Guest guest Posted January 12, 2002 Report Share Posted January 12, 2002 Hi all......... Funny that this is JUST in the news, huh? Chris, is there any way you can forward this to Butch? Hugs, Marilyn _______________ Original article: http://webcenter.health.webmd.netscape.com/content/article/1671.52750 Herbs Pack a Big Anti-Cancer Punch Oregano Tops the List, With More Antioxidants Than Apples or Oranges By Liza Jane Maltin WebMD Medical News Jan. 10, 2002 -- There's new evidence that a sprinkle of oregano on your pizza or pasta may do more than just add flavor. It turns out that the delicious herb is also a powerful antioxidant. U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers have determined that herbs, particularly those in the oregano family, have even higher antioxidant activity than vegetables, fruits, and spices. Antioxidants are compounds that neutralize harmful free radicals -- cancer-causing molecules generated in our bodies when we're exposed to pesticides, smoke, fumes, and other pollutants. By binding to and removing the free radicals, antioxidants may help prevent cancer, heart disease, and other diseases. Most fruits and vegetables are chock full of antioxidants. And the good news is it now looks like certain herbs -- some of our favorites -- may outshine even the healthiest vegetables. " Some herbs should be considered as regular vegetables, " says study leader Shiow Y. Wang, PhD, in a news release. " People should use more herbs for flavoring instead of salt and artificial chemicals. " Unfortunately, Americans are still eating too few fruits and vegetables to reap real antioxidant benefits, while continuing to eat too much artery-clogging fat. Wang, a biochemist at the USDA's Beltsville Agricultural Research Center in Maryland, and colleagues tested 39 common herbs. The 27 culinary herbs included basil, parsley, sage, dill, rosemary, and marjoram, and the 12 medicinal herbs included St. John's wort, valerian, and feverfew. Their findings appear in the November issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. Oregano was the clear winner. A tablespoon of the fresh herb had 42 times more antioxidant activity than apples, 30 times more than potatoes, 12 times more than oranges, and four times more than blueberries, says Wang. Marjoram came in a not-so-close second. " This study revealed that herbs are an effective potential source of natural antioxidants, " the researchers write. " Therefore, supplementing a balanced diet with herbs may have beneficial health effects. " Medically Reviewed By Dr. Gary Vogin © 2002 WebMD Corporation. All rights reserved. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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