ORAC Score And Antioxidants Explained
What is ORAC? ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity. It is an analysis that measures the antioxidant power of a substance. Specifically, it quantifies the amount of time it takes a substance to neutralize an oxidizing agent. And antioxidants are what neutralize these agents. Oxidizing agents, called Oxygen Radicals and Free Radicals are explained thoroughly in the article, Stop Free Radical Damage and Slow Your Aging. In short, they are terrorists to the body, damaging and destroying your body's cells.
The usual substances that are assessed include fruits, vegetables, beverages, and supplements. The ORAC analysis is an automated procedure carried out on COBAS FARA II spectrofluorometric centrifugal analyzer with fluorescent filters. This analyzer uses robotics to measure and transfer samples into reagent wells. These reagent wells are like test pools where the sample is then rotated at high speed, separating the materials of different densities, and incubated. (See Graph)
This procedure measures the protection ability of the sample against free radical attacks. The test uses a free radical source, producing the peroxl radical (most common in the body). B-PE (B-phycoerythrin) is employ as a target for the free radical attack. AAPH (2,2'-azobis-2-amidinopropane-dihydrochloride) is the free radical generator, and Trolox (a water-soluble vitamin E analogue) is the control standard.
Results are expressed in ORAC units, where 1 unit equals the net protection produced in 1 micron of the control standard, Trolox. The analyzer records the free radical target (B-PE) every 2 minutes after a release of free radicals from the free radical generator (AAPH).
As noted above, the ultimate value of an ORAC score measures the antioxidant capacity (and free radical neutralizing power) of a substance. This value represents the fast, medium, and slow acting antioxidants in the substance. Fast Antioxidants include ascorbate, thiols, uric acid, bioflavonoids and polyphenols. Medium Antioxidants include albumin and lipids. Over half the total ORAC value is from the protein and aqueous antioxidants, the other part is from lipid soluble antioxidants.
See the following chart showing various fruits and vegetables and their ORAC score.
FRUITS & VEGETABLES ORAC SCORE (per 1 oz)
Prunes 1649
Raisins 809
Blueberries 686
Blackberries 582
Kale 506
Strawberries 440
Spinach 350
Raspberries 349
Brussels Sprouts 280
Plums 271
Alfalfa 266
Broccoli 254
Beets 240
Oranges 214
Red Grapes 211
Red Bell Peppers 203
Cherries 191
Onions 129
Corn 114
Eggplant 111
Related Radicals Articles
Antioxidant Effects Of Green Tea
Oxidation is the process where oxygen in the body burns glucose and fat to provide the body with heat and energy. This is a naturally occurring process that is part of living and is necessary for our bodies to have the energy they need. Oxidation, though, creates some by products that have negative effects on our bodies.
Anti Aging Antioxidant - Key To Staying Young Longer?
People are living longer now than ever. You've heard the expression "40 is the new 30," right? Unfortunately, the process of aging is inevitable. Scientists have discovered that our cells can only divide so many times during our lifetime before they give out. By the time we are 20 years old, most of the cells in our body have already used up half of their available cell divisions in their cell lifespan. By the time we are 40, our cells may only have 30% of their cell divisions left. This is why we age and see the physical changes that goes on inside and outside our bodies. You really can't fight getting aging.
Antioxidant Effects Of Green Tea
Through the process of oxidation, oxygen starts the process of burning glucose and fat to provide heat and energy in the body. Although this is an inevitable and naturally occurring process which gives our bodies the energy we need; the process of oxidation creates some by-products that have negative effects to our body.
Antioxidant Research - Key Facts
Oxidation is a normal process within our bodies that contributes significantly to aging. Oxidation causes the production of free radicals which damage other cells in the body and lead to aging. Since this link was made between degenerative diseases and free radicals, scientists have focused on antioxidants. Antioxidants work against free radicals by neutralizing them, preventing the damage they cause and even repairing the damage they do. Antioxidants are essential to our bodies.
Essential Information About Antioxidants
Scientists have discovered that there is a connection between free radicals in our bodies and degenerative diseases. Since this discovery, there has been research on how antioxidants can prevent free radicals from causing or accelerating degenerative diseases. Antioxidants fight free radicals and neutralize them. Antioxidants keep your body looking young and healthy.
The Power Of Antioxidants
We are going to explore a very important subject that is directly related to both aging and disease: Free Radicals. You are probably familiar with free radicals, also called Oxygen Radicals. Basically, they are highly unstable molecules that are missing one electron. What they do is travel throughout your body attacking cells, trying to steal the electron they are missing.
Latest Radicals News
- FreakOutNation Radicals Manipulating Polls & Shifting The ...
To try to tilt the axis a poll by shifting the true outcome via sending in a hoard of radicals to vote because they're not winning, negates their theory that America supports the elimination of Collective Bargaining Rights. ...
- RealClearPolitics - Why Can't We Talk About Radicals?
Why Can't We Talk About Radicals? By David Harsanyi. As reckless as it is to make sweeping statements about Islam -- and it is reckless -- isn't it equally irresponsible to claim there is prejudice where it doesn't exist? ...
- The Revolution's Reactionary Radicals
During the American Revolution, a group calling themselves Radical Patriots tried to use the armed conflict to institute a plan that could nowadays be deemed Marxist. By Becky Akers.
- HEARING ON MUSLIM RADICALS - Nealz Nuze on boortz.com
This web site, for Neal Boortz, features Neal's Nuze, Libertarian views, Talk Radio, and online radio. It is a Cox Radio site representing The Talkmaster, Mighty Whitey, or The High Priest of The Church of the Painful Truth, ...
- Anti-Abortion Radicals Coming to Philly | News and Opinion ...
Under the leadership of 44-year-old Troy Newman, Operation Rescue has become known for zeroing in on defined areas and then pressuring individual clinics and practitioners until operating becomes unreasonable or impossible.