Blueberries, Blackberries, Acai Berries And More

Blueberries
Blueberries are really a no-brainer if you’re looking for a fruit high in antioxidants. A favorite pie ingredient of North American grandmothers. They are available at most any grocery store in the US and the cheapest of those on our list. I personally eat a bowl of them a day just because I enjoy the taste so much. The ORAC rating for one cup of cultivated blueberries has been listed at 9019.[1] The ORAC rating for one cup of wild blueberries is listed at 13427.[1]
2. Blackberries
Blackberries are also quite common, though they can be slightly harder to find than blueberries. Typically you will find blackberries in a mix of other berries such as blueberries and raspberries. Their ORAC rating is slightly lower than that of blueberries at 7701 per one cup serving.[1]
3. Cherries
Everyone’s heard of cherries, those unmistakable sweet, shiny red berries. However not everyone realizes what a great source of antioxidants they are. Next time you dive into a cherry pie, you’ll be happy to know it’s helping to ward off free radicals. One cup of cherries has been determined to have an ORAC rating of 4873 which puts them a few steps below blueberries, but they’re so tasty you’ll probably end up eating twice as many anyway![1]
4. Wolfberries
Cultivated and eaten for centuries in China, wolfberries are relatively unknown outside the region. Wolfberries are probably more recognizable by the name goji berries in North America where they have been marketed as a miracle berry in a way similar to acai and noni. While they surely have high antioxidant value, the actual ORAC rating has not yet been confirmed by an independent study.
5. Acai berries
All the rage on the internet these days, acai berry is the latest “miracle” berry. There is no doubting the high levels of antioxidants and phytochemicals they contain, the exact ORAC rating has not been determined by an independent organization. It should be assumed the rating is somewhere near or above that of blueberries. The acai berry originated from South America, namely Brazil where it has been cultivated for hundreds of years and is consumed in a variety of ways.
6. Noni berries
Noni berries, also known as Indian mulberries or great morinda are most prominently cultivated in Tahiti. Probably the most unknown berry in our list, but quickly gaining commercial popularity throughout the world. While touted for their high ORAC value by various companies selling their juice, it has been determined the value may not actually be so high relative to more common fruits such as oranges.[2]
The ORAC rating of a fruit is not the only value you should consider when determining its nutritional value. There are many more factors to take into account such as anti-inflammatory xanthone and flavonoid content. A wise choice would be to alternate consumption of several different fruits to receive the unique benefits of each.
Reference:
1. Nutrient Data Laboratory, Agriculture Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) of Selected Foods – 2007.
2. Nutrient composition of the blended Noni Juice, a PDF file located on-line at http://ec.europa.eu/food/fs/sc/scf/out151_en.pdf

Wind Turbines And The Direction Of Renewable Energy

Wind turbines are popping up all over the world. It is not unusual to find single windmills or acres of wind turbines creating clean energy these days. This energy producing alternative is costly to install, but very effective in reducing the price of energy for consumers over time.

This type of natural power is clean energy, but what exactly does that mean? Wind turbines do not rely on fossil fuels or natural gas to produce energy and therefore do not deplete the earth of its natural resources. This power can be directly acquired from the country in which it is generated, cutting importing costs and further reducing prices for the consumer.

The economic growth of the industry also lies in the manufacture of the windmills themselves. The more in demand they are, the more economic and employment growth will develop. This growth not only depends on building the actual windmills, but also on manufacturing the batteries, capacitors, and cables which store and transmit the energy accumulated by these rotating giants.

It has been predicted that by the year 2030, many of these wind farms will be set offshore. The huge turbines would almost not be seen above water, but the power they would produce could be immense. This is a first of its kind innovation and is reported to be somewhat stalled in the bureaucratic phase for the time being.

Batteries will ensure that the turbines will continue to move even when the force of the wind is significantly reduced. By contrast, the East Coast wind farms will probably never suffer from a lack of power source. These farms will be highly productive and the predicted outlook is excellent for the immediate future and long-term future.

Huge offshore cables, called “spines”, are buried in shallow trenches under the sea to transport the collected energy to the mainland. Initial reports indicate that this development could possibly produce enough energy to sufficiently power the entire Eastern seaboard. The cable is being laid now, even before the windmills are planted.

The amount of energy created by these offshore farms is predicted to significantly reduce the load of the current energy grid in the Northeastern US. The cost of this project is said to be in the high multi-billion dollar range, which is causing some delay. There are other significant factors, however, which are also delaying the progress of this project.

Fishermen make their living off the North American eastern coast and studies are being conducted regarding the reconciliation of the two industries. Another problem being faced is the fact that there are sacred burial grounds submerged in the sea there, which should not be disturbed. A third hindrance is the assumption by special interests groups that this development will destroy the beautiful view off the East Coast, who are lobbying to stop the project.

Wind turbines are one of the safest and cleanest means of generating energy, providing economic growth and reducing the load on the current energy grid. Along with solar power and thermal heat, it is a viable and sustainable solution to our energy crisis. There is significant growth in the wind-turbine industry all around the globe. There are many online sites with information regarding the direction in which renewable energy efforts are headed for the immediate and long-range future.