Pick the fruits and veggies that pack the most powerful antioxidant punch, the super foods!

Researchers have discovered that by measuring various fruits and vegetables for their ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity), they could determine the antioxidant power of specific foods.

The Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) value of foods is a method of measuring antioxidant capacities of different foods. The higher the ORAC Value, the more antioxidants a food has. So far they have measured the antioxidant capacities of 277 selected foods for their antioxidant power.

Antioxidants are natural substances found in plants, which are known to aid in the prevention of heart disease, cancer and stroke.  In addition to boosting the immune system, these valuable compounds are also known to slow the effects of aging by improving things such as memory, balance, coordination and motor skills.

A wide variety of foods have been tested using this methodology, with certain berries and legumes rated very highly here is a list of some of the top performers. Correlation between the high antioxidant capacity of fruits and vegetables, and the positive impact of diets high in fruits and vegetables, is believed to play an important role in the Free-radical theory of aging.

The USDA has recommended we try to consume a variety of foods with high ORAC for optimum health.

Here are some of the top performers:

Fruits
  1. Prunes
  2. Raisins
  3. Blueberries
  4. Blackberries
  5. Strawberries
  6. Raspberries
  7. Plums
  8. Oranges
  9. Red grapes
10. Cherries

Vegetables
  1. Kale
  2. Spinach
  3. Brussels sprouts
  4. Alfalfa sprouts
  5. Broccoli flowers
  6. Beets
  7. Red bell peppers
  8. Onions
  9. Russet potato
10. Eggplant

Read more:
United States Department of Agriculture - Human Nutrition Research Center
Wikipedia