ORAC Scores

 

One of the legitimate health concerns today is the presence of free radicals in our bodies. These are molecular scavengers that rob healthy cells of electrons, making them unhealthy by doing so. (Free radicals are famous for possibly leading to cancer among other things.) By consuming healthy antioxidants, we're consuming molecules that can safely donate electrons to free radicals and eliminate their harmful qualities.

 

The most popular method for determining antioxidant capacity is called an ORAC score. This stands for "Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity." (The capacity for something to "absorb" or eliminate oxidative free radicals.) Vitamins A, C, and E are all considered antioxidants, as are many phytonutrients, such as those found in various fruits, vegetables ... and of course, cacao.

 

These, however, are only SUPPORTIVE of the primary antioxidant system of the body, which is built-in for our survival. I believe it is critical to focus first on keeping this internal system in optimal shape, THEN to support it with food and -- if there's still budget and a desire to do so -- with supplements.

 

As I discuss on the health supplements page, it's also important that we get a wide variety of nutrients, including all of our macro and micro vitamins and minerals. These, along with adequate antioxidant support, are key to good supplementation, followed by more specific needs depending on diet and health.

Having said that, cacao scores among the top ORAC foods available, and a single piece of really healthy dark chocolate can provide all the nutritional ORAC support needed for an entire day! Experts believe that getting between 3000 and 5000 ORAC units a day is optimal, and that getting more than this may be redundant, in the sense that they're just passed through the body.

 

But again, since ORAC isn't the only thing to consider, it's important to remember how many other nutrients cacao (and thus dark chocolate) offers. Among them is magnesium, which is the #1 deficiency among macro minerals in the average American diet. In fact, cacao may be the #1 food source for magnesium.

 

Hopefully, this page eliminates some of the mystique surrounding ORAC scores. They are useful, but not all powerful, not all important. Keep in mind the body's need for many nutrients. And then remember that I've said that healthy chocolate is NOT the first supplement you ought to be investing in; but that if you're buying chocolate anyway, this is a great way to eat chocolate on a daily basis and actually do your body a favor along the way!

 

So now with a basic understanding of free radicals and antioxidants, let's take a look at the next important topic as background to choosing healthy chocolate: organic foods.