Five Drinks With More Antioxidants Than Green Tea

Green tea may be famous for its antioxidants, but it is far from the only drink worth considering. Coffee, berry juice, hibiscus tea and pomegranate juice are among the alternatives highlighted by experts, alongside hot cocoa.

Green tea contains epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG, a catechin studied for possible anti-inflammatory and other health effects. But coffee can also make a meaningful contribution to daily antioxidant intake because so many people drink it regularly.

“Coffee is a very underrated source of antioxidants, primarily in the form of chlorogenic acids, or CGAs, and other polyphenols,” registered dietitian Karen E. Tod says. Chlorogenic acids have antioxidant properties and have been studied for their possible role in reducing oxidative stress, which occurs when free radicals outweigh the body’s ability to neutralize them.

Berry juices contain anthocyanins, the antioxidant compounds responsible for the fruit’s deep red, purple and blue colors. Tod says minimally processed juices with little or no added sugar, including acai, maqui and wild blueberry juices, can offer a way to obtain those compounds.

Hibiscus tea, typically made by steeping dried parts of a tropical flower, is rich in polyphenols and other antioxidant compounds. Studies have explored possible effects on blood pressure and the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. Bottled pomegranate juice is also described as a rich source of compounds that help neutralize free radicals, which can otherwise contribute to oxidative stress, cell damage and metabolic disorders.

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Coffee is a very underrated source of antioxidants, primarily in the form of chlorogenic acids, or CGAs, and other polyphenols.