If you have done any inquiries on the acai berry you will have read an array of physical condition claims ranging from weight loss to sickness prevention to anti-aging. This robust little berry that is only found in the rainforests of Brazil is a nutritional powerhouse.
Does this tiny, little berry in fact live up to its excessive claims? The answer is a unquestionable “yes” and more and more scientific studies are back it up.
The acai berry contains a abundance of nutrients including an array of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, phytosterols and dietary fiber. It is actually one of the most nourishing foods ever found in nature.
New investigation involving one of the flavonoids found in the acai berry indicates that this berry may be effectual for weight loss and disease prevention. The acai berry contains an enormously vigorous flavonoid called anthocyanins. This is the water-soluble, vacuolar pigment the makes the deep purple, deep blue and deep red colors in some of the healthiest foods found in nature.
This is the pigment that makes red grapes that deep dark red color, blueberries the deep blue almost iridescent black color and purple cabbage purple. This pigment is also plentiful in blackberries, eggplant, purple corn, red wine, cherries and strawberries. The acai berry has one of the peak anthocyanin contents found in nature.
Some up to date controlled studies involving laboratory mice showed that anthocyanins prevented obesity when the mice were fed a high-fat diet. In the studies they gave the mice purified anthocyanins from blueberries and strawberries. The group that was given the anthocyanins gained a smaller amount of weight and had a lower body fat level than the control group.
An interesting footnote is that another group that was fed the actual strawberries and blueberries did not achieve the same outcome and that group of mice may have even had more obesity. While it is unclear if the effect of the anthocyanins found in these mice translates to humans the fact is that this robust flavonoid is enormously healthful and beneficial nevertheless.
While these interesting studies do not represent definite proof and every person must come to their own conclusions, these studies may perhaps explain why people have had so much success with weight loss by using acai berry products. As the acai berry is exceptionally perishable it must be processed quickly to protect the nutrients and therefore many of the acai berry products may actually contain a more purified form of the strong anthocyanins.
