We’ve long known – though we are inclined to refuse to admit – that there is logic behind the casually spoken words of mothers spout at the dinner table: “Eat your greens.” Believe it or not, it is not merely to torture you by forcing you to eat those detestable sprouts or peas.

We’ve long known – though we are inclined to refuse to admit – that there is logic behind the casually spoken words of mothers spout at the dinner table: “Eat your greens.” Believe it or not, it is not merely to torture you by forcing you to eat those detestable sprouts or peas.

Countless studies and research trials have been conducted on the important phytochemicals found in plants that are beneficial to the health. One such substance identified in many recent studies belong to the group called “antioxidants.” These are substances that act primarily on harmful oxygen byproducts that cause damages to the skin.

What, oxygen? Cause damage? While oxygen may be life-giving, that doesn’t mean that it can’t a negative effect on our bodies as well. Ever seen a peeled apple left sitting on the table for long? You notice the flesh of the mantle turn a dark shade of brown. Such is the result of oxidation. During the process, some harmful oxygen byproducts are produced that cause the discoloration of the apple. Imagine the same thing is happening in your body, only you can’t see it, but it’s there with each breath you take.

Fortunately for us, our bodies come equipped with a natural defense system against the harmful effects of oxidation. However, we proper antioxidant methods in order to encourage our system to combat these oxygen byproducts called free radicals. Uniform measurement standards for antioxidant methods could be used to provide health-conscious consumers with more reliable data about nutritional supplements. In addition, these antioxidant methods will assist researchers in tracking the long-term epidemiological effects of such compounds.

The First International Congress on Antioxidant Methods

The first International Congress on Antioxidant Methods held on June 16-18 in Orlando was sponsored by the American Chemical Society. Over 144 scientists and experts form the industry, academia, and government attended this international congress, discussing the latest claims for antioxidant methods. During the international congress, there was widespread agreement among the learned attendees that antioxidant methods must be standardized. However, there was unfortunately disagreement on the best antioxidant method to determine the benefits of the compounds. Such compounds that garnered disagreements from the international congress participants included vitamin C, vitamin E, carotenoids, and selenium.

During the culmination of the international congress, antioxidant method advocates claim these compounds can reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease as well as fight aging, arthritis, and Alzheimer’s disease.

International Congress on Antioxidant Methods: What’s the bottom line?

“It is difficult to compare the antioxidant content of a can blueberries to a fruit smoothie,” explains John Finley, chair of the international congress on antioxidant methods.

But “the bottom line is the same,” Ronald Prior, co-organizer of the international congress on antioxidant methods, added, “Eat more fruits and veggies.”