Study says coffee high in antioxidants

WASHINGTON - Coffee not only helps clear the mind and boost energy, it also provides more healthful antioxidants than any other food or beverage in the American diet, according to a study released Sunday.\nOf course, too much coffee can make people jittery and even raise cholesterol levels, so food experts stress moderation.\nThe findings by Joe A. Vinson, a chemistry professor at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, give a healthy boost to the warming beverage.\nAntioxidants, which are thought to help battle cancer and provide other health benefits, are abundant in grains, tomatoes and many other fruits and vegetables.\nHis team analyzed the antioxidant content of more than 100 different food items, including vegetables, fruits, nuts, spices, oils and common beverages. \nThey concluded the average adult consumes 1,299 milligrams of antioxidants daily from coffee. The closest competitor was tea at 294 milligrams. Rounding out the top five sources were bananas, 76 milligrams; dry beans, 72 milligrams; and corn, 48 milligrams. According to the U.S. Agriculture Department, the typical adult American drinks 1.64 cups of coffee daily.\nThat does not mean coffee is a substitute for fruit and vegetables.\n"Unfortunately, consumers are still not eating enough fruits and vegetables, which are better for you from an overall nutritional point of view due to their higher content of vitamins, minerals and fiber," Vinson said.