Highest Antioxidant Fruits List
What might be the highest antioxidant fruit commonly found in the grocery store? Here’s a list of 10 common fruits. They’re typically found at your local grocery store. And they are loaded with antioxidants, with potential health benefits.
What are Antioxidants and what does that have to do with fruit?
Antioxidants are compounds that inhibit oxidation. Some foods/fruits have more of this than others.
Oxidation is a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals, thereby leading to chain reactions that may damage the cells of organisms.
Antioxidant benefits include the potential prevention or delay of some types of cell damage. Since ‘free radicals’ may play a role in heart disease, cancer and other diseases, Antioxidants may help protect cells from damage caused by free radicals.
Excerpt statement from NIH, National Library of Medicine (emphasis added).
Free radicals and oxidants play a dual role as both toxic and beneficial compounds, since they can be either harmful or helpful to the body.
They are produced either from normal cell metabolisms in situ or from external sources (pollution, cigarette smoke, radiation, medication).
When an overload of free radicals cannot gradually be destroyed, their accumulation in the body generates a phenomenon called oxidative stress.
This process plays a major part in the development of chronic and degenerative illness such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, aging, cataract, rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases.
The human body has several mechanisms to counteract oxidative stress by producing antioxidants, which are either naturally produced in situ, or externally supplied through foods and/or supplements.
source
Antioxidant Capacity measured in ORAC units
ORAC units measure antioxidant capacity of foods.
ORAC units are typically measured per 100 grams (or 3.5 ounces).
See the following list of 10 common fruits sorted by highest ORAC value:
10 Common Fruits With High ORAC values
Note: There are other more unfamiliar fruits (less commonly found at your grocery store) which may be considered higher in antioxidant ORAC value. However the following are fairly commonly available at the grocery store:
1. Plums
– 7,581 ORAC units
2. Blueberries
– 6,552 ORAC units
3. Prunes
– same ORAC value as blueberries
4. Blackberries
– 5,347 ORAC units
5. Raspberries
– 4,882 ORAC units
6. Apples
– 4,275 ORAC units (Red Delicious)
7. Strawberries
– 3,577 ORAC units
8. Figs
– 3,383 ORAC units
9. Cherries
– 3,365 ORAC units
10. Pears
– 2,941 ORAC units
ORAC data had been sourced from the US Department of Agriculture during 2010.
See the following article for more information on ORAC units and high ORAC value foods:
[ Read: Top 100 High ORAC Value Antioxidant Foods ]
Antioxidant Supplements
There are a wide variety of antioxidant supplements that may be of benefit. While eating the actual fruit (or vegetable) is logically an ideal choice, some supplements concentrate the substance into apparently more powerful antioxidant formulas.
Two VERY popular antioxidant supplemental choices are Super Greens and Super Beets. You might have a look at the variety of choices of these products on amzn: