Acai and ORAC-Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity

Acai Berries and Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity (ORAC)

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Over the years, Acai berries have been gaining quite a reputation due to the many benefits associated with a high level of antioxidants. Through the consumption of antioxidant-rich foods, one may combat fatigue, illness, and disease, including heart ailments, cancer, and other degenerative concerns. To better understand the health benefits associated with Acai berries, it is important to become familiar with ORAC values. What is ORAC? The ability to control oxygen free radicals is expressed through an ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) number. Using test tube analysis, the ORAC number is assessed by the measurement of antioxidant activity for any given substance. Higher ORAC numbers means that a substance possesses stronger antioxidant powers. A variety of foods provide a high ORAC score, which includes Montgomery tart cherries, prunes, raisins, kale, spinach, cocoa, pomegranates, black raspberries, and Acai berries. Benefits of High ORAC Values The buzz regarding foods with high ORAC values, such as Acai berries, has centered on early findings that revealed the consumption of many fruits and vegetables with high ORAC scores may slow down the oxidation process linked to aging. It is a belief that antioxidant-rich foods possess the power to ease the detrimental changes concerning the body and brain that are caused by aging. Many middle-aged and younger individuals have started to increase the number of high-ORAC foods included in their diet in hopes of combating the diseases and illnesses associated with getting older. Additional benefits connected to high ORAC values include the chance to combat long-term memory loss; slow down the deterioration of learning ability; boost brain cell activity; and prevent oxygen damage in different parts of the body, such as the capillaries (tiny blood vessels). The ORAC Number of Acai Berries In order to reap the benefits of antioxidants, a diet high in foods showcasing a high ORAC number is suggested. Fruits and vegetables are often assigned a high ORAC number. The USDA suggests a daily intake of 3,000 to 5,000 ORAC units. Unfortunately, the typical person in the United States is only consuming less than 1,000 ORAC units per day. In actuality, the recommended "5-a-day" fruit and vegetable requirement established by the USDA generally delivers an ORAC score of 1,750 units. Common fruit favorites, such as the apple and banana respectively provide an ORAC score of 218 and 221.The blueberry is considered one of the healthiest berries in the world and offers an ORAC score of 2,400. However, when it comes to fresh Acai, the fruit holds an impressive ORAC score of 5,500. If you are lucky enough to get your hands on freeze-dried Sambazon Acai, you may take advantage of an ORAC value nearing 35,000 per 100 grams.