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LONGBEACHMAGAZINE.COM 31 after consuming flavonoid-rich food. Antioxidants protect the body from toxins likely to cause cancer and heart disease, such as mutagens and carcinogens. When red wine tends to be very dark and tannic, it is packed with flavonoids. This might be because the wine ferments for a long time with the skin and seeds, where a lot of the grape's flavonoids hide out. In 2007, Roger Corder, a medical researcher and member of the American Heart Association, released his book The Red Wine Diet. In this book, he says a glass of red wine a day will keep the doctor away. He recommends Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Syrah and Pinot Noir for their high flavonoid content, with paler reds, such as Merlot and Zinfandel, as a second choice. White wine, he says, has little medi- cinal value. Wine isn't the only drink loaded with antioxidants. Coffee is another great source. In fact, a cup of coffee has more antioxidants than a serving of grape juice, blueberries, raspberries or oranges, according to a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. This makes the black brew a great cancer fighter. In fact, Americans take in more antioxidants from coffee than from any other single substance, followed by black tea and bananas, according to a study conducted by the University of Scranton. Coffee has other benefits, too. A study published by Harvard Medical School shows heavy coffee drinkers are 50 percent less likely to get liver cancer and diabetes. Surprisingly, even beer can provide health benefits. Recent studies show people who drink beer regularly have reduced chances of getting a varied — almost random — array NAMED ONE OF THE TOP 5 SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS IN LOS ANGELES. W W W. PA R K E R S L I G H T H O U S E . C O M Freshest S E A F O O D . Amazing V I E W S . 5 6 2 . 4 3 2 . 6 5 0 0 SHORELINE VILLAGE LONG BEACH of diseases. A study done at Tufts University and published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows beer protects bone density and wards off osteoporosis. A study from Kaiser Permanente shows men who drink beer regularly were less likely to have coronary artery disease. Other studies link beer consumption to a reduced risk of developing hypertension. Before you opt to hit the bottle after the gym instead of the fruit smoothie stand, these drinks still have their better-known drawbacks. While the antioxidants in red wine fight off cancer, the alcohol in it encourages it. This leaves an important question unanswered — do the cancer-fighting elements in the drink negate the cancer-causing effects of the alcohol? Studies are inconclusive. Even a single drink taken every day can raise a person's risk of getting almost every kind of cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. This is because alcohol turns carcinogenic when the body metabolizes it. So, the more alcohol a person consumes, the more cancer-causing carcinogens get dumped into the blood stream. Also, all wines contain sulfites, which are common allergens. Sulfites are chemicals added to wine to aid in fermentation and stop it from turning to vinegar. Luckily, the wines with the least medical benefit, such as whites and sweet dessert wines, have the most sulfites. Coffee has its own drawbacks. Caffeine raises blood pressure. It's acidic, so it can be anathema for people with ulcers, and it's a diuretic, so it tends to dehydrate the drinker. Deciding whether the benefits of these drinks outweigh the drawbacks is up to each of us. But when we're indulging in our favorite liquid vices, we can at least have the peace of mind of knowing we're doing some good to our bodies as long as it is always done in moderation. n