Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) The strawberry is rich in vitamin C and is among the top anti-oxidant-rich fruits. Strawberries also contain a chemical called ellagic acid as well as various carotenoids and anthocyanins.  These chemicals manifest some anticancer properties.  Some studies have shown antioxidants could prevent or even reverse problems such as memory loss. The foods listed in the chart below ranked among the highest in a new antioxidant study. To come up with the ranking, researchers with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) extracted the antioxidants from 100 common foods using special solvents, then ran them through a device that uses fluorescent light to monitor a chemical reaction that measures antioxidant activity. Researchers then took the resulting numbers—what they call the total antioxidant capacity (TAC)—and compared them. TOP TWENTY Based on their total antioxidant capacity (TAC) per serving (1 piece fruit/potato, 1/2 cup beans/dried fruit, 1 cup berries/artichoke hearts, 1 ounce nuts).   Food TAC 1 Small Red Beans 13,727 2 Wild Blueberries 13,427 3 (Red) Kidney Beans 13,259 4 Pinto Beans 11,864 5 Cultivated Blueberries 9,019 6 Cranberries 8,983 7 Artichokes 7,904 8 Blackberries 7,701 9 Dried Plums (Prunes) 7,291 10 Raspberries 6,058 11 Strawberries 5,938 12 Red Delicious/ Granny Smith Apple 5,600 13 Pecans 5,095 14 Sweet Cherries 4,873 15 Black Plums 4,844 16 Russet Potato 4,649 17 Black Beans 4,181 18 Plums 4,118 19 Gala Apple 3,903 20 Walnuts 3,846