🩺🌿 IT’S NOT BLUEBERRIES — CLOVES RANK AS THE MOST ANTIOXIDANT-RICH FOOD

USDA and peer-reviewed research show spices outperform berries in antioxidant capacity, though experts urge moderation and context.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s antioxidant database and scientific reviews, cloves rank as the food with the highest measured antioxidant capacity, far surpassing blueberries and other popular “superfoods.”

Cloves — a common kitchen spice — rank as the food with the highest antioxidant capacity based on ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) values, according to data compiled by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and reviewed in scientific literature. Cloves recorded an ORAC score of 314,446 μmol TE per 100 grams, more than ten times higher than blueberries.

By comparison, blueberries — often promoted as a leading antioxidant food — have an ORAC value of approximately 9,621 μmol TE per 100 grams, according to the same USDA data. Other high-ranking foods include cinnamon (267,536), dried oregano (200,129), and turmeric (159,277).

Researchers attribute the antioxidant strength of cloves largely to eugenol, a bioactive compound shown in laboratory studies to have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde, while turmeric’s primary compound is curcumin, both widely studied in nutritional science.

Studies published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry note that antioxidants help neutralize oxidative stress at the cellular level, a process associated with chronic inflammation and aging. Scientists emphasize, however, that ORAC values measure antioxidant capacity in vitro and do not directly translate into disease prevention.

Health experts caution that high antioxidant scores do not mean a single food can prevent conditions such as cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, or heart disease. Instead, antioxidants are considered part of a broader dietary pattern that supports overall health.

Nutrition researchers note that small amounts of spices — as little as half a teaspoon per day — can significantly boost dietary antioxidant intake without adding substantial calories. Still, they stress that a balanced diet remains more important than focusing on any single “superfood.”