Studies suggest that consuming fruits and vegetables with a high- ORAC value may help slow the aging process in both body and brain. ORAC - short for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity - measures the ability of foods, blood plasma, and just about any substance to subdue oxygen free radicals in the test tube.
Early evidence indicates that this antioxidant activity translates to animals, protecting cells and their components from oxidative damage. Getting plenty of the foods with a high - ORAC activity, such as spinach, strawberries, and blueberries, has so far:
Raised the antioxidant power of human blood
Prevented some loss of long - term memory and learning ability in middle-aged rats
Maintained the ability of brain cells in middle-aged rats to respond to a chemical stimulus and protected rats' capillaries(tiny blood vessels) against oxygen damage
Science has long held that damage by oxygen free radicals is behind many of the maladies that come with aging, including cardiovascular disease and cancer. There's firm evidence that a high intake of fruits and vegetables reduces risk of cancer and that a low intake raises risk. Recent evidence suggests that diminished brain function associated with aging and disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases may be due to increased vulnerability to free radicals.
By the year 2050, nearly one-third of the U.S. population is expected to be over age 65. If further research supports these early findings, millions of aging people may be able to guard against diseases or dementia simply by adding high-ORAC foods to their diets.
Tufts University, Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging
Agriculture Research Feb. 1999
Fruits and Vegetables: Do You Get Enough?
The American Cancer Society recommends eating 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day to help prevent cancer. These foods contain important vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and antioxidants and are usually low in calories. In general, those with the most color -- green, red, yellow, and orange -- have the most nutrients
For our friends and patients who have trouble getting adequate servings of fruits & vegetables we are please to offer:
PaleoGreens & PaleoReds a proprietary blend of more than 70% organic fruits and vegetables One tablespoon has equivalent ORAC capacity of 4 servings of vegetables.