Daily Health Tips: Trusted Medical Information, Health Tips and Advices

Today's carrots come in a rainbow of colors, but here's the hue with the most antioxidants: purple. Research shows that, bite for bite, purple carrots have more antioxidants than orange, yellow, red, and white varieties. Falling Short Did you know that compared with fruits and vegetables produced 50 years ago, today's produce has less nutrition? Which makes it all the more important not only to boost your overall fruit and vegetable intake but also to choose the most nutritious stuff you can find. Aim for at least 2 cups of fruit and 2½ cups of vegetables every day, the amounts recommended by both RealAge and the U.S. government. And when you can, choose fruits and vegetables with the darkest hue -- like purple carrots. Studies show that purple carrots have 10 times more phenols than other carrot varieties. (Related: Here are three of the most antioxidant-rich veggies.) Powerful Protection Phenols are super-powerful antioxidants that help fight disease...

Anyone who's been to the Saturday farmers market knows there are lots of veggies out there to choose from. But do you know what ones are richest in antioxidants? A recent study of close to 30 different types of veggies put these three at the top of the list: broccoli, beets, and bell peppers (the red kind). Yep, the top-notch veggies all start with B. Makes it easier to remember, doesn't it? Let's Hear It for the B's The recent tests measuring total antioxidant content of the veggies revealed that they were particularly high in phenols -- that category of disease-fighting plant compounds that does everything from bolstering artery function to inhibiting the kind of cell damage that might lead to cancer or Alzheimer's. Broccoli and bell peppers are also a top source of antioxidant vitamin C. And beets are full of blood-pressure-friendly potassium. Why They Deserve to Win Though broccoli, bell peppers, and beets were tops in the recent study, it t...

Tea sure is loaded with good-for-your-body nutrients. But to really get your fill of antioxidants from tea, choose brewed over bottled. New research shows that most bottled teas have few antioxidants to offer, while brewed varieties can provide anywhere from 50 to 150 health-boosting milligrams per cup. So dust off that teakettle. Teatime Healthful antioxidants in tea, called polyphenols, are credited with everything from reducing the risk of certain types of cancer to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels. But you need as much as 125 to 500 milligrams of tea polyphenols per day to achieve these health benefits. And not all teas deliver the same antioxidant punch. It varies greatly by brand -- and color. In general, green brewed teas deliver the most polyphenols -- averaging 50 to 500 milligrams per serving. Fresh-brewed black tea hooks you up with anywhere from 10 to 360 milligrams per cup. Bottled vs. Brewed And bottled teas? In the recent study, the maj...