green tea, and 4-5 times stronger than that of black tea.

For those who want the tasty treat but also want to avoid extra sugar and dairy products that are common additives to cocoa, healthier alternatives are possible: Skim or soy milk can substitute for regular milk, while an artificial sweetener can replace the sugar.

Although you can enjoy cocoa either hot or cold, the hot version tends to trigger the release of more antioxidants than its cold counterpart, the researcher says.

Antioxidant-rich cocoa is also found in many different products including desserts, sauces, liqueurs and candy bars, which differ widely in their cocoa content. But when given a choice between getting your antioxidant fix from a cup of cocoa or a candy bar, it is better to go with the drinkable stuff, says Lee. A normal 40-gram bar of chocolate contains about 8 grams of saturated fat, compared to only 0.3 grams in an average cup of hot cocoa, he notes.

Although many other popular beverages, such as coffee and cranberry juice, also contain high levels of antioxidants, these were not evaluated in this particular study, Lee and his associates say.

Perhaps the best way to ensure that you get plenty of antioxidants is to eat a variety of fruits and vegetables, experts say.

[greeneyed]

I can not overestimate this.............WATER, WATER, WATER. Enough water will keep your skin plump, even-toned, smooth, with a natural glow. the very best thing for skin, and for that matter, the very best thing for the integrity of your whole body

[machineghost]

Here is what I currently drink each day,
6-8 cups grean tea,
1-2 cups orange juice.
Does anyone have any suggestions or want to say what they drink? I have heard arguments that a glass of wine is worthwhile but I still don't think so.  Also, there is no need for pure water is there?

If not DECAF green tea, it would be oxymoronic. A standardized, pharmaceutical grade, green tea extract supplement could be better. 1 pill = 4 cups of green tea.

The orange juice is bad as its high insulinic.

Wine is a waste of time. A standardized, pharmaceutical grade resveratrol supplement would be superior.

Pure/distilled water is always needed, especially to make your green tea.

As well, if you can stand it, milk is a pretty good idea - especially if consumed strategically.

Other than that I would get some milk, has tons of good stuff.

Milk generally has lots of bad stuff: hormones, antibiotics, high insulinic galactose sugars, xanthene oxidase from homogenization, an unhealthy fatty acid ratio from grain-fed cows, unfavorable calcium/phosphorous ratio resulting in the calcium being largely unbioavailable, the protein is largely denatuted and unbioavailabile due to pastuerization, and an unfavorable caseine/whey ratio results in undigested caseine "glue" sitting in your intestines like a rock.

If you want dairy for protein/EFAs, I'd recommend ingesting raw-milk, grass-fed cheeses (along with magnesium supplementation to balance off the high calcium/phosphorous) or CFM whey and Micellar caseine (in the correct bioidentical ratio). As a drink, milk is terrible... all the opinion-based, economic-propaganda to the contrary. Milk is ideal for baby cows with FOUR stomachs, NOT humans.

To gain a better understanding of how these beverages compare in terms of antioxidants, the researchers tested them using similar serving sizes and conditions. The beverages tested included a cup of hot water containing two tablespoons of pure cocoa powder, roughly equivalent to the amount of cocoa in a normal-size packet of instant hot chocolate; a cup of water containing a standard size bag of green tea; a cup of black tea; and one glass of red wine (California Merlot).

2T of pure cocoa powder in one cup of water is NOT equivalent to the sugar-loaded or artificially-sweetened one cup serving packet of instant hot chocolate. Nor is 2T realistically equivalent to one cup of green/black tea or one glass of red wine. 2T might be managed in two cups of water, but there will still be a lot of sludge at the bottom. Who provided funding for this research, Hershey's?

Machine Ghost

[DJS]

Wine is a waste of time. A standardized, pharmaceutical grade resveratrol supplement would be superior.

There are some who claim that resveratrol does not remain active in pill form. I still haven't made up my mind on the claims by Longevinex, but for now I drink a glass of red wine in the evening. I find that it also has a natural sedative effect which is an added plus since I often have a hard time falling asleep.

There is not one study showing a resveratrol pill is biologically active - Longevinex

[machineghost]

There are some who claim that resveratrol does not remain active in pill form.  I still haven't made up my mind on the claims by Longevinex, but for now I drink a glass of red wine in the evening.  I find that it also has a natural sedative effect which is an added plus since I often have a hard time falling asleep.

I read about it and, frankly, I think it smacks of marketing hype. It's plausible, but I don't see why, unlike other supplements, resveratrols are "suddenly" fragile like EFAs and need to be seriously protected from light, air and/or heat. AFAIK, if Longevinex claims were literally true, pharmaceutical-grade resveratrols would be processed and packaged in a similar manner -- and they're not.

Machine Ghost

[pSimonKey]

Adams ale good old H2O can't really go wrong with that. I also like nut milks but only ones i've made myself as they are live, full of enzymes, EFA's and reasonable protein. I rater caffeine sensitve so green tea is to much however not so with chocolate, food of the gods.