Antioxidant compounds that help resist the effects of aging long have been known to exist in fruits and vegetables. The USDA's assay, oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), quantifies the antioxidant capacity of foods. Oranges and broccoli, both known as antioxidants, have, respectively, 750 and 890 ORAC units per 100g. But raisins have 2,830 ORAC units per 100g! The average diet, with five servings of fruits and vegetables a day, provides an ORAC score of 1700 units—the same as two ounces of raisins. Plus raisins are fat-free, an excellent energy source and a good source of inulin, which promotes colon health. California Raisin Marketing Board, 559-248-0287, info@raisins.org, www.calraisins.org
Raisin the Bar
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