Anti-Oxidants

Tart cherry juice scores highest in antioxidant capacity.

Researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing, Michigan, were the first to identify the presence of numerous natural compounds in tart cherries with antioxidant properties. Dr. Muraleedharan Nair is the lead researcher on many of the projects at MSU.

• There also are three powerful anthocyanins in tart cherries. These anthocyanins, called anthocyanin 1, 2 and 3.
• Many middle-aged and elderly consumers are choosing to drink cherry juice or eat cherries for their well being.
• The anthocyanins also may support artery health  and support heart health. In fact, the research shows that anthocyanins do a better job of protecting arteries than vitamins C and E.

Antioxidants and so much more

Tart cherry juice concentrate scored highest of all fruits and vegetables in recently conducted extensive nautracuetical evaluations and ORAC testing by Brunswick Laboratories.

Tart cherry products were tested for what are called "ORAC values." ORAC stands for oxygen radical absorption capacity and is a measure of how many antioxidants are in a food product and how powerful they are. While the science-based research shows that tart cherries are loaded with antioxidants we never had a number - or an ORAC value - to register the exact amount.

The testing showed that tart cherry juice concentrate has 12,800 ORAC units per 100 grams of concentrate; dried cherries have 6,800 ORAC units per 100 grams. Both of these are very high values, significantly higher than other fruits, including prunes, blueberries and strawberries. The ORAC value for frozen tart cherries is 2,033 units and 1,700 units for canned tart cherries. Other fruits that have been tested range from 700 to 5,700 ORAC units per 100 grams. Nutritionists suggest that people consume at least 3,000 to 5,000 ORAC units per day to impact health.

During the testing of tart cherry products, Brunswick Labs discovered, for the first time, that tart cherries contain a class of compounds that act like super oxide dismutase (SOD), which is a powerful enzyme and cellular antioxidant. It acts as a super scavenger of superoxide anions by ferreting out and destroying them throughout the body. The human body is often lacking SOD, thus the burden of defense often relies on intake of exogenous dietary antioxidants. Very few natural foods contain SOD.

In addition, tart cherries were found to contain significant levels of antioxidant activities against peroxyl radicals, peroxylnitrite, hydroxyl radicals (known as NORAC and HORAC).

Why antioxidants and other natural compounds are important

Antioxidants are vitamins, minerals and other compounds found in foods that can help slow down or prevent the oxidation process. There are at least 17 compounds in tart cherries with antioxidant properties. Antioxidants help prevent or repair damage done to the body's cells by free radicals. Antioxidants are critical for maintaining good health and most of us do not get enough of them!

Antioxidants found in tart cherries

Dr. Muralee Nair, associate professor with the Bioactive Natural Products Laboratory in the Department of Horticulture and National Food Safety and Toxicology Center at MSU, isolated various components of tart cherries.

"The antioxidant activity of the tart cherry compounds, under our evaluation systems, is superior when compared to vitamin E, vitamin C and some synthetic antioxidants."

In particular, there are three anthocyanins associated with the bright red color of tart cherries that are excellent antioxidants. However, as many as 14 other compounds in tart cherries also have antioxidant activity.

What you need to know about antioxidants

Based on scientific evidence, daily antioxidant intake should increase to 3,000 to 5,000 ORAC units per day to reach a significant antioxidant capacity in blood plasma and other tissues. According to the U. S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), current intake is about 1,200 units per day.

What Are Antioxidants?

From a chemical point of view, anti-oxidants are substances that prevent or slow down oxidation reactions. Since there are many different oxidation reactions, from the oxidation of iron to rust, to the transformation of lipids to peroxides, there is no single substance that is a universal anti-oxidant. Each different oxidation reaction will have particular requirements to stop the reaction.

Aging and antioxidant protection

Several theories have been proposed to account for age-related changes in cell functioning and physiological capability. The free radical theory is perhaps the strongest and best established theory to scientifically account for many age-related changes. Free radicals are molecules with one or more unpaired electrons; they seek stability by taking electrons from other molecules (a process called oxidation). As a consequence, free radicals damage the molecules from which they take electrons, leading to cell damage, impaired functioning . The prime molecules in the body that are damaged by free radicals are DNA, lipids and proteins.