Scientific studies confirm that spices have the highest antioxidant content of all foods

A recently published research paper proves yet again that culinary herbs and spices have the highest antioxidant content of all food groups – validating the ground breaking formulation of the food supplement, VitaSpice.

Video: Herbs and spices have the highest antioxidant content

Commenting on their results they observed that: "Spices, herbs and supplements include the most antioxidant rich products in our study, some exceptionally high."

Best antioxidant spices
The analysis found that the culinary herbs and spices that have the greatest antioxidant content were clove, allspice, peppermint, cinnamon, oregano, thyme, sage and rosemary.

Moreover the average antioxidant activity of spices was 300% higher than that of berries, 2300% greater than that of other fruit, 3600% higher than that of vegetables and 600% more than that of nuts.

Results reflect previous study
These result back up a similar study published in the July 2006 edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In this earlier, smaller survey culinary herbs and spices were also found to have the highest antioxidant content of all food types.

Authors' comments
The authors of the 2010 study go on to suggest that in respect of plant based antioxidant compounds, "We suggest that both their numerous individual functions as well as their combined additive or synergistic effects are crucial to their health beneficial effects…."

And: "It is hypothesized that antioxidants originating from foods may work as antioxidants in their own right as well as bring about beneficial health effects through other mechanisms, including acting as inducers of mechanisms related to antioxidant defense, longevity, cell maintenance and DNA repair."

Variety the key
The conclusions that they draw suggest that a VARIETY of antioxidant-rich plant foods should be consumed and propose that such dietary diversity will boost the synergistic and additive effects of the beneficial, bioactive compounds in these foods.

The results of the survey – and several of the conclusions drawn by its authors – support the concept of a diet that includes a significant quantity and variety of culinary herbs and spices.

VitaSpice contains 21 different culinary herbs and spices including those heading the study's list of antioxidant-rich foods. These valuable ingredients provide the synergism and diversity of beneficial plant compounds recommended by the authors of this study.

Details of the study can be found in the January 2010 edition of the Nutrition Journal.