Tea Major Source of Antioxidants

Research team from Michigan State University claims tea is the major source of flavonoid antioxidants in the U.S. diet, supplying roughly 55 percent of the estimated 134 mg consumer per/day in the U.S. diet. Other major food groups contributing to flavonoid intake include fruits, vegetables, and various carbohydrates (bread, cereal, rice and pasta). It is thought that any health effects from tea drinking may stem from its naturally occurring antioxidant content. "For most Americans, drinking a cup of tea a day—hot or cold—will increase their daily flavonoids by over 50 percent. This in turn, may further reduce risk for chronic diseases," said Douglas Balentine, Ph.D., Director Nutrition Sciences, Unilever Health Institute.