The Benefits of Acai Berries

by Jennifer Smithson on April 14, 2009 · weight loss

in weight loss

Do you want to add some healthy antioxidants to your diet? It has been scientifically proven that antioxidants can help us with things that range from typical aging issues to more serious things such as cancer and heart disease. Vegetables and fruits contain the most antioxidants and the darker hued ones contain the most. These include grapes, cranberries, blueberries and a lesser-known fruit from Brazil named the acai berry.

The acai berry (pronounced ah-sigh-EE) comes from acai palmsin the Brazilian rainforest. It is a smallish berry about the size of a large blueberry. Only the outer skin of the fruit and the pulp of the fruit are edible. Much of the berry is taken up by a large, inedible seed.

Recently the acai berry and the acai berry juice have been touted as “superfoods” in the United States, Europe and Canada. Sales of acai berry products have gone through the roof as the acai berry has been endorsed as a metabolism booster, a way to weight loss and an athletic enhancer. The claims even include the prevention of diseases such as cancer and heart disease.

The acai berry has been proven to have extremely high antioxidant activity. The acai berry has healthy carbohydrates, a broad range of amino acids, essential fatty acids and a host of vitamins and minerals. The acai berry and acai berry juice have a whole spectrum of trace elements, micronutrients and even an amount of all of the macronutrients.

Theoretically, high antioxidant activity may help prevent diseases that are caused by oxidative stress such as heart disease and cancer. The acai berry contains several substances with antioxidant properties called flavonoids and anthocyanins. The anthocyanins are the substance that is responsible for the deep red and blue colors of many of the healthiest fruits in the world, including blueberries, grapes and of course the acai berry. Flavonoids are substances known for their high antioxidant activities.

A variety of high antioxidant foods are recommended for a healthy diet. A combination of blueberries, blackberries and even dark chocolate and red wine are healthy additions to your diet. Acai berries and acai berry juices, smoothies and more can add to this healthy diet. It is recommendedconsume 5 high antioxidant foods daily.

It has only been in the past 5 years or so that the world beyond Brazil has been able to enjoy the acai berry. This is because the acai berry is extremely perishable. It has only been in recent times that products made from processed acai berries have become available to the rest of the world. Before that the only place you could find this remarkable little berry was in the Brazilian rainforest.

Acai berries and acai berry juice can be a largecomponent to a healthy diet. High nutritional value is a valid addition of any reasonable and wholesome weight loss regimen. It is also well known that a healthy immune system is bolstered by the introduction of foods with high antioxidant activity and acai berry is one of the best.

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