Acai and ORAC

First of all, in case you're wondering what the "ORAC" scale actually is, it's essentially nothing more than a rating which has been devised in order for us to be able to determine the concentration levels of antioxidants found in particular foods. The ORAC scale, or rating system, was initially developed by the National Institute on Aging, and it stands for "Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity".

Over time, the ORAC scale has helped us to better understand what foods are the most beneficial with regards to the presence of antioxidants found in those foods. The scale also shows us that certain food types have particularly high concentrations of antioxidants, and this is of course of extreme interest to the health industry. The reason being antioxidants are the body's first line of defense against dangerous, cancer causing free radicals. Free radicals are also responsible for premature aging and a string of other health conditions, including several illnesses. According to the ORAC scale, no other foods can compete with acai berries as far as antioxidants are concerned, and considering the recommended daily minimum is 3000 ORAC units, acai berries certainly deserve all the attention they're getting.

While some readers may find this hard to believe, acai berries have an ORAC rating of 18,500. Those who doubt this figure, or who question the source of the data, are welcome to verify it with the USDA. In fact, the latest figures released by the USDA list the ORAC rating of one hundred different foods.

While it would be impractical to list all of these foods in this article, you will however find twenty of the listed fruits shown below, in order of their respective ORAC ratings based on a three-ounce quantity:

1. Açai berry - 18,500 ORAC Units

2. Prunes - 5,770 ORAC Units

3. Pomegranates - 3,307 ORAC Units

4. Raisins and/dark grapes - 2,830 ORAC Units

5. Blueberries - 2,400 ORAC Units

6. Blackberries - 2,036 ORAC Units

7. Cranberries - 1,750 ORAC Units

8. Strawberries - 1,540 ORAC Units

9. Noni - 1,506 ORAC Units

10. Raspberries - 1,220 ORAC Units

11. Plums - 949 ORAC Units

12. Oranges - 750 ORAC Units

13. Red grapes - 739 ORAC Units

14. Cherries - 670 ORAC Units

15. Kiwi fruit - 610 ORAC Units

16. Grapefruit, (pink variety) - 483 ORAC Units

17. White grapes - 460 ORAC Units

18. Bananas - 210 ORAC Units

19. Apples - 207 ORAC Units

20. Apricots - 175 ORAC Units

As one can see from the above list, no other fruit known to man even comes close to the acai berry. Just imagine how many apricots you'd have to eat to get the same amount of antioxidants you'd get from a serving of delicious acai berries. Admittedly, because fresh acai berries are probably not available in your local grocery store, you'll need to settle for acai berry supplements, but at least you can still reap the many benefits this wonderful "super-food" has to offer. Yes, you'll miss out on the fabulous taste of fresh berries, but your body is still going to benefit.