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I came across this study on the excellent antioxidant effects of pomegranate juice, which strongly reduces the rate of LDL cholesterol oxidation. http://www.atherosclerosis-journal.com/article/S0021-9150%2801%2900412-9/abstract

I wonder what do you think about these effects, and the nutritional value of pomegranate juice. Also which other foods are known to possess similar beneficial antioxidant properties vis a vis LDL cholesterol

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Açaí berry has one of the highest ORAC ratings of all fruits, it's the top of most of the lists. Don't know how it tastes or how to eat it though.

Cacao is right under Acai, but you have to eat it with fruit or a sweetener to counteract the bitterness if it's pure. Organic & fermented cacao nibs with fruit is as good as it gets (antioxidant-wise) - besides that there are a few chocolate makers who offer some minimally-processed, high-cacao chocolate bars (Taza's a recent favorite of mine).

Red wine and teas (camellia sinensis, not herbal) are both pretty well-known, although both should be taken in moderation (like chocolate); wine because of alcohol, green tea because of caffeine and teeth staining.

Berries (blueberries, raspberries, cherries, etc.) all have high ORAC values, after that basically any vegetable is going to have a decent amount.

There are a lot of exotic foods & extracts being touted for their antioxidant properties, but you can get a ton of antioxidants from whole (regular) foods that are cheaper and easier to incorporate into your daily diet. I don't see anything wrong with eating a specific fruit for its antioxidants, but I wouldn't go crazy with super-high "superfoods" - antioxidants aren't a holy grail, just a part of the puzzle, and moderation is key.

Here's a list of ORAC ratings:

http://www.mizfrogspad.com/Diet/antioxidants.htm

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man, nothing beat the fresh açaí when I was in Brazil. That stuff has amazing qualities. Mixed well with other stuff too. – Caleb the Hobbit Feb 5 2012 at 2:02
thanks, great answer! – Philosopher Feb 5 2012 at 2:25
I love the taste of Açaí! If you are ever in Brazil, order "açaí na tigela" and ask for it "sem cereais" (without cereals)! It's a dish made with frozen açaí, or "sorvete de açaí"... oh, I wish I could have some right now! – Pedrita Feb 5 2012 at 18:28
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I recently bought the Vitacost Pomegranate + Grape Seed + Trans-resveratrol, a Curcumin, and a high-strength Green Tea extract supplement, to try and reduce a benign growth I have (I'm trying to avoid surgery). With the additional intake of E d-tocotrienols, C, D3 and Zinc, according to Pubmed, these supplements are known to make some kinds of hormonal-enduced growths/tumors go away. I spent hours researching online about what to do about my growth, and apparently there's published research with good results when using these supplements. I will let you know how it goes in a few months, I will update this post.

UPDATE June 26th 2012: Paleo-Keto for two months (Paleo low-carb the rest of the time), some exercise, plus all these supplements, didn't do much. The growth didn't grow any more, so maybe this is an indication of something, but it didn't shrink it either. I'm getting the surgery now.

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I was watching a TED Talk, called "Eating to Starve Cancer" and although I don't know the difference between a benign tumor and a cancer tumor (beyond one being harmless and the other being nasty) I wonder if they have similar properties in terms of how they form. doctor was talking about foods that have 'antiangeogenesis' properties, they inhibit blood vessels from forming (not enough to interfere with normal bodily functions) and this cuts off the tumors blood supply and it gets transients by the body. Had amazing success with topical cream and oral supplement. Might be worth looking into. – Qommon Feb 5 2012 at 1:53
Eugenia thanks for your detailed and personal answer. All the best with your treatment! – Philosopher Feb 5 2012 at 2:23
You probably already know this, but being constantly in ketosis may help too: time.com/time/health/article/… – Pedrita Feb 5 2012 at 18:32
Yup, started Paleo-ketogenic 2 weeks ago. – Eugenia Feb 6 2012 at 2:59
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I'd be concerned that the amount of sugar you would take in by drinking juice would lead to rises in triglycerides that would negate the (theoretical) value of the LDL drop. IMO the whole fruit (edible part) would be safer.

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