The word antioxidant is not a fancy coined term. It perfectly expresses what this large class of compounds does: prevents harmful oxidation caused by free radicals, which are rogue molecules that can cumulatively cause cellular, organ and systemic damage.

Many believe that consuming antioxidant supplements in addition to the daily multivitamin-mineral complex is essential to health preservation for the long term. And, antioxidants are plentiful in a host of new beverages, breakfast foods, snacks and even in topical products to combat signs of aging. This is not merely a trend, but becoming commonplace on shelves and through internet shops.

Because antioxidants are literally comprised of hundreds of phytochemicals, each with its own specific exact mechanism of action, consumers can easily be overwhelmed by the science. However, consumers respond favorably to products whose labels blare “contains antioxidants!” Mintel’s Global New Products Database shows that in the U.S., product launches featuring antioxidants climbed steeply from 106 in 2006, to 131 in 2007 and 262 in 2008. A study appearing in Food Quality and Preference (2008, v 19, pp 525-538) showed that 63 percent of respondents (aged 35 to 44) rated antioxidants as ingredients in functional foods as the most important attribute.

Antioxidants counteract the damaging, but normal, effects of the physiological process of oxidation in tissue.  When free radicals produced in the body become overwhelming, this causes oxidative stress. Technically speaking, free radicals are active atoms with electron imbalances and are therefore charged. Known biological free radicals are: superoxide anion, hydroxyl radical, transition metals such as iron and copper, nitric acid, and ozone. Some free radicals contain oxygen and these are known as reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are tagged as the most biologically significant of the free radical family.

Free radicals are very unstable in the body because they have one or more unpaired electrons. This natural imbalance causes them to focus on either grabbing or donating electrons, causing disruption and damage of healthy cells, proteins and DNA. Free radicals are like marauders running amok in the body trying to steal what they want and foist off what they don’t.  One cannot live a free radical-free life; it’s just part of existence.

Antioxidants work to prevent the marauders from marauding in two basic ways: chain-breaking and preventing.

Chain-breaking is just that, the action of a free radical’s quest for electron equality creates new free radicals. Antioxidants halts the chain. Preventive antioxidants literally prevent oxidation by decreasing the rate of chain initiation by scavenging initiating free radicals. These also work to stabilize transition metal radicals like iron and copper.

Either way, once the antioxidant performs, it too becomes oxidized, so antioxidants need consistent replenishment. It’s easy to see why consuming antioxidant supplements every day is a wise idea.

You’ve seen this on labels and literature and in the trade and consumer media. For those who don’t quite cotton to high-tech science, we can help you get a clear grasp of how this score demonstrates the viability of the antioxidant when it’s in vivo (you).

ORAC was created by physician and chemist Dr. Guohua Cao to essentially quantify strength/viability of individual antioxidants all grouped together in a vast class. ORAC is an acronym for “Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity” which is determined by test tube analysis that shows its strength in its ability to neutralize (eliminate) oxygen free radicals. The higher the score, the stronger its ability; it is usually expressed as “XXXX (number) micromoles TE per gram.” Keep in mind that oxygen radicals are biochemicals formed inside the body through the process of oxidation – look no further than how quickly the flesh of a cut apple turns brown – that’s oxidation. Another easy example is rust on metal.

Obviously, the higher the score, the more free-radical fighting ability the antioxidant has. Consuming the typical “five-a-day” of fruits and vegetables would give a total ORAC score of 1750 units and it will not harm to double or treble that unit each day. In fact, experts suggest that consuming about 5,000 units a day will have a significant positive impact on plasma and tissue antioxidant levels.

The ORAC system gives consumers an easy benchmark for selection and shows a scientific standardization. The nutritional products manufacturing industry continues to become more and more standardized, which translates into reliable quality for the consumer; ORAC is the antioxidant standard.