What Is ORAC?
What is ORAC?
When it comes to supplements, there are always a plethora of claims made about a particular product’s contents and effects. Unfortunately, not all supplement manufacturers are honest when it comes to declaring their item’s ingredients and benefits. That’s why it’s so important to carefully weight your options and go for a supplement option that is certified to contain quality ingredients. That’s where the ORAC comes in. ORAC, the shortened form of oxygen radical absorbance capacity, is one of the methods used to help determine a supplement’s effectivity and effects. In particular, the ORAC measures the antioxidant capacity of biological samples.
What are antioxidants?
When it comes to protecting your cells, antioxidants are incredibly important to keep in mind (and in your body!). Antioxidants are naturally occurring in many plant-based foods. This includes things like vegetables, fruits, wine, tea, coffee, and even chocolate! Some of the more popular antioxidants include flavanols, lycopene, resveratrol, and vitamins E, A, and C. They are important because they help prevent cell damage that can be caused by oxidants (also known as free radicals).
What are free radicals?
Also known as oxidants, free radicals are generated by the body to help fight off microbes and viruses. If your body creates too many, however, they quickly become less beneficial and far more damaging. Having an excessive amount of free radicals, in fact, can lead to heart disease as well as certain cancers. It’s also a good idea to keep in mind that you can be exposed to free radicals from your environment, too – it’s not all caused by bodily functions. Cigarette smoke, air pollution, and alcohol, for example, all contribute to the free radicals in your body.
ORAC
The ORAC, then, is a measurement of the antioxidant levels in foods. This measurement was created by the National Institute of Health (NIH) as well as the National Institute on Aging (NIA). The ORAC can help you locate foods or supplements that are high in antioxidants, which can be highly beneficial to your health. While nothing is perfect, the ORAC is a good way to get a feel for the kind of antioxidant capacity you can expect to find in a particular food or supplement.
Amazon Thunder’s products are measured using the ORAC. Our Acai Pulp Puree, for example, contains 20,000 ORAC units per fluid ounce! Read more about the acai berry and how our supplement can help your health here.