Coffee Cheaper Antioxidant Source than Acai

August 25, 2008
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL

By Doctors Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz ~ The News-Sentinel

Q: How many antioxidants do we need in a day? There is a great push on to buy antioxidant-rich acai berry juice, but it's expensive (I've seen it for $20 to $35). If you can't afford that, can you get the same effect from eating a good diet? - Ben, via e-mail

A: Some research shows acai (pronounced ah-sigh-EE) to be a powerful antioxidant. But North Americans get more antioxidants from coffee than from anything else in our diets. So if you're looking for convenience and don't want to shell out extra money, you don't really need to stage a hunt for that pricey little purple berry. We haven't seen any evidence suggesting that acai is a better source of antioxidants than coffee, but have seen much that says coffee is a better source than acai. (And we're not yet sure how much of an effect this antioxidant-packed berry has: We also have no data that acai increases any of your cells' three major antioxidants - SOD, glutathione, or catalase - and it's antioxidants in the cells, not the blood, that seem to be the ones that make a difference in length and quality of life.) So the You Docs' take on it is that while anything that increases antioxidant power is good, acai seems like a very expensive way of getting antioxidants.

Q: What are your opinions about whole-bone protein (known as MCHC) as a source of calcium to help keep bones strong? The kind I'm asking about is derived from New Zealand bovine (cow) bonemeal. I am concerned about antibiotics, hormones and possibly a connection to mad cow disease. Any thoughts? - Anonymous

A: Your thoughts are similar to ours. It is the bone substance that has been associated with prion, the protein particle that's at the root of mad cow disease. We think it's much better, safer and just as easy to get your calcium from a calcium citrate supplement, especially one that contains vitamin D3 and magnesium.

Q: I've been hearing talk about a bill that would remove all supplements, including vitamins, from over-the-counter availability and allow only M.D.s to prescribe them. Do you have any information about this, and do you know what can I do to fight it? - Kay, Country Club Village, Mo.

A: We know of no legislation designed to make all supplements and vitamins available only through physicians, and we don't think it's likely. But there is an existing positive vitamin and supplement regulation that's finally about to be enforced: The Food and Drug Administration is requiring supplement manufacturers to actually put into their products what the labels say they contain. This may shock you, but a surprising number of companies didn't do this. For example, in a test of CO-enzyme Q10, 30 out of 33 samples had less than 10 percent of what was promised. The tests of Hoodia were even worse. They suggest that 99 percent of the Hoodia sold in the United States has no Hoodia in the bottle whatsoever! That's why the FDA is getting stricter about regulation. Large firms must comply in 2009; small firms, by 2011.

Q: I'm wondering if you consider the supplements list in “You: Staying Young” still current or if you'd amend it now in light of new info? We follow it pretty closely; thanks! - Judy, via e-mail
A: It is up to date, with one exception: Today, we generally recommend more vitamin D3 than we did when we wrote that book, for two reasons. First, more data has been published showing that Americans are getting less vitamin D from milk and making less D in our bodies (we make D when we're exposed to sun, but we're getting much less sun). Second, there's growing evidence that extra D both fights cancer and helps keep your arteries young, and people with young arteries don't get heart disease and strokes. That's why we now suggest that you get 1,000 IU of vitamin D3 if you're under age 60, and 1,200 if you're over 60.

The “You” docs - Mike Roizen and Mehmet Oz - are authors of the best-selling “You: The Owner's Manual” and “You: On a Diet.” To submit questions and find ways to grow younger and healthier, go to www.RealAge.com, the docs' online home.

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