ORAC Values

What are ORAC Values? The ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) unit, ORAC value, or “ORAC score” is a method of measuring the in vitro antioxidant capacity of different foods and supplements. More than two decades in the making, it was originally developed by scientists working at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and USDA. Measuring in vivo (meaning inside the human body) is not possible and for that reason, the exact relationship between the ORAC value of a food/supplement and any suspected health benefit it may have as a result is unproven. However, many scientists theorize that foods higher on the ORAC scale may be more effective at neutralizing free radicals. Although unproven, according to the free-radical theory of aging, this may slow the oxidative processes and free radical damage that can contribute to age-related degeneration and disease.

When I pick an apple from a tree, at the moment I pulled the fruit off the branch the fruit has the highest nutritional value. Organically-grown food has full nutritional value. Fresh food even tastes better. We might forget what real food tastes like because we go to the market and buy our food, which might not be as fresh as possible. Do we ask ourselves "What is the ORAC value in the food I'm eating today?"

When I took  Jovan and my other son to a farm a few months ago, I told them to pull the vegetables from the dirt. The owner gave us a basket and allowed us to pick what we wanted.  When we brought the vegetables home their freshness made our home smell amazing. I had never truly smelled farm-fresh veggies before. The basil, thyme, spinach, and onions all had their own unique fresh aroma. Now we love going to farmer's markets to choose our fresh veggies together. It's important to buy vegetables with high ORAC values because as days pass, the ORAC values and nutritional content decrease. Higher ORAC values mean better health for my family.