After reading some publications citing work by nutritional scientists, I am beginning to understand the importance of antioxidant activity in the body. Here's a short excerpt from a magazine called Nutraceuticals World (March issue):

"Antioxidant capacity is defined as the ability of a compound to reduce pro-oxidants. Free radicals are produced in the body and serve important biological functions. Ingested nutrients provide a diverse and complex supply of antioxidants to combat excessive free radical activity. There are seemingly limitless combinations of internal and external antioxidants and the radicals they combat."

The nutraceutical industry is clamoring for natural supplements that are high in antioxidants. For example, scientists are taking various berries and formulating concentrated powdered extracts. A handful of other fruits and vegetables are being used in the same way.

Manufacturers are turning to foods and plants in their search for the latest antioxidants
http://www.nutritionaloutlook.com/article.php?ArticleID=2058

The term ingested nutrients is the key. A standard diet of today’s average person on the go does not adequately provide the total amount of antioxidants and nutrients that we all need.

This leads me to pose the question, "why do we drink the beverages we do?" Caffeine— morning lift, afternoon bliss. After being a coffee drinker for 24 years and owning a coffee roasting business for 10 years it only took one cup of yerba to change my mind. At first, I did not like the taste. I was not a tea drinker of any kind. I was a coffee guy. I thought Yuck! However, with the help of some honey, I was totally converted. I liked the way it made me feel. But most of all, I knew I was putting something in my body that was good for me.

It has been almost a year since we hired a lab to analyze our wild harvest yerba mate. During this past year I attempted to compare the nutrient content of our yerba with as many South American competitors as I could. What I found is that very few brands of yerba mate even come close to matching the nutrient content of ours. Brand X may be less expensive, but when it comes to quality of the leaf, antioxidants, and total nutritional value, we rise above the competition. If you're drinking our yerba, then that is a good thing for you! Next time you are drinking Brand X, check the label, visit their website, or give them a call to see what kind of yerba is in their bag.

It's antioxidant time. Do you know the antioxidant activity in your food?

I invite you to download our Yerba Mate FAQ for further antioxidant activity associated with yerba in general.