Health Benefits Of Acai Berry


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	Health Benefits Of Acai Berry Many claims have been made recently about the health benefits of acai berry. What do scientific studies show about the acai berry plant? Can it really increase energy levels, improve digestion, reduce cholesterol levels, improve the skin, speed up weight loss and protect against a host of diseases, as touted by marketers and manufacturers of acai supplements and products? Read these acai berry facts below to separate truth from fiction. What Is Acai Berry The acai berry plant (pronounced ah-sah-ee) is native to Central and South America and is found in the swamps and floodplains of the Brazilian rainforest. The acai berry fruit looks like a purple grape about twenty-five millimeters in size. It has a single large seed and less pulp than the grape. It is a relative of other purple coloured fruits such as blueberries and cranberries and tastes like a mixture of chocolate and coffee. The claim that the berry has superior antioxidant properties compared to other fruits has led to it being promoted as a super supplement particularly as an anti-ageing, detoxifying and weight loss agent. As a result, a myriad of acai berry products are now being offered in the market, including acai supplements, acai juices, acai smoothies, instant drink powders, and whole fruit. Acai Berry Information Facts Acai berries contains potent antioxidants called anthocyanins and flavonoids. Antioxidants are known to protect the body from free radicals and lower the risk of diseases such as cancer and heart disease, as well as slowing down the degenerative ageing processes of the body A comparitive analysis done against other fruits juices showed that the antioxidant potency of Acai was less than acerola, mango, strawberry, pomegranate and grapes, but higher than that of orange juice, apple juice, and tea. A University of Florida study conducted by Dr Steve Talcott and Dr Susanne Talcott has shown that nutritional components in acai pulp and acai juice destroyed human cancer cells, in a cell culture model. The researchers pointed out that other fruits, including grapes, guavas and mangoes, which contain antioxidants have also been shown to kill cancer cells in similar studies. A later study has also shown that acai antioxidants have the ability to be absorbed in the human body when consumed both as juice and pulp. Acai berries are highly perishable and are traditionally used immediately after picking. Most of the research to date on acai has focused on a freeze-dried form of the berry. According to ABC News correspondent Susan Donaldson, as of March 2009, there are no controlled studies backing up any of the claims that the acai berry increases energy levels, and imporoves digestion and detoxification and increases weight loss. In 2008, lawyers for the Oprah Winfrey Show began investigating a statement from a supplement manufacturer that Dr Mehmet Oz had recommended their acai supplement for weight loss. The facts are that while the acai berry is high in antioxidants, the health benefits of acai berry are no different to other fruits with similar levels of antioxidants such as cranberries and black cherries. Conclusions Current research supports eating berries and other fruits and vegetables high in antioxidants as part of a healthy diet promoting weight loss, and as such acai berries would be beneficial. However, the health benefits of acai berry would be no different to other similar berries. Further research is needed to determine whether acai berry has any special properties that can help you lose weight. To Top of Page Return to Superfoods from Health Benefits Of Acai Berry Return to Healthy Eating from Superfoods	Visit Our eBay Store For A Wide Selection Of Health Eating Books!
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