What are antioxidants?

Antioxidants are substances or nutrients in certain foods which can prevent or slow down oxidative damage to our body. When our body cells use oxygen, they naturally produce free radicals or by-products which can cause damage to our body.  Antioxidants act as "free radical scavengers" and prevent and repair damage by these free radicals.  Health problems such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, etc. have been linked to oxidative damage.  Antioxidants may also enhance immune defense and therefore lower the risk of certain diseases and conditions.

What are Oxygen Radicals?

Oxygen Radicals are chemicals that are constantly inside our bodies. They are a normal everyday part of living, but they damage our cells through a process called oxidation.  Antioxidants may help our bodies neutralize or destroy these oxygen radicals before they do serious damage.

What is Oxidation?

Oxidation is a natural process that occurs around us all the time.  Examples of oxidation are a cut up apple that turns brown when exposed to oxygen or metal that is rusting.  When an apple turns brown, it’s going bad and when metal rusts, it becomes weak.  This exact same process happens in your body.   Just like turning brown or rusting, the cells, organs, and other parts of your body can be made weak by oxidation.  This can lead to chronic conditions or diseases, like cancer, Alzheimer’s and heart disease.

What can I do to prevent oxidation damage to my body?

One way to stop oxidation is by consuming antioxidant rich superfoods.  ORAC or Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity is a way to measure the number of oxygen radicals a specific food can absorb.  The more oxygen radicals a food can absorb, the higher its AntiOXC score. The higher its AntiOXC score, the better it is at helping our bodies fight diseases.

What does ORAC mean?

ORAC means Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity.  Some researchers have described the measurement of ORAC as a way of saying, "How well does a certain food help my body fight diseases like cancer and heart disease?" The higher the ORAC, the more that particular food may help your body.

Does ORAC rating and antioxidant value mean the same thing?

Yes. They are essentially the same thing.

Note: No statements herein have been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.