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Health Products - Acai Berry
By Leanne James
The
Acai Berry Supplement is an Amazonian fruit. Acai (pronounced Ah-sah-ee) is a rainforest berry that grows on palm trees in the amazon basin. These dark purple berries are high in anthocyanins, which are antioxidants that protect the body against free radical damage. It also contains essential fatty acids, amino acids, dietary fibre and phytosterols. Acai has been valued as a superfood that contains significant amounts of nutrients and supports the normalisation of health and well being.
Common uses:
Antioxidants help protect against free radical damage, a contributor to the aging process and disease. Many studies have been done using Acai. These include its use in cardiovascular health, immunity, high blood pressure, cancer, as an anti inflammatory in arthritis.
Information about Acai:
Acai Berry is a rainforest berry that grows on Euterpe oleracea palm trees in the Amazon basin. This dark purple berry has a fruity taste with a hint of chocolate. For centuries the local inhabitants have used the acai berry as a staple part of their diet to boost energy levels, build immune system and treat ailments including infections and diarrhoea. Over the last decade the berry has become popular in the costal cities of Brazil and acai smoothies are now central to Brazilian beach culture. In particular, the berry is eaten by fitness enthusiasts and athletes for its energising and detoxifying properties. With high levels of antioxidants and cholesterol fighting fatty acids, the Amazonian acai berry has been hailed as the new superfood. Manufacturers are adding acai to food and drinks as part of a growing trend towards healthier eating.
Acai is a rich source of a class of polyphenolic flavonoids called anthocyanins, which are the same antioxidants that give wine its health benefits. Antioxidants are needed by the body to quench free radicals, whose oxidative damage contributes to ageing and degenerative diseases. They body's free radical defence system comprises several endogenous antioxidant enzymes as well as exogenous antioxidant nutrients obtained through diet. The phyto-chemical and nutrient compositions of a standardized freeze-dried acai powder were examined in a study of Natural and Medicinal Products Research in Washington. Among many findings, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins and other flavonoids were found to be the major phyto-chemicals. Five anthocyanins were identified as predominant and minor anthocyanins. The total content of measured as 3.1919mg/g dry weight. Polymers were found to be the major proanthocyanidins. The concentration of total proanthocyanidins was calculated as 12.89mg/g dry weight. Acai contains one of the highest contents known for oleic acid in the pulp of a fruit.
Also found in olive oil, oleic acid may be responsible for the hypotensive (blood pressure reducing) effects. This is particularly useful for individuals with high blood pressure. Hence, acai can be used to help support a healthy cardiovascular system. We have a lot more information about Acai Berry. Please do not hesitate to ask and we can print you off the information we have.
Leanne James is a Naturopath at Ideal Health. For more information on Acai Berry visit
New Zealand's Natural Online
Pharmacy.
Super food discussions:
Maqui or Acai?
The Battle of the Super Berries
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