Açai berry: The essence of the Amazon

The açai berry has taken the world by storm in recent years for its nutrition and benefits. After Dr. Nicholas Perricone promoted the berry as a “superfood for age-defying beauty” on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” this little berry became the hottest nutrition product on the market.
The açai berry (ah-sigh-ee), found in the Amazon forest, is a dark purple fruit about an inch in diameter. It is produced in bunches of about 800 fruits, similar to grapes in appearance. A large single seed in its center constitutes 80 percent of its mass.
The pulp contains vitamins (A, B1, B2, B3, C and E), minerals (calcium, potassium, copper and zinc), essential fatty acids (omega 3, 6, 9), fiber, phytosterols and more than 19 amino acids. In addition, its antioxidant levels are some of the highest in the world. Researchers claim açai berries have about 30 times the antioxidant level of red wine. Because many of the acai berry’s health properties deteriorate quickly after harvesting, the berries are processed and shipped as juice or frozen pulp to preserve their nutrients.
Fruit and vegetables are our best source of antioxidants, and the tiny açai berry contains a concentrated amount of them. In fact, acai berries have one of the highest ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) ratings of any fruit or vegetable, even more than blueberries, pomegranates and grapes. The ORAC rating is a method of measuring the antioxidant capacities of foods. The higher the ORAC rating, the higher the level of antioxidants, and the better the food is at fighting damaging free radicals and promoting good health.

Source: ORACvalues.com

Açai berries contain large amounts of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins. Researchers believe that antioxidants may be able to help control human insulin levels to help fight diabetes. Other physiological benefits include radiation, chemical and vascular protection; and anti-aging and anti-inflammatory effects. Antioxidants in açai berry also promote healthy skin.
Açai berries’ fatty acid composition is very similar to that of olive oil. The consumption of olive oil is one of the main reasons for the low heart disease rate of Mediterranean people. Açai berry contains 60 percent oleic acid (Omega 9), a fatty acid, and 12 percent linolenic acid (Omega 6), both of the body's essential fatty acids. These help reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) and maintain HDL (good cholesterol) levels.
Açai berry, by dry weight, contains more than 12 percent of dietary fiber, which can effectively improve the body's digestive system. Açai berries help clean your system.
The composition of amino acids and trace minerals in açai berries may maintain normal muscle contraction and regeneration, which promote healthy sleep.
Getting the nutrients we need for our bodies to work at peak condition is essential for maintaining energy levels throughout the day. The nutrients in açai berries help maintain overall energy, resulting in better concentration and mental clarity.
Açai berries also contain plant sterols, which may help increase libido, reduce cholesterol and prevent stroke and atherosclerosis.
The combination of nutrients and dietary fiber in açai berries provides a natural metabolism increase. By helping flush away toxins and waste, açai berries and their supplement derivatives can improve body function, thus burning fat more effectively. It has also been reported that the high level of fiber and amino acids may repress appetite. In combination with healthy exercise, dieters will find it easier to burn calories and hence lose weight.
In January 2006, breakthrough findings were released by the University of Florida. Researchers there tested extracts of the berry at various concentrations on cancerous human cells. The study found that the açai berry destroyed 86 percent of leukemia cells in a cell culture model. The research is still in its infancy, but these early findings are a reason to look to this superfood for aid in the fight against cancer.

Robert Johnson is a nutritionist working with Life Nutrition. Visit its website, www.lifenutritionusa.com, or call 2803 0337 for more information.


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Açai berry: The essence of the Amazon By Robert Johnson The açai berry has taken the world by storm in recent years for its nutrition and benefits. After Dr. Nicholas Perricone promoted the berry as a “superfood for age-defying beauty” on “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” this little berry became the hottest nutrition product on the market. The açai berry (ah-sigh-ee), found in the Amazon forest, is a dark purple fruit about an inch in diameter. It is produced in bunches of about 800 fruits, similar to grapes in appearance. A large single seed in its center constitutes 80 percent of its mass. The pulp contains vitamins (A, B1, B2, B3, C and E), minerals (calcium, potassium, copper and zinc), essential fatty acids (omega 3, 6, 9), fiber, phytosterols and more than 19 amino acids. In addition, its antioxidant levels are some of the highest in the world. Researchers claim açai berries have about 30 times the antioxidant level of red wine. Because many of the acai berry’s health properties deteriorate quickly after harvesting, the berries are processed and shipped as juice or frozen pulp to preserve their nutrients. Fruit and vegetables are our best source of antioxidants, and the tiny açai berry contains a concentrated amount of them. In fact, acai berries have one of the highest ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) ratings of any fruit or vegetable, even more than blueberries, pomegranates and grapes. The ORAC rating is a method of measuring the antioxidant capacities of foods. The higher the ORAC rating, the higher the level of antioxidants, and the better the food is at fighting damaging free radicals and promoting good health. Source: ORACvalues.com Açai berries contain large amounts of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins. Researchers believe that antioxidants may be able to help control human insulin levels to help fight diabetes. Other physiological benefits include radiation, chemical and vascular protection; and anti-aging and anti-inflammatory effects. Antioxidants in açai berry also promote healthy skin. Açai berries’ fatty acid composition is very similar to that of olive oil. The consumption of olive oil is one of the main reasons for the low heart disease rate of Mediterranean people. Açai berry contains 60 percent oleic acid (Omega 9), a fatty acid, and 12 percent linolenic acid (Omega 6), both of the body's essential fatty acids. These help reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) and maintain HDL (good cholesterol) levels. Açai berry, by dry weight, contains more than 12 percent of dietary fiber, which can effectively improve the body's digestive system. Açai berries help clean your system. The composition of amino acids and trace minerals in açai berries may maintain normal muscle contraction and regeneration, which promote healthy sleep. Getting the nutrients we need for our bodies to work at peak condition is essential for maintaining energy levels throughout the day. The nutrients in açai berries help maintain overall energy, resulting in better concentration and mental clarity. Açai berries also contain plant sterols, which may help increase libido, reduce cholesterol and prevent stroke and atherosclerosis. The combination of nutrients and dietary fiber in açai berries provides a natural metabolism increase. By helping flush away toxins and waste, açai berries and their supplement derivatives can improve body function, thus burning fat more effectively. It has also been reported that the high level of fiber and amino acids may repress appetite. In combination with healthy exercise, dieters will find it easier to burn calories and hence lose weight. In January 2006, breakthrough findings were released by the University of Florida. Researchers there tested extracts of the berry at various concentrations on cancerous human cells. The study found that the açai berry destroyed 86 percent of leukemia cells in a cell culture model. The research is still in its infancy, but these early findings are a reason to look to this superfood for aid in the fight against cancer. Robert Johnson is a nutritionist working with Life Nutrition. Visit its website, www.lifenutritionusa.com, or call 2803 0337 for more information.