Fruits and vegetables contain an amazing little thing known as an antioxidant.

Antioxidants are a powerful diet therapy, they bind with the free radicals in your body, rendering them harmless. Free radicals are those nasty unstable molecules in your body which, in their quest to become stable, cause a tremendous amount of damage to your healthy cells. Free radicals are also one of those nasty little things which open the doors to cancer and other age related illnesses such as heart disease and arthritis. So in destroying these free radicals, antioxidants may not only aide in the prevention of cancer and provide relief of arthritic symptoms but, they may also even slow down the actual aging process itself.

Antioxidants are found mainly in fruits and vegetables which are also a major source for other vitamins and minerals that your body requires for optimum health. So to ensure that you recieve all the health benefits that vegetables provide; it is recommended that you acquire your antioxidants naturally rather than in supplement form.

Per 100 grams or approximately 3 1/2 ounces.

Kale - 11770
Spinach - 11260
Prunes - 5570
Raisins - 2830 Blueberries - 2400
Blackberries - 2036 Brussel Sprouts - 1980
Alfafla Sprouts - 1930 Broccoli Flowers - 1890 Beets - 1840 Red Bell Peppers - 1710 Strawberries - 1540 Onion - 1450 Corn - 1400
Eggplant - 1390 Raspberries - 1220 Plums - 949 Oranges - 750 Red Grapes - 739 Cherries - 670 Kiwi Fruit - 602 Pink Grapefruit - 483

Catechins are not only powerful antioxidants but research now suggests that they may also be associated with weight loss. More significantly to a very specific type of weight loss, that being in the reduction of belly fat, that all too difficult weight to lose. Catechins enhance fat oxidation and increase your metabolism thereby allowing you a quickened natural weight loss. It is suggested that 300 to 400 mg per day or the amount you would consume in approximately 5 cups of green tea daily would be sufficient to produce this effect.

Catechin Values In Foods Per 100G:

Green Tea - 10-80 Chocolate - 46-61 Beans - 35-55 Black Tea - 6-50 Strawberries - 2-50 Red Raspberries - 2-48 Apples - 10-43 Red Wine - 8-30
Apricot - 10-25 Cherries - 5-22 Grapes - 3-17.5 Peaches - 5-14

Who could have imagined that chocolate was good for you? Take note though, this is the real chocolate made from cocoa beans, not the "I wanna be stuff"!

So now you think that you are eating as healthy as you can, well think again, the dirty dozen list is here to haunt you. Most grown foods contain some degree of pesticide residues, but in a listing of foods that contained the highest number, these 12 topped the "Environmental Working Group's" 2006 list.

1.Apples 2.Bell peppers 3.Celery 4.Cherries 5.Grapes (imported) 6.Lettuce 7.Nectarines 8.Peaches 9.Pears 10.Potatoes 11.Spinach 12.Strawberries

Of course the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables far outweigh the pitfalls so "EAT YOUR FRUITS AND VEGETABLES" and if you are concerned about pestiside residues then buy organic.

www.answers.com, www.greenteaonline.com, www.chinesefoodabout.com, www.mayoclinic.com, www.whfoods.com, http://www.ecomall.com, www.mdsupport.com, http://www.flavo.vtt.fi/catechins.htm, National Cancer Institute, University of Maryland Medical Center.

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