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How The Açaí Berry Has Extremely High ORAC Levels

14th April, 2009 - Posted by health news - No Comments

Very healthy ORAC numbers are offered by the highly nutritional Amazon Acai berry. Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity is abbreviated as ORAC. The ability of a particular component to lessen the effects of oxygen free radicals in a test tube can be calculated by ORAC, relative to operational capacities. Thus, ORAC is a lab test which can calculate the antioxidant activity of any substance and assign it a number. The higher the ORAC number, the more powerful the antioxidant capabilities of the measured substance. The ORAC measurement method was originated by the National Institute on Aging and later improved upon by the US Department of Agriculture and Brunswick Labs. To date, numerous foods have been evaluated to ascertain their ORAC levels. Simply put, you should concentrate on healthful substances having the highest ORAC numbers when searching for foods with the best antioxidant properties. Although the USDA warns that we should all consistently consume between 3,000 to 5,000 ORAC units each day, the majority of the population reports intake of less than 1,000 ORAC units daily. If you follow the nutritional requirements of five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day, you will achieve an ORAC intake score of approximately 1,750 units. In reality, the highest ORAC levels are usually held by fruits and vegetables. For each 100 grams, apples rate a 218, bananas score 221, and blueberries gain high honors with a count of 2,400. Blueberries rate 2,400, bananas score 221, and apples have a level of 218, per each 100 grams. Scoring 5,500 per 100 grams, however, is the astoundingly nutrient-rich acai berry. Actually, freeze dried Acai berries have a greatly increased ORAC score of more than 50,000 per 100 grams.

Plants and fruits are afforded lovely, vital colors by anthocyanins—flavonoid pigments synthesized by plants and fruits. Interestingly, they also act as “sunscreens” for plants, vegetables and fruits. Brightly colored fruits attract the animal kingdom to enjoy their delicious fresh flavors while scattering seeds to encourage new growth. Yet, the major value of anthocyanins in acai berries is their powerful antioxidant abilities. Exposed to strong dosages of UV light which facilitate growth of free radicals in the fruit, are fruits raised in powerful sunlight like acai fruit. Acai berries then develop large numbers of anthocyanins since they already have powerful antioxidant properties and can successfully combat free radicals. Even following consumption by either a human or animal, it is important to note the fact that antioxidant capacities of these anthocyanins prevail. So, the huge concentration of anthocyanins common in Açaí berry juice is absorbed by the consumer of the fruit to great nutritional and healthful benefits. Recall that not only delightful to taste and immensely high in ORAC levels and healthy qualities, fruits with bold coloring are also pleasing to the sight.