ORAC

Decoding ORAC Values: Their Importance and Impact

You may have seen the term “ORAC” on food and nutritional supplement labels and wondered what does this acronym mean? Let’s take a closer look.

In a nutshell, ORAC refers to Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, a laboratory analysis that provides an overall measure of a food's or a supplement’s antioxidant activity. ORAC was developed in 1992 by Dr Guohua Cao, a researcher at the National Institute on Aging in the U.S. The ORAC test basically consists of challenging a food with an oxidizing agent and then measuring the overall capacity of that food to resist oxidation. As a reminder, free radicals are unstable molecules generated as part of normal metabolism that can strip electrons from other molecules, causing oxidative damage.

ORAC testing is often done to compare different foods' antioxidant capacities and make comparisons or recommendations based on the ORAC scores. As you might have guessed, the higher the ORAC score, the greater the food's antioxidant capacity and the more protection it offers. Food manufacturers and supplement brands also often use ORAC ratings as part of their marketing to highlight a product's particular health benefits. 

High ORAC foods include brightly coloured fruits and vegetables, including all berries, spices such as turmeric, cinnamon, curry, cloves, cumin, rosemary, oregano, cocoa powder, and many others. Most health organizations recommend that adults consume 3,000 to 5,000 ORAC rating foods per-day for optimal health, though athletes may require more.

Why High ORAC Foods & Supplements Matter for Your Health

• Boosts the Body’s Antioxidant Defenses
• Helps Prevent Cell Damage/Oxidative Stress
• Helps Prevent Premature Aging of the Skin & Other Tissues
• Protects Cellular DNA 

Determining If You Need an Antioxidant Supplement

High ORAC antioxidant-rich foods and supplements are an excellent idea for everyone to improve the body’s energy production and bolster one’s resistance to oxidative stress. High ORAC antioxidant blends are also an ideal solution to help reduce inflammation, protect the brain, and enhance immunity. High ORAC supplements are also a fantastic idea if you are looking to slow the aging process and help prevent common conditions associated with aging, such as: heart disease, hypertension, atherosclerosis, macular degeneration, cataracts, and neurodegeneration in general. 

Choosing the Right Antioxidant: Potencies & Formats Explained

Antioxidant-rich supplements are widely available in a variety of formats, like tablets, capsules, powders, and even tasty liquids. Each of these will offer its own distinct potency based on the antioxidant(s) present in the formula. Make sure to always follow the dosing instruction listed on the label carefully. 

A Guide to Selecting the Best High ORAC Antioxidant Supplement

Antioxidant supplements are plentiful on the market, each offering unique health benefits based on the family and colour of antioxidants featured. It's crucial to pick the blend that best corresponds to your individual needs.

• Green vegetables contain lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoid antioxidants that can protect aging eyes from developing cataracts and macular degeneration.
• Cruciferous vegetables contain antioxidants and other phytonutrients that reduce cancer risk.
• Orange/yellow fruits and vegetables are rich in carotenoids that protect the immune system.
• Red pigmented fruits contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that helps fight heart disease and promotes healthy cell growth.
• Blue/purple fruits and vegetables are rich in anthocyanins, phytochemicals that protect against carcinogens and may help prevent heart disease.

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