Top 100 High ORAC Value Antioxidant Foods
December 13, 2010, Submitted by: Ken TweetPermalink
The theme of modern survival not only touches on preparedness plans including extra storage of food, but it also relates to the types of food that you eat every day to maintain good health (remember, store what you eat, and eat what you store).
The following foods are rated by ORAC value. ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. In short, ORAC units measure the antioxidant capacity of foods. The higher, the better. High antioxidant foods help greatly to lower the risks of cancer, degeneration, and disease.
Most of us have heard that blueberries are highly beneficial to ones health. Do you know that there are about 60 foods and spices that are even better? In fact, the top 20 ORAC value foods stand significantly higher than the rest (even though “the rest” are really good for you too)!
Earlier, I had posted about the significant benefits of Cocoa powder, which is number 10 on the list. A daily heaping teaspoon of unsweetened cacao powder
Have a look at the following list of food and spices, and consider making a conscious effort to obtain and consume more of them in your normal diet. Ones health is paramount to any survival conversation or plan of action.
ORAC Value Top 20 list
ORAC Value list 21 – 40
ORAC Value list 41 – 60
ORAC Value list 61 – 80
ORAC Value list 81 – 100
ORAC Value list, Top 100
| 1 | Cloves, ground | 314,446 |
| 2 | Sumac bran | 312,400 |
| 3 | Cinnamon, ground | 267,536 |
| 4 | Sorghum, bran, raw | 240,000 |
| 5 | Oregano, dried | 200,129 |
| 6 | Turmeric, ground | 159,277 |
| 7 | Acai berry, freeze-dried | 102,700 |
| 8 | Sorghum, bran, black | 100,800 |
| 9 | Sumac, grain, raw | 86,800 |
| 10 | Cocoa powder, unsweetened | 80,933 |
| 11 | Cumin seed | 76,800 |
| 12 | Maqui berry, powder | 75,000 |
| 13 | Parsley, dried | 74,349 |
| 14 | Sorghum, bran, red | 71,000 |
| 15 | Basil, dried | 67,553 |
| 16 | Baking chocolate, unsweetened | 49,926 |
| 17 | Curry powder | 48,504 |
| 18 | Sorghum, grain, hi-tannin | 45,400 |
| 19 | Chocolate, dutched powder | 40,200 |
| 20 | Maqui berry, juice | 40,000 |
| 21 | Sage | 32,004 |
| 22 | Mustard seed, yellow | 29,257 |
| 23 | Ginger, ground | 28,811 |
| 24 | Pepper, black | 27,618 |
| 25 | Thyme, fresh | 27,426 |
| 26 | Marjoram, fresh | 27,297 |
| 27 | Goji berries | 25,300 |
| 28 | Rice bran, crude | 24,287 |
| 29 | Chili powder | 23,636 |
| 30 | Sorghum, grain, black | 21,900 |
| 31 | Chocolate, dark | 20,823 |
| 32 | Flax hull lignans | 19,600 |
| 33 | Chocolate, semisweet | 18,053 |
| 34 | Pecans | 17,940 |
| 35 | Paprika | 17,919 |
| 36 | Chokeberry, raw | 16,062 |
| 37 | Tarragon, fresh | 15,542 |
| 38 | Ginger root, raw | 14,840 |
| 39 | Elderberries, raw | 14,697 |
| 40 | Sorghum, grain, red | 14,000 |
| 41 | Peppermint, fresh | 13,978 |
| 42 | Oregano, fresh | 13,978 |
| 43 | Walnuts | 13,541 |
| 44 | Hazelnuts | 9,645 |
| 45 | Cranberries, raw | 9,584 |
| 46 | Pears, dried | 9,496 |
| 47 | Savory, fresh | 9,465 |
| 48 | Artichokes | 9,416 |
| 49 | Kidney beans, red | 8,459 |
| 50 | Pink beans | 8,320 |
| 51 | Black beans | 8,040 |
| 52 | Pistachio nuts | 7,983 |
| 53 | Currants | 7,960 |
| 54 | Pinto beans | 7,779 |
| 55 | Plums | 7,581 |
| 56 | Chocolate, milk chocolate | 7,528 |
| 57 | Lentils | 7,282 |
| 58 | Agave, dried | 7,274 |
| 59 | Apples, dried | 6,681 |
| 60 | Garlic powder | 6,665 |
| 61 | Blueberries | 6,552 |
| 62 | Prunes | 6,552 |
| 63 | Sorghum, bran, white | 6,400 |
| 64 | Lemon balm, leaves | 5,997 |
| 65 | Soybeans | 5,764 |
| 66 | Onion powder | 5,735 |
| 67 | Blackberries | 5,347 |
| 68 | Garlic, raw | 5,346 |
| 69 | Cilantro leaves | 5,141 |
| 70 | Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon | 5,034 |
| 71 | Raspberries | 4,882 |
| 72 | Basil, fresh | 4,805 |
| 73 | Almonds | 4,454 |
| 74 | Dill weed | 4,392 |
| 75 | Cowpeas | 4,343 |
| 76 | Apples, red delicious | 4,275 |
| 77 | Peaches, dried | 4,222 |
| 78 | Raisins, white | 4,188 |
| 79 | Apples, granny smith | 3,898 |
| 80 | Dates | 3,895 |
| 81 | Wine, red | 3,873 |
| 82 | Strawberries | 3,577 |
| 83 | Peanut butter, smooth | 3,432 |
| 84 | Currants, red | 3,387 |
| 85 | Figs | 3,383 |
| 86 | Cherries | 3,365 |
| 87 | Gooseberries | 3,277 |
| 88 | Apricots, dried | 3,234 |
| 89 | Peanuts, all types | 3,166 |
| 90 | Cabbage, red | 3,145 |
| 91 | Broccoli | 3,083 |
| 92 | Apples | 3,082 |
| 93 | Raisins | 3,037 |
| 94 | Pears | 2,941 |
| 95 | Agave | 2,938 |
| 96 | Blueberry juice | 2,906 |
| 97 | Cardamom | 2,764 |
| 98 | Guava | 2,550 |
| 99 | Lettuce, red leaf | 2,380 |
| 100 | Concord grape juice | 2,377 |
Obligatory statement 
This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
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@M.S.B., You are outstanding in your range of thoughtful coverage. Thank you for doing the work above. Only things I could add are look at labels. Bulk purchase prices are often better. Look for the location of origin, and whenever possible buy in glass if bulk isn’t stocking what you hope for. Lastly, buy organic whenever you can. Yes, I know there are still rubber stamp profiteers in the food systems, but that incentive is going down as prices are becoming competitive. The above ORAC info. added to the safe plastics factoids, are lessons for the modern survivalists edification.
Could you please tell me which measurmental units are used for your ORAC scale chart? Thanks for publishing!
ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) units, a unit of measurement for antioxidants developed by the National Institute on Aging in the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Could you please tell me what the standard dosage is that was used to generate the chart? Was it 1 tbl or 1 oz or what of all the foods and spices? I’m assuming you used the same measurement (1 tbl, 1 oz) of all the foods and spices to obtain the ORAC value comparison? Thanks much.
Good question… My recollection of the post was to do with the agency, National Institute of Health, and their values assigned to various foods or ingredients.