Antioxidants in general have been linked to a number of potential health benefits, including protection against heart disease
and cancer. For the current
study, Vinson
and his associates analyzed the antioxidant content of more than 100 different food items, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, spices, oils and common beverages. The data was compared to an existing U.S. Department of Agriculture database on the contribution of each type of food item to the average estimated U.S.