Red Delicious Apple Has Higher ORAC Than MonaVie

You might have seen MonaVie and an Apple compared before (also done here).

MonaVie has used ORAC scores as one of its core marketing strategies. It has even gone as far as to lie about the ORAC score of MonaVie. Also Dr. Jonny Bowden specifically wrote about the value of MonaVie’s ORAC score. MonaVie even uses ORAC scores to claim that four ounces is the antioxidant equivalent of eating 13 common fruits.

This begs question, “How does MonaVie’s ORAC score compare with that of an apple?”

As we know one day’s worth (4oz.) of MonaVie costs between $3.20 (distributor price of $20/25oz. bottle) and $7.20 (retail price of $45/25oz. bottle). A single Red Delicious apple typically costs about $0.75.

The 4oz. of MonaVie has a ORAC of 2,698 umoles (29.57 ml per oz multiplied by 4 oz. multiplied by an ORAC score of 22.81 – according to AIBMR’s study by MonaVie board member Alex Schauss (see page 8329 of the journal, first paragraph in the “Results” heading)). It also gives you a total phenolics (all antioxidants) of 175 mg. The 22.81 ORAC and 1.48 mg phenolics are from the MonaVie-sponsored study by AIBMR Life Sciences.

A single Red Delicious apple has an average weight 150 gms. Total ORAC per apple: 6,413 umoles. (42.75 umoles times 150 gms). Total phenolics (total antioxidants): 520 mg per apple. Apple data from USDA ORAC Table of Selected Foods 2007

SUMMARY:
ORAC: MonaVie 2,698, Apple 6,413 (Apple is more than 2 as much)
PHENOLICS: MonaVie 175 mg Apple 520 mg (Apple is more than twice as much)
COST: MonaVie $3.20 to $7.20 per day Apple $0.75/day (apple is 5 to 10 times cheaper)