Learning Moments: The ORAC score (NaBloPoMo Post #4/Day 3)
Have you ever heard about the ORAC score? What is it you say? Should you even bother knowing? Should you care?
I didn't hear about the ORAC score until recently. So reading about it was one of last month's learning moments.
The ORAC score is based on a test which was developed by Dr. Guohua Cao. It is designed to determine the antioxidant levels of various substances, food in particular.
A higher Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) score indicates that the substance has a higher ability to eliminate oxygen free radicals, and therefore serves as a better aid in fighting cardiovascular disease and cancer.
These substances are supposed to protect cells of the body from oxidative damage which weakens our body.
In studies conducted by the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts in Boston, eating plenty of high-ORAC foods:
So, what food have high ORAC scores?
ORAC units per 100 grams (about 3 ½ ounces)
Prunes5770Raisins2830Blueberries2400Blackberries2036Kiwi1770Strawberries1540Spinach1260Raspberries1220Brussels sprouts980Alfalfa sprouts930
*** from the Seek Wellness website
Awareness about anti-oxidants has grown so that foods and supplements have started including their ORAC score on their labels. This is good news, right? ORAC scores on labels should make it easier to find food that will offer you the most health benefits.
Unfortunately, this isn't the case. Functional Ingredients Magazine quoted Dr. Ron Prior who helped develop the ORAC assay test. According to him, "Having the largest number doesn't necessarily mean the best. It depends on the foods and what phytochemicals are in there and what happens during the absorption and metabolism process. We're finding some of these compounds are metabolized extensively or not absorbed effectively and so not much gets into the blood or absorbed into the tissue."
If the ORAC score is just an indication of antioxidant levels in a substance and not the amount of antioxidant absorbed by the body, then is the ORAC score even useful at all? Are sellers capitalizing on ORAC scores to entice us to buy their products?
There is now an independent certifying organization that gives a seal for validated ORAC scores. Check out The Official Site of ORACWatch.
Become ORAC savvy.
Or just make sure to always eat healthy.
I didn't hear about the ORAC score until recently. So reading about it was one of last month's learning moments.
The ORAC score is based on a test which was developed by Dr. Guohua Cao. It is designed to determine the antioxidant levels of various substances, food in particular.
A higher Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) score indicates that the substance has a higher ability to eliminate oxygen free radicals, and therefore serves as a better aid in fighting cardiovascular disease and cancer.
These substances are supposed to protect cells of the body from oxidative damage which weakens our body.
In studies conducted by the Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts in Boston, eating plenty of high-ORAC foods:
- Raised the antioxidant power of human blood 10 to 25 percent
- Prevented some loss of long-term memory and learning ability in middle-aged rats
- Maintained the ability of brain cells in middle-aged rats to respond to a chemical stimulus--a function that normally decreases with age
- Protected rats' tiny blood vessels--capillaries--against oxygen damage
So, what food have high ORAC scores?
ORAC units per 100 grams (about 3 ½ ounces)
Prunes5770Raisins2830Blueberries2400Blackberries2036Kiwi1770Strawberries1540Spinach1260Raspberries1220Brussels sprouts980Alfalfa sprouts930
*** from the Seek Wellness website
Awareness about anti-oxidants has grown so that foods and supplements have started including their ORAC score on their labels. This is good news, right? ORAC scores on labels should make it easier to find food that will offer you the most health benefits.
Unfortunately, this isn't the case. Functional Ingredients Magazine quoted Dr. Ron Prior who helped develop the ORAC assay test. According to him, "Having the largest number doesn't necessarily mean the best. It depends on the foods and what phytochemicals are in there and what happens during the absorption and metabolism process. We're finding some of these compounds are metabolized extensively or not absorbed effectively and so not much gets into the blood or absorbed into the tissue."
If the ORAC score is just an indication of antioxidant levels in a substance and not the amount of antioxidant absorbed by the body, then is the ORAC score even useful at all? Are sellers capitalizing on ORAC scores to entice us to buy their products?
There is now an independent certifying organization that gives a seal for validated ORAC scores. Check out The Official Site of ORACWatch.
Become ORAC savvy.
Or just make sure to always eat healthy.