The nice thing about this method is that it measures the antioxidant activity of a food rather than the levels of specific nutrients, such as vitamin C or E. There are thousands of unique antioxidant compounds in plants, most haven’t been discovered yet. There’s no way we could measure them all individually. This approach would also capture any synergistic effects between the various nutrients—ways in which nutrients are more effective in combination than they are individually.
This is not medical advice.
Note: The ORAC values in this list are normalized to 100 grams of weight (about 3.5 ounces) because that is the way in which the original database of information was presented. The intent is to ‘normalize’ the various items to simply compare ‘raw value’, NOT ‘amount per serving’.
ORAC Value list, Top 100
1 | Cloves, ground | 314,446 |
2 | Sumac bran | 312,400 |
3 | Cinnamon, ground | 267,536 |
4 | Sorghum, bran, raw | 240,000 |
5 | Oregano, dried | 200,129 |
6 | Turmeric, ground | 159,277 |
7 | Acai berry, freeze-dried | 102,700 |
8 | Sorghum, bran, black | 100,800 |
9 | Sumac, grain, raw | 86,800 |
10 | Cocoa powder, unsweetened | 80,933 |
11 | Cumin seed | 76,800 |
12 | Maqui berry, powder | 75,000 |
13 | Parsley, dried | 74,349 |
14 | Sorghum, bran, red | 71,000 |
15 | Basil, dried | 67,553 |
16 | Baking chocolate, unsweetened | 49,926 |
17 | Curry powder | 48,504 |
18 | Sorghum, grain, hi-tannin | 45,400 |
19 | Chocolate, dutched powder | 40,200 |
20 | Maqui berry, juice | 40,000 |
21 | Sage | 32,004 |
22 | Mustard seed, yellow | 29,257 |
23 | Ginger, ground | 28,811 |
24 | Pepper, black | 27,618 |
25 | Thyme, fresh | 27,426 |
26 | Marjoram, fresh | 27,297 |
27 | Goji berries | 25,300 |
28 | Rice bran, crude | 24,287 |
29 | Chili powder | 23,636 |
30 | Sorghum, grain, black | 21,900 |
31 | Chocolate, dark | 20,823 |
32 | Flax hull lignans | 19,600 |
33 | Chocolate, semisweet | 18,053 |
34 | Pecans | 17,940 |
35 | Paprika | 17,919 |
36 | Chokeberry, raw | 16,062 |
37 | Tarragon, fresh | 15,542 |
38 | Ginger root, raw | 14,840 |
39 | Elderberries, raw | 14,697 |
40 | Sorghum, grain, red | 14,000 |
41 | Peppermint, fresh | 13,978 |
42 | Oregano, fresh | 13,978 |
43 | Walnuts | 13,541 |
44 | Hazelnuts | 9,645 |
45 | Cranberries, raw | 9,584 |
46 | Pears, dried | 9,496 |
47 | Savory, fresh | 9,465 |
48 | Artichokes | 9,416 |
49 | Kidney beans, red | 8,459 |
50 | Pink beans | 8,320 |
51 | Black beans | 8,040 |
52 | Pistachio nuts | 7,983 |
53 | Currants | 7,960 |
54 | Pinto beans | 7,779 |
55 | Plums | 7,581 |
56 | Chocolate, milk chocolate | 7,528 |
57 | Lentils | 7,282 |
58 | Agave, dried | 7,274 |
59 | Apples, dried | 6,681 |
60 | Garlic powder | 6,665 |
61 | Blueberries | 6,552 |
62 | Prunes | 6,552 |
63 | Sorghum, bran, white | 6,400 |
64 | Lemon balm, leaves | 5,997 |
65 | Soybeans | 5,764 |
66 | Onion powder | 5,735 |
67 | Blackberries | 5,347 |
68 | Garlic, raw | 5,346 |
69 | Cilantro leaves | 5,141 |
70 | Wine, Cabernet Sauvignon | 5,034 |
71 | Raspberries | 4,882 |
72 | Basil, fresh | 4,805 |
73 | Almonds | 4,454 |
74 | Dill weed | 4,392 |
75 | Cowpeas | 4,343 |
76 | Apples, red delicious | 4,275 |
77 | Peaches, dried | 4,222 |
78 | Raisins, white | 4,188 |
79 | Apples, granny smith | 3,898 |
80 | Dates | 3,895 |
81 | Wine, red | 3,873 |
82 | Strawberries | 3,577 |
83 | Peanut butter, smooth | 3,432 |
84 | Currants, red | 3,387 |
85 | Figs | 3,383 |
86 | Cherries | 3,365 |
87 | Gooseberries | 3,277 |
88 | Apricots, dried | 3,234 |
89 | Peanuts, all types | 3,166 |
90 | Cabbage, red | 3,145 |
91 | Broccoli | 3,083 |
92 | Apples | 3,082 |
93 | Raisins | 3,037 |
94 | Pears | 2,941 |
95 | Agave | 2,938 |
96 | Blueberry juice | 2,906 |
97 | Cardamom | 2,764 |
98 | Guava | 2,550 |
99 | Lettuce, red leaf | 2,380 |
100 | Concord grape juice | 2,377 |
ORAC Value (umol TE) | 10983 - 10g serving |