# Best Value for Money Antioxidants Product **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 17, 2019, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-value-for-money-antioxidants-product/837205 "2019-07-17T12:35:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![molten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ec9cab/32.png) [@molten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/molten)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2019, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-value-for-money-antioxidants-product/837205/1 "2019-07-17T12:35:44Z")
I am looking for the best value for money product that would combine as many different ones as possible, and would not overkill on the dosage. Is there a ranking of their efficacy? A liquid of natural origin maybe? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2019, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-value-for-money-antioxidants-product/837205/2 "2019-07-17T12:49:53Z")
> [@molten](#): > > I am looking for the best value for money product that would combine as many different ones as possible, and would not overkill on the dosage. Is there a ranking of their efficacy? > > A liquid of natural origin maybe? Yes - orange juice would be a good example. Other fruit juices have value as well, containing useful bioactive substances other than antioxidants. And they tend to be cheaper than pills. Assuming that more is better and taking a “superpill” loaded with a variety of antioxidants could be [hazardous to your health](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/antioxidants-may-make-cancer-worse/). \*"There are a number of reasons why high concentrations of antioxidants may be harmful. At high concentrations, antioxidants may: ``` act as pro-oxidants, increasing oxidation protect dangerous cells (such as cancer cells) as well as healthy cells reduce the health benefits of exercise have unwanted side effects, such as nausea and headaches, or even reach toxic levels."* ``` > **[What are antioxidants? And are they truly good for us?](https://theconversation.com/what-are-antioxidants-and-are-they-truly-good-for-us-86062)** > > Antioxidants are meant to be good for us, but not all antioxidants are equal. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2019, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-value-for-money-antioxidants-product/837205/3 "2019-07-17T13:53:49Z")
Another point in favor of getting your micronutrients from actual foods is that there are a _lot_ of compounds in plants that are good for you, and we haven’t identified and isolated all of them yet. ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2019, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-value-for-money-antioxidants-product/837205/4 "2019-07-17T15:42:14Z")
I’ve no intent to threadshit and I’m sorry if this comes off that way. Is there a respectable body of scientific evidence that says that anti-oxidant supplementation is beneficial to anyone already consuming a basic, healthy diet? I’m genuinely wondering about this. The last time I researched this, nearly a decade ago, this was pretty much fad and woo-woo. I don’t have any clue what the literature says now. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2019, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-value-for-money-antioxidants-product/837205/5 "2019-07-17T16:12:14Z")
The point of supplements isn’t for people who are already consuming a healthy diet. It’s for people whose diet is lacking in some things. Though you’re right that a better fix there is to change the diet. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2019, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-value-for-money-antioxidants-product/837205/6 "2019-07-17T17:03:44Z")
> [@Alpha\_Twit](#): > > Is there a respectable body of scientific evidence that says that anti-oxidant supplementation is beneficial to anyone already consuming a basic, healthy diet? I’m genuinely wondering about this. The last time I researched this, nearly a decade ago, this was pretty much fad and woo-woo. I don’t have any clue what the literature says now. I have seen some medical researchers here and there who are not fans of anti-oxidants. After all, the body itself produces oxidants for various reasons and blocking those might not be the best idea. There seems to be good ones and bad ones. The idea of a scatter-shot anti-oxidant overuse is something that personally I would avoid. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2019, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-value-for-money-antioxidants-product/837205/7 "2019-07-17T17:39:57Z")
[This column](https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/more-trouble-for-antioxidants/) on the Science Based Medicine site is a good summary. > [@](#): > > … > We have yet more evidence that for the average person the best advice is to eat a well-rounded diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, but extra supplements (and especially high dose supplements) are likely unnecessary and even counterproductive. And it also talks about a recent study that showed _increased_ risk of cancer metastases as a result of taking anti-oxidants. ---
**Author:** ![molten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ec9cab/32.png) [@molten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/molten)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2019, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-value-for-money-antioxidants-product/837205/8 "2019-07-18T02:19:17Z")
I am looking for chemical hearing protection. The studies show a significant reduction in hearing loss w/ antioxidant use a little bit over the 100% per day limit. Yes, taking too much would fuck you up, is what they say. Which is why I am not into buying the multi vit pills – they also don’t have an even % of each one, so some would be under 100% some like 10,000% for some reason. I am thinking getting berry and pomegranate juice and mixing this into it, then taking a small shot equivalent to about 50% of each one: vit e + magnesium + NAC + CQ10 + Vit C Again this would be like 50%-75% or so per day, presuming I’d get the rest from food. I know I must need these because yesterday I was at a very loud event and about 1hr post taking these the ringing stopped completely. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2019, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-value-for-money-antioxidants-product/837205/9 "2019-07-18T02:28:26Z")
> [@molten](#): > > I know I must need these because yesterday I was at a very loud event and about 1hr post taking these the ringing stopped completely. [Post hoc, ergo propter hoc](https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Post_hoc,_ergo_propter_hoc)? ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2019, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-value-for-money-antioxidants-product/837205/10 "2019-07-18T02:28:29Z")
> [@molten](#): > > I know I must need these because yesterday I was at a very loud event and about 1hr post taking these the ringing stopped completely. _**[Post hoc ergo propter hoc](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post_hoc_ergo_propter_hoc).**_ ---
**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2019, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-value-for-money-antioxidants-product/837205/11 "2019-07-18T02:56:18Z")
> [@molten](#): > > I am looking for chemical hearing protection. The studies show a significant reduction in hearing loss w/ antioxidant use a little bit over the 100% per day limit. Do you have a supporting link for these studies? Again, I’m very curious what the current literature says. ---
**Author:** ![BeeGee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b5a626/32.png) [@BeeGee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BeeGee)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2019, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-value-for-money-antioxidants-product/837205/12 "2019-07-18T04:09:54Z")
I have dry macular degeneration. According to the studies done by the National Eye Institute’s AREDS2 study, antioxidants have proven to help prevent or delay progression to wet AMD and vision loss. > **[AREDS/AREDS2 Frequently Asked Questions | National Eye Institute](https://www.nei.nih.gov/research/clinical-trials/age-related-eye-disease-studies-aredsareds2/aredsareds2-frequently-asked-questions)** > > Frequently asked questions about AREDS, AREDS2 and nutritional supplements for Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). I take the Presservision vitamin under the direction of my ophthalmologist. I also follow as best i can the recommended diet of reading fish three times a week and fruit and leafy greens every day. That has the added benefit of lowering my cholesterol and blood pressure. 113/70 ain’t bad for someone nearly sixty. There are no studies that show that the vitamin does anyone who isn’t predisposed to AMD any good at all. Having some blueberries and spinach every day will have more widespread benefits for most. I just keep shelling out the $20 per bottle because when that ceases to work, it’s shots in the eyeball time and that seriously scares the crap out of me.