ORAC Values Reveal Surprises

Wednesday, February 6

Antioxidants are nature's fire extinguishers, protecting us from free radicals and inflammation. Without them, even the briefest exposure to sun would trigger skin cancer; even the energy produced by our cells would cause irreparable damage to our DNA, and we would succumb to the ravages of accelerated aging.

Top antioxidant foods are rated according to their ORAC values. ORAC or "Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity" is an internationally recognized way to measure antioxidant levels.

Blueberries, blackberries, pomegranates, prunes, and raisins all make the top ten.

Vitamin C was made the list, but it only rated #7.

But the top three in ascending order of ORAC values are (drum roll please!): #3 grapeseed extract; #2 green tea extract; and the undisputed #1 champion--olive leaf extract.

Potent, high ORAC value standardized extracts are now the basis for cutting-edge nutritional supplements, and they're a boon to nutritional formulators like me as I comb the scientific literature to translate the latest research into innovative new health products for you.