Acai berries face stiff competition
1. Blueberries
You might already be aware of blueberries' high antioxidant content, but surprisingly many people are not. Easy to find at most any grocery store or market, blueberries are one of the easiest and most effective ways to increase your antioxidant intake naturally without pills. The ORAC rating of one cup blueberries is very high at 9019.[1] If you can afford to, eating one cup a day is an excellent way to supplement your diet.
2. Blackberries
Although generally more difficult to find than blueberries, blackberries are another well known berry which contains a very high concentration of antioxidants. The ORAC value has officially been listed at 7701 per cup.[1] Most often you will find blackberries in a berry mix along with raspberries and blueberries.
3. Cherries
Probably the most common antioxidant-rich fruit. Cherries are known and loved by many for their taste, but many who eat them are probably unaware of their high antioxidant content. One cup of sweet cherries has an ORAC rating of 4873.[1] Next time you eat a bowl of cherries, knowing that they are protecting your body against free radical damage will surely make them taste much sweeter!
4. Wolfberries
Known commercially as goji berries in North America and other regions outside their native China, wolfberries are another berry which has been shown to have high levels of antioxidants. While their ORAC value has not yet been independently confirmed, one could assume their rating is near or even greater than the ORAC value of blueberries. Wolfberries have a unique semi-sweet flavor and the dried berries make a good, healthy snack.
5. Acai berries
All the rage on the internet these days, acai berry is the latest "miracle" berry. There is no doubting the high levels of antioxidants and phytochemicals they contain, the exact ORAC rating has not been determined by an independent organization. It should be assumed the rating is somewhere near or above that of blueberries. The acai berry originated from South America, namely Brazil where it has been cultivated for hundreds of years and is consumed in a variety of ways.
6. Noni berries
More commonly known as Indian mulberries in their native region, noni berries are similar to acai and wolberries in the way they have been marketed as health and diet supplements. Sponsored studies have determined the ORAC rating to be leagues ahead of blueberries, blackberries and cherries, but an independent study determined their antioxidant value to be even less than that of oranges.[2]
A berry or fruit's ORAC value is not the only factor to consider when deciding whether it would be beneficial to include it in your diet. Some have higher levels of xanthones, flavonoids and phytochemicals than others, so a smart decision would be to consume a variety to receive the unique benefits of each. There are also many other options besides those in this list.
Reference:
1. Nutrient Data Laboratory, Agriculture Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of Selected Foods - 2007.
2. Nutrient composition of the blended Noni Juice, a PDF file located on-line at http://ec.europa.eu/food/fs/sc/scf/out151_en.pdf - 17268
You might already be aware of blueberries' high antioxidant content, but surprisingly many people are not. Easy to find at most any grocery store or market, blueberries are one of the easiest and most effective ways to increase your antioxidant intake naturally without pills. The ORAC rating of one cup blueberries is very high at 9019.[1] If you can afford to, eating one cup a day is an excellent way to supplement your diet.
2. Blackberries
Although generally more difficult to find than blueberries, blackberries are another well known berry which contains a very high concentration of antioxidants. The ORAC value has officially been listed at 7701 per cup.[1] Most often you will find blackberries in a berry mix along with raspberries and blueberries.
3. Cherries
Probably the most common antioxidant-rich fruit. Cherries are known and loved by many for their taste, but many who eat them are probably unaware of their high antioxidant content. One cup of sweet cherries has an ORAC rating of 4873.[1] Next time you eat a bowl of cherries, knowing that they are protecting your body against free radical damage will surely make them taste much sweeter!
4. Wolfberries
Known commercially as goji berries in North America and other regions outside their native China, wolfberries are another berry which has been shown to have high levels of antioxidants. While their ORAC value has not yet been independently confirmed, one could assume their rating is near or even greater than the ORAC value of blueberries. Wolfberries have a unique semi-sweet flavor and the dried berries make a good, healthy snack.
5. Acai berries
All the rage on the internet these days, acai berry is the latest "miracle" berry. There is no doubting the high levels of antioxidants and phytochemicals they contain, the exact ORAC rating has not been determined by an independent organization. It should be assumed the rating is somewhere near or above that of blueberries. The acai berry originated from South America, namely Brazil where it has been cultivated for hundreds of years and is consumed in a variety of ways.
6. Noni berries
More commonly known as Indian mulberries in their native region, noni berries are similar to acai and wolberries in the way they have been marketed as health and diet supplements. Sponsored studies have determined the ORAC rating to be leagues ahead of blueberries, blackberries and cherries, but an independent study determined their antioxidant value to be even less than that of oranges.[2]
A berry or fruit's ORAC value is not the only factor to consider when deciding whether it would be beneficial to include it in your diet. Some have higher levels of xanthones, flavonoids and phytochemicals than others, so a smart decision would be to consume a variety to receive the unique benefits of each. There are also many other options besides those in this list.
Reference:
1. Nutrient Data Laboratory, Agriculture Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of Selected Foods - 2007.
2. Nutrient composition of the blended Noni Juice, a PDF file located on-line at http://ec.europa.eu/food/fs/sc/scf/out151_en.pdf - 17268
About the Author:
Mark Goodman is a nutrition expert who has been following the recent popularity explosion of acai berries. If you need any more information about acai, feel free to contact Mark.
posted by X - Men at
7:54 AM
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