Antioxidants? Don't Bother One Study Says
Should you be providing your residents with antioxidant-rich foods to keep them healthy longer? According to a
new study it may not be having the effects you thought it would.
The study concluded that older adults who eat diets high in antioxidants had the same risk of dementia or stroke as those who consumed the lowest amount of antioxidants.
Researchers from Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston looked at the diets and health of more than 5,000 people 55 years and old over a 14-year period. Their study was published in February in the journal Neurology.
A team of researchers led by Elizabeth Devore, epidemiologist at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, found that people who ate or drank coffee, tea, oranges and red wine were just as likely to develop neurological problems as their counterparts who skipped out on those antioxidant-rich foods.
Commenting on the conclusions of the study, Ruth Kava, PhD, RD, director of nutrition at the American Council on Science and Health said, "These current data indicate that while a diet high in fruits and vegetables is healthful, it is not necessarily because of their antioxidant content."
For stories on nutrition, see:
A New Menu of Services: Integrating dining & wellness services
Integrated Dining: Integrate dining and nutrition for care coordination and reduction in readmission rates
Dinner Conversations: Program stimulates memories for residents with Alzheimer's during mealtime
Best of LTC Dining Cookbook