Wolfberries (Fructus Lycii) at a reasonable price

[Guest guest]

Many of us have seen the table of ORAC's/calorie that has

been posted several times.

http://optimalhealth.cia.com.au/OracLevels.htm

Wolfberries (Fructus Lycii) are listed as having the second highest

ORAC's per calorie (633 ORAC's/calorie), behind #1 Clove Oil.

(ORAC = Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, one way to measure the

antioxidant capacity of foods)

Another method is the FRAP method--see

http://www.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/132/3/461

for a very good article on the antioxidant content of foods using the

FRAP method).

I don't think that many of us consume clove oil. Perhaps

those with culinary expertise know how to use cloves

without burning their mucous membranes. I have seen one post which

as a side note mentioned using cloves, but don't recall

any details.

A post on using cloves would be highly appreciated, as apparently

they have more ORAC's per calorie than any other " food " .

After the initial posting of the ORAC table, I was excited about

procuring Wolfberries, but was taken aback by their more than

$20/pound price on the internet sites.

However, I asked one of our local 'oriental stores' to order them,

which they did, direct from China. It took a few months for them to

come in, but now that the store has established a relationship with

the vendor in China, they carry a steady supply, and are popular with

the customers.

Interestingly, the price is only $4.00/pound, less than one-fifth the

price that I have seen on the internet. (However, for the $20+

dollars per pound on the internet, you can get organically grown

wolfberries).

They come dried, somewhat similar to raisins, but red, and flatter

and a little longer than raisins. They taste good--as sweet or

somewhat less sweet than raisins, depending on the crop. I soak them

overnight before consuming them, as they are super dry and a little

difficult to chew without soaking.

Interestingly, I asked the clerk at the store about their use by the

Chinese. She told me that they are a traditional food in China,

thought of as having medicinal value, often put into soups, and that

they have a very high antioxidant content !!

Other foods very high in ORAC's per calorie:

Four herbs/spices take places #3-6 (thyme oil, oregano oil, mountain

savory oil, cinnamon bark oil, with 177, 170, 126 and 115

ORAC's/calorie, respectively). Anybody using these oils? What

sources do you procure them from (it's important NOT to ingest the

type of oils used in aromatherapy, sometimes called 'essential oils'?

Of course we can use the spices instead of the oils, but I'm not big

on using spices/herbs on foods, as I prefer the natural flavor of the

food.

#7 is " Yellow squash " , at 58/calorie (I'm not sure which type of

yellow squash they are referring to, possibly the 'zucchini type

yellow squash'??)

#8 Raw Spinach, with 57 ORAC's/calorie

#9 Strawberries, with 51/calorie

#10 Pomegranates, with 49/calorie, my personal favorite

#11 Blueberries, with 43/calorie

#12 Cranberries, with 42/calorie

#13 Steamed spinach, with 40/cal

#14 Blackberries, with 39/calorie

#15 Kale, with 35/calorie

#16/17 Alfalfa sprouts, with 32/calorie

#16/17 Broccoli flowers, also with 32/calorie

#18 Eucalyptus oil, at 27/cal (anybody consume this??)

#19 Red bell peppers, at 26/calorie

#20 Raspberries, at 25/calorie

The ORAC and FRAP levels of foods can be used as one factor in food

selection for a healthy diet.

rjb112@...

bob bessen

[Guest guest]

I've used oregano oil, sparingly, as it's quite potent, in salad dishes,

etc.

>From: " RJB112 " <rjb112@...>

>Reply-

>

>Subject: [ ] Wolfberries (Fructus Lycii) at a reasonable price

>Date: Sun, 29 Feb 2004 04:33:42 -0000

>

>Many of us have seen the table of ORAC's/calorie that has

>been posted several times.

>

>http://optimalhealth.cia.com.au/OracLevels.htm

>

>Wolfberries (Fructus Lycii) are listed as having the second highest

>ORAC's per calorie (633 ORAC's/calorie), behind #1 Clove Oil.

>

>(ORAC = Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, one way to measure the

>antioxidant capacity of foods)

>

>Another method is the FRAP method--see

>

>http://www.nutrition.org/cgi/content/full/132/3/461

>

>for a very good article on the antioxidant content of foods using the

>FRAP method).

>

>I don't think that many of us consume clove oil. Perhaps

>those with culinary expertise know how to use cloves

>without burning their mucous membranes. I have seen one post which

>as a side note mentioned using cloves, but don't recall

>any details.

>

>A post on using cloves would be highly appreciated, as apparently

>they have more ORAC's per calorie than any other " food " .

>

>After the initial posting of the ORAC table, I was excited about

>procuring Wolfberries, but was taken aback by their more than

>$20/pound price on the internet sites.

>

>However, I asked one of our local 'oriental stores' to order them,

>which they did, direct from China. It took a few months for them to

>come in, but now that the store has established a relationship with

>the vendor in China, they carry a steady supply, and are popular with

>the customers.

>

>Interestingly, the price is only $4.00/pound, less than one-fifth the

>price that I have seen on the internet. (However, for the $20+

>dollars per pound on the internet, you can get organically grown

>wolfberries).

>

>They come dried, somewhat similar to raisins, but red, and flatter

>and a little longer than raisins. They taste good--as sweet or

>somewhat less sweet than raisins, depending on the crop. I soak them

>overnight before consuming them, as they are super dry and a little

>difficult to chew without soaking.

>

>Interestingly, I asked the clerk at the store about their use by the

>Chinese. She told me that they are a traditional food in China,

>thought of as having medicinal value, often put into soups, and that

>they have a very high antioxidant content !!

>

>Other foods very high in ORAC's per calorie:

>

>Four herbs/spices take places #3-6 (thyme oil, oregano oil, mountain

>savory oil, cinnamon bark oil, with 177, 170, 126 and 115

>ORAC's/calorie, respectively). Anybody using these oils? What

>sources do you procure them from (it's important NOT to ingest the

>type of oils used in aromatherapy, sometimes called 'essential oils'?

>Of course we can use the spices instead of the oils, but I'm not big

>on using spices/herbs on foods, as I prefer the natural flavor of the

>food.

>

>#7 is " Yellow squash " , at 58/calorie (I'm not sure which type of

>yellow squash they are referring to, possibly the 'zucchini type

>yellow squash'??)

>

>#8 Raw Spinach, with 57 ORAC's/calorie

>#9 Strawberries, with 51/calorie

>#10 Pomegranates, with 49/calorie, my personal favorite

>#11 Blueberries, with 43/calorie

>#12 Cranberries, with 42/calorie

>#13 Steamed spinach, with 40/cal

>#14 Blackberries, with 39/calorie

>#15 Kale, with 35/calorie

>#16/17 Alfalfa sprouts, with 32/calorie

>#16/17 Broccoli flowers, also with 32/calorie

>#18 Eucalyptus oil, at 27/cal (anybody consume this??)

>#19 Red bell peppers, at 26/calorie

>#20 Raspberries, at 25/calorie

>

>The ORAC and FRAP levels of foods can be used as one factor in food

>selection for a healthy diet.

>

>rjb112@...

>bob bessen

>

>