Fifty Fun Facts, Issue #3 5 Fun Facts About Berry Antioxidants |
1. Know those yellow seed-like specks on the surface of a strawberry? They are called "achenes" ("eh-keens") and are the actual fruit of the plant. The red pulp we love to eat is the shell or sometimes called the accessory fruit! The antioxidant qualities of strawberries come from eating both, especially when the achenes are chewed to release their contents. 2. Seeds and skins contain most of the antioxidant phytochemicals of a berry... unless you eat the leaves which usually have even more antioxidants! Approximate order of antioxidant strength among plant components: seeds > leaves >> skin > pulp > juice 3. Do you buy grapes with seeds? You should, as grape seeds are loaded with health-giving phytochemicals (especially the ones called "proanthocyanidins") Nature kindly stores in such a small package for our convenience! Message: for giving free radicals a whallop, chew the seeds, load up on antioxidants. 4. Oligomeric proanthocyanidins -- what a mouthfull! Try it in syllables for easier digestion... Those are the powerful antioxidant chemicals found in seeds and skins of red grapes, cranberries and acai. A whole industry of nutraceuticals has been established on "grape seed extracts". Search that 3-word term on Google to see for yourself -- over one million hits! 5. 277 common plant foods have been analyzed for antioxidant strength by the US Department of Agriculture. Here is our report from the Berry Doctor's Journal, click! Get the USDA-ORAC database here, click. What plant group provides the strongest antioxidant qualities? a. Berries Keep your vote to yourself or share it with me by simply giving the letter of your choice in a reply email to DrPaul@BerryDoctor.com Answer next time; I'll share the results of the vote! All the Berry Best to you! Dr. Paul |
