Q: I’ve read that nuts are rich in antioxidants. How do Georgia Pecans rate compared to other foods?
A: Pecans are actually one of the most antioxidant-packed foods you can find. A recent laboratory analysis and comparison of the antioxidant power of 100 foods done by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, using a method called ORAC (short for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity), found that pecans ranked among the top twenty foods for antioxidant capacity. They were also found to be the highest among the nuts tested, containing more antioxidant capacity than either almonds or walnuts. But pecans also pose stiff antioxidant competition for several fruits and vegetables that have long had reputations for being the ultimate sources for dietary antioxidants. For example, according to the USDA analysis, 1 ounce of pecans (20 halves) provides more antioxidant power than 1/2 cup of blueberries, strawberries or raspberries, more than 1/2 cup of fresh cranberries, and more than 1 whole sweet potato. The antioxidant compounds found naturally in pecans, including vitamin E, ellagic acid and flavonoids, are believed to help prevent disease-causing oxidation in cells. Such oxidative damage has been linked to developing a wide variety of diseases including heart disease, cancer and Alzheimer’s. Making Georgia pecans a regular part of diet is a smart health move.
