The U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) has come up with a scale called ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) that measures the antioxidant level in foods.
Antioxidants protect our bodies from free radicals that cause aging and illnesses. Most people only get about 20% of the recommended intake of antioxidant (3000 ORAC units a day). This means that you must add foods rich in antioxidants in your diet.
Although experts disagree on the top 5 list of antioxidants, even using the ORAC scale, the berries and fruits mentioned below are very rich in antioxidants and have up to 20 times the antioxidant power of other foods!
Antioxidants are vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients that protect and repair cells from damage caused by free radicals. If you eat foods rich in antioxidants, you will help keep your immune system strong, making you better able to ward off colds, flu, and other infections as well as some chronic diseases.