“NEEM: A hands on guide to one of the world’s most versatile herbs”
”ANTIOXIDANTS
One of the hottest topics in the natural food industry is antioxidants, probably because they play a critical role in preventing damage that plays a significant role in initiating chronic degenerative diseases like atherosclerosis, diabetes, heart disease Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s as well as speeding up the plain old (pun intended!) process of aging.
Oxidative stress is a natural process that occurs as cells produce energy. Free radicals, a by-product of this process, damage cells (including DNA) and tissue. The problem occurs when the body’s resources for quenching these free radicals or repairing the damage they cause aren’t adequate. Antioxidants are in many foods and many of the health benefits of foods like blueberries, broccoli and cranberrries are directly related to their antioxidant levels.
The ORAC test (oxygen radical absorbance capacity), described online at www.usingneem.com, shows that all forms of neem are extraordinarily high in antioxidants, far higher than foods on the high antioxidant lists. Along with its immune-boosting properties, high antioxidant levels may help to explain why neem is known around the world as “the village pharmacy”.
NUTRIENT ORAC per gram
Blueberries 62.20
Broccoli 15.90
Cranberry 94.56
Grapefruit 15.48
Neem Leaf 357.00
Plums 62.39
Spinach 26.40
Tomatoes 4.60
