Alternatives To Acai Berry

The acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) berry (Euterpe oleracea Mart) is the fruit of the Amazonian palm berry tree. This fruit is rich in polyphenols, an antioxidant that the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition says may protect against cancers and heart conditions.
According to Oracvalues.com, "Antioxidant values of foods are expressed in ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) units, a unit of measurement for antioxidants developed by the National Institute on Aging in the National Institutes of Health (NIH)." The acai has an ORAC value of 102,700 per 100 grams. Some of the known antioxidants in the acai berry are anthocyanins and polyphenols.

Goji or "Wolfberry"

Another popular berry, the goji, from Southeastern Europe and Asia. is very high in antioxidants. It is an oval red berry that looks like a tiny plum tomato. According to Oracvalues.com, its ORAC value is 25,300.
Goji berries are packed with other valuable nutrients, according to the website Goji Health. Goji berries contain vitamins, minerals, protein and amino acids. The European Journal of Pharmacology published a study stating that goji berries possess "potential therapeutic efficacy in cancer."

Blueberry

Similar in size and shape to the acai berry, the blueberry is packed with antioxidants as well as other vitamins and beneficial nutrients. According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), blueberries contain 2400 ORAC units. According to NutritionData.com, the blueberry contains vitamins A and C along with iron, protein, calcium and fiber. According to the Linus Pauling Institute (LPI) at Oregon State University, 100 grams of blueberry contains 67 to 183 mg of anthocyanins.

Black Raspberry

According to a study published in a 2006 issue of the journal Nutrition and Cancer, black raspberry showed a significant ability to inhibit certain cancers. The chemopreventative ability appears due in part to the berry's ability to stop some key cancer-promoting mechanisms. According to the Berry Health Benefits Network, black raspberries have an ORAC value of 168. Regular raspberries have an ORAC value of 1220, according to the USDA.

Red Grapes

According to the USDA, red grapes have an ORAC value of 739. NutritionData.com states that red grapes contain vitamins A and C, as well as protein, fiber, calcium and iron. The LPI says that 100 grams of red grapes contains between 25 and 92 mg of anthocyanins.

Prunes

Most noted as an excellent source of dietary fiber, the USDA states that prunes are very high in antioxidants, with an ORAC value of 5770 per 100 grams. Prunes contain vitamins A and C, as well as protein, iron and calcium.