Six years ago, government scientists announced what may be
most important news of your lifetime. Did you get memo? _____________________________What if you could actually slow your rate of aging, and live healthier longer, simply by eating certain foods? U.S. Government scientists now say it’s possible.
Floyd P. Horn, then Administrator of scientific research arm of USDA, broke exciting news in February 1999.
“Young and middle-aged people,” said Horn, “may be able to reduce risk of diseases of aging -- including senility -- simply by adding high-ORAC foods to their diets.”
I don’t know about you, but I find that statement tremendously exciting: “simply by adding high-ORAC foods.”
Buddy, Can You Spare Some ORAC?
Unfortunately, most Americans have no idea that there may be a simple solution to preventing- or at least postponing- ravages of decline, disease, and feeble old age.
ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. It’s a test developed by USDA and Tufts University to measure antioxidant speed and power of foods and supplements. The ORAC test is quickly becoming accepted standard for comparing antioxidant capacity.
And as you may know, oxidative stress, or free-radical damage, is implicated in all diseases associated with aging, including cancer, heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and diabetes- a short list of 5 major killers of Americans.
She Told You So
An easier way to understand ORAC is to look at particular foods. Let’s take spinach, for example. We all know spinach is good for us. Mom said so. And Popeye.
When USDA scientists tested spinach, they found it has an ORAC value of 1260 units per serving. So spinach qualifies as a “high-ORAC food,” which may help slow aging process.
It turns out Mom was right. She knew it would keep you healthier. But she probably never told you that spinach may keep you younger- to actually help you age more slowly.
Sound Alarm
We have an epidemic of age-related disease in America. The statistics are shocking. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control) in Atlanta now says that 80% of elderly Americans have at least one chronic disease. And 50% have two or more!
