ORAC Value - The 2 Most Efficient Ways To Get Antioxidants

Today let’s learn about ORAC value. It is an acronym for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. The ORAC value is a number that represents the potential of the compound to react with an oxygen free radical. 

Why does this matter? And Why should you care? 

Consider it free information that will guide you to understand the vast products of skincare. 

Background

Developed by the National Institute on Aging at the National Institute of Health. 

It is a test tube analysis that measures the antioxidant capacity of different food and other chemical substances.

Early research found a link between eating high ORAC-value fruits and vegetables with the aging process of the brain and body - it slows it down. 

In theory, it is a helpful guide to rate the value of antioxidants in various sources. 

For practical purposes, it isn’t as accurate. Human studies have not proven accuracy. So, the health benefit hypothesized is left unproven. 

Still, it shouldn’t be all dismissed because it does provide valuable insight.

Let’s analyze in-depth what is ORAC Value. 

The value represented in ORAC is solely to measure the antioxidant power of foods to combat oxygen-free radicals. Its measuring unit is in micromoles Trolox equivalent/100 grams.

What does this mean? 

The body encounters many different types of free radicals. 

So what happens when dealing with chlorine-free radicals? 

Since the ORAC value doesn’t consider the different types of free radicals that cells encounter in your body daily, it is obsolete. 

A misconception of ORAC value is that it doesn’t provide insights into whether antioxidants are absorbed. For example, a tomato might rank low on the ORAC value compared to cloves, but it is highly absorbable - making it more efficient than cloves. 

Another imprecision is its performance in an environment free of water. ORAC value is observed under a water environment mostly. The human body has structures - cell membranes - that battle it out with free radicals where no water is present. Therefore, it isn’t a reliable measure of the ability of antioxidants to stop free radical damage at the cellular level. 

Use it as a guide to learn of the potential active antioxidant capacity of food sources or products that claim to combat free radicals. But it shouldn’t be your final approval of value to preserve your health. Just because an element has a high ORAC value doesn’t mean it will cure damaged cells. To put up a good fight against free radicals, consume different types of antioxidants to cover a broad spectrum of their benefits. 

So, what does this have to do with skincare? 

Glad you remembered. There’s a link between the two since many products claim to rejuvenate the skin. So, comprehending ORAC can help to make the best decision on what products to use for your skin.

One thing you can count on is our products. Trust ÆTHEION® to deliver high-quality solutions with rich nutrients that satisfy your skin. Learn about AETHEION's High ORAC Value

The Takeaway 

ORAC units measure different sources of antioxidants and categorize them by their potential to battle free radicals. There are a couple of factors to consider when looking over the chart with the higher number of antioxidants. 

Most studies have been in a test tube ambient. Observing the legit interaction, potential, and influence in the body is still undisclosed. And a higher ORAC value does not equal the best option; its absorption abilities could be low. 

But don’t leave it all to ORAC! 

The best recommendation is to enjoy and eat different sources of food & supplements of antioxidants to boost the health of your skin. A diverse, rich diet will be the best defense against aging and dysfunctions in your body. 

Want to see how your favorite fruits and veggies rank in the ORAC? Check out the list here. 

The impact antioxidants have on neutralizing free radicals is vital to slow down the aging state of the human body. So apart from following a healthy diet, treat your skin from the outside with our formulas. Visit our website!