Best Antioxidant Foods And ORAC Values

Updated: May 2026

Antioxidants in food are measured using a scale called Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC). The ORAC value given to a substance represents its antioxidant capacity in laboratory testing. The higher the score, the greater the measured antioxidant activity — currently the highest known ORAC score belongs to sorghum, at 312,400.

What Is an Antioxidant?

Some foods contain compounds that can help counter the process of oxidation. Oxidation happens when body cells become unbalanced and change into a free radical.

Like all molecules, the molecules that make up the body consist of a proton orbited by pairs of electrons. An oxidised molecule loses one of its electrons. Antioxidants are compounds the body uses to help reverse oxidisation and support the repair of damaged cells — hence the name.

An Antioxidant Definition

A working definition of an antioxidant:

‘A naturally occurring substance found in food and other organic materials that can help prevent and counter the oxidation of cells in the body.’

Best Antioxidant Foods

Many foods contain notable levels of antioxidants — some familiar, some less so. When looking at a food’s ORAC score, it’s worth keeping perspective: ORAC value is one measure of antioxidant capacity, but it is not the only factor that determines how nutritionally useful a food is. A varied, balanced diet that incorporates different food groups is more important than focusing on any single high-ORAC ingredient.

Here are a selection of foods and their relative ORAC scores:

Everyday Foods

• Broccoli 3,083
• Pomegranate juice 2,681
• Golden Delicious Apples 2,670
• Cauliflower 2,210
• Oranges 2,103

High-ORAC Superfoods

• Turmeric 127,168
• Açaí Berries 102,700
• Sumac 312,400
• Wheatgrass 40,100
• Mangosteen 19,980
• Goji Berries 3,290

To put these values in context, the USDA recommends a daily intake of approximately 3,000 ORAC units. A portion of açaí berries or a teaspoon of turmeric powder will comfortably meet this in a single serving.

Acerola cherry is another notable entry — one of the highest natural sources of vitamin C and rich in polyphenols. Our guide to acerola cherry and vitamin C covers its nutritional profile in detail. For wheatgrass and spirulina in context, our green superfoods guide compares the two.

What Are Free Radicals?

Free radicals begin as normal cells. When oxidation occurs, the cell loses one of its electrons. Since electrons exist in pairs, a molecule with an odd number of electrons becomes unstable.

An unstable free radical becomes a reactive and potentially damaging force in the body. The immune system can use antioxidant compounds to stabilise these cells, returning them to their normal state. A diet rich in antioxidant-containing foods supports this process by maintaining an adequate supply of these compounds in the body.

Polyphenols

Polyphenols are a large family of plant compounds that act as antioxidants. They are found in high concentrations in berries, tea, dark chocolate, olive oil, and vegetables. Like other antioxidants, polyphenols help counter oxidative stress — a process linked to cellular ageing and a range of health conditions.

Oxidative stress occurs when free radical activity outpaces the body’s ability to neutralise it. A diet rich in polyphenol-containing foods is one of the most well-studied ways of supporting the body’s antioxidant defences. The polyphenol epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is particularly associated with green tea and has been widely researched for its antioxidant properties.

Explore our organic supplements range for our full selection of antioxidant-rich whole foods and extracts.