How drinks high in antioxidants can build up bodily defenses

Anyone taking a keen interest in personal health over recent years will certainly have noticed the spread of awareness of the role of antioxidant elements in protecting body tissue against decay and premature aging.

Bodily decay is hastened by a chemical process known as oxidation. When dangerous molecules known as "free radicals" overcome the antioxidant defenses naturally found in our bodies they start damage tissue and open the way to serious disease and hasten aging.

While antioxidants are naturally absorbed from certain foods, for example from various kinds of nuts, spinach and wheat germ, the taking of antioxidant formula has become a popular for strengthening the body’s resistance to the forces of sickness and decay. While many kinds of formula are available in tablet form, many people have difficulty taking tablets or simply prefer the option of taking an antioxidant drink.

High on the list of favorite drinks that are high in antioxidants and available almost wherever you happen to live are natural fruit juices. The greater the degree of purity of the fruit juice, the higher its antioxidant level. If you are looking for a color indication of how beneficial the juice is going to be, good general rule to apply is the darker the drink the greater the percentage of antioxidants.

However, not all fruit juices are equal in their health protecting qualities. At the top of the league comes grape juice, followed closely by grapefruit, tomato, orange and apple juices, so whatever your taste in juices there is a good chance you can find a health antioxidant drink to enjoy.

In addition to natural juices, the old English favorite of tea gets excellent ratings as an antioxidant drink. Until recently many health-conscious individuals believed that green tea was their healthiest choice but more recent research has raised our appreciation of the health benefits of drinking black tea.

Perhaps in hindsight the colonial Americans would have been better off continuing to drink their English tea rather than throwing it off the boat into the water!

Commercial soft drink producers have not been slow to notice the potential market for healthier drinks and have began to add antioxidants to their sodas. This goes to show the extent that public concern over maintaining a healthy diet can lead to real improvements in the quality of the food and drink products available to us.