Antioxidants are being studied for cancer treatment, anti-aging properties, brain deterioration, and many, many other things. They aid the body in fighting off damage from free radicals (nasty little things that are produced during cell oxidation). If enough antioxidants are present in the body, they can donate electrons and prevent free radicals from forming. So, what are the best sources of antioxidants? A food's antioxidant properties are measured by its ORAC value (oxygen radical absorbance capacity). As for fruits, the Acai Berry has the highest ORAC value. Due to its recent popularity, however, many companies are using only a small percentage of Acai berries in the juice drink, flash pasteurizing them, and otherwise decreasing the health properties naturally found in Acai Berries. (More on what kind of Acai Juice to buy later) Surprisingly, cinnamon has almost twice the ORAC value of Acai! And, great news for you chocolate lovers-- Dark Chocolate has tons of antioxidant properties! Here is a list I borrowed from Dr. Amen's website listing the ORAC value of various foods:
Spices High in Antioxidants
ORAC Score
Cloves, ground 314,446
Cinnamon, ground 267,536
Oregano, dried 200,129
Turmeric, ground 159,277
Cumin seed 76,800
Parsley, dried 74,349
Basil, dried 67,553
Curry powder 48,504
Mustard seed, yellow 29,257
Ginger, ground 28,811
Fruits High in Antioxidants
ORAC Score
Acai berry, freeze-dried 161,400
Maqui berry, concentrated powder 75,000
Goji berries 25,300
Elderberries 14,697
Cranberries 9,584
Blueberries 6,552
Prunes 6,552
Plums 6,259
Blackberries 5,347
Raspberries 4,882
Cherries 3,365
Apples, with skin 3,082
Pears 2,941
Avocados 1,933
Oranges 1,819
Nuts High in Antioxidants
ORAC Score
Pecans 17,940
Walnuts, English 13,541
Hazelnuts 9,645
Pistachio nuts, raw 7,983
Almonds 4,454
More Foods High in Antioxidants
ORAC Score
Dark chocolate 20,823
Garlic 5,346
Pomegranate juice 2,341
