By Jim Brown, Ph.D., Executive Editor, Sports Performance Journal, Author, Tennis: Steps to Success
Serious tennis players, we hope, are always looking to improve their nutritional balance sheets. Part of a healthy diet is a steady, tasty supply of antioxidants, which are known to provide many health benefits and may play a crucial role in reducing inflammation associated with arthritis and other conditions.
Raspberries have an antioxidant concentration ten times greater than tomatoes and broccoli, according to recent findings published in the scientific journal BioFactors. A research team in the Netherlands used a new method of measuring antioxidant activity to reach their conclusion regarding raspberries, and they also discovered that the fruit contains specific antioxidants not usually present in other fruits. In addition, they learned that, although flash-freezing and storing certain fruits and vegetables at sub-zero temperatures destroys much of the vitamin C value, the antioxidant capacity of raspberries was not affected by the extreme temperatures. Raspberries and other high-antioxidant foods such as broccoli, kiwi, tomatoes, and strawberries should comprise an important part of a well-balanced diet.
© 2006 HMS Publishing, Inc.
Jim Brown will be contributing new content to this site on a monthly basis. If you have a question for Dr. Brown please feel free to email him at sportsmed@mindspring.com. |  |