ORAC, NORAC, and HORAC

There are numerous scientific articles describing the health benefits of phenols and flavonoids, which are potent antioxidants. How do we know if we are getting enough antioxidants to meet our body’s needs? Science is just in its infancy in determining what types of antioxidants are needed and in what amounts. There are many claims of one product having a higher antioxidant number than another product, but how do we know? There are several types of scientific test available to measure the quantity of antioxidants in a product. The main tests are known as the ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity), the HORAC (hydrogen radical absorbance capacity), and the NORAC (nitrogen radical absorbance capacity). These tests measure a given food’s antioxidant content. The values determined by these tests help scientist rate different products based on their antioxidant properties.
However, like most scientific or medical tests you have to put them into perspective based on many variables. There are numerous factors that can influence and determine the antioxidant content: the amount of water or fat, the temperature, how thick it is, when the fruits were harvested, how they are processed, how they were stored, how old the fruits are, etc. In a scientific study all these variables are controlled so that they can compare the same numbers against other numbers. In the real world we cannot control the variables, so looking at specific numbers makes no sense in comparing one product to another. It isn’t the specific number that is important; it is the range of values for a product.
Dark chocolate has very high antioxidant levels in terms of ORAC, NORAC, HORAC, total phenols, and epicatechins. The FDA has recommended that we digest a minimum of 4000-5000 ORAC a day. There is no maximum amount, but it is important to remember that each antioxidant is different and works at different sites in the body and at different times. A wide variety of antioxidants are needed to meet the body’s need. Dark chocolate and açai contain numerous types of high-quality antioxidants in large amounts. Cocoa can provide an excellent source of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and fiber to meet the daily needs of our bodies.
It has been estimated that less than 1% of Americans get enough antioxidants a day to meet their needs. The consumption of fruits and vegetables is very low in our country. The oxidative stress we face daily needs to be countered with a high-quality functional food. Healthy chocolate is a simple and very effective way of adding antioxidants to our diet.
Darker is better with any antioxidant food. Dark cocoa has a bitter taste because it is very high in antioxidants. Dark fruits like blueberries and açai berries also have a very high antioxidant content.
Incorporate these antioxidant-rich functional foods into your diet to boost your body’s ability to counter oxidative stress and the many illnesses that can be associated with that stress. - Dr. Warren.

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