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Acai berry has very good levels of anti-oxidants, minerals, and vitamins that have health
benefiting and disease preventing properties.
Unlike other
berries and fruits, acai has high caloric values and fats. 100 g of berries
provide about 80-250 Cal depending up on the preparation and serving methods.
In fact, fresh acai berry has been the staple nutritious diet of native
Amazonians for centuries. There is no research evidence that the use of these
berries will help you lose weight.
Acai berry contains
many polyphenolic anthocyanin compounds like resveratrol,
cyanidin-3-galactoside, ferulic acid, delphinidin, petunidin as well as
astringent pro-anthocyanidin tannins like epicatechin, protocatechuic acid and
ellagic acid. Scientific studies on these compounds suggests that these
compounds have been claimed to act as anti-aging, anti-inflammatory,
anti-cancer functions by virtue of their anti-free radical fighting actions In
addition tannins are known to have anti-infective, anti-inflammatory and anti-haemorrhagic
properties.
Acai berry is
also rich in medium chain fatty acids like oleic acid (omega-9) and linoleic
acid (omega-6). These compounds help reduce LDL-cholesterol level and raise
good HDL-cholesterol levels in the body as well as help prevent heart disease.
In addition, they help prevent skin dryness by maintaining adequate moisture in
the skin
Acai pulp has
good levels of dietary fibre. Good fibre in the diet helps remove cholesterol
in the stools.
ORAC value
(oxygen radical absorbance capacity) of acai berry is thought to be at
mid-level range for fruits, higher than that of oranges but less than
pomegranate. USDA so far not validated exact ORAC value of acai.
Acai berries
contain good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, copper, iron, and
magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids that
helps controlling heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese is used by the body
as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. They are rich
in B-complex vitamins and vitamin-K. Contain very good amounts of niacin,
vitamin B-6 and riboflavin. These vitamins are function as co-factors and help
body in the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats.
Acai extracts has
been used by Amazon basin tribes as treatment remedy for diarrhoea, parasitic
infections, haemorrhages, and ulcer treatment.
A kind of
decoction obtained from crushed seeds has been used in the treatment of fever.
Decoction
obtained from the roots has been used in the treatment of menstrual pain, liver
diseases, malaria in Peruvian culture.
In recent years, acai berries have become a phenomenon in
numerous countries of the world, primarily in America and other western
countries who use it for a variety of potential health benefits in various
forms. The most researched and legitimate health benefits of acai berries are
explained below.
Cardiovascular Health: Grapes are the primary ingredient in
wine, and they are similar to berries in many ways, including their high levels
of anthocyanins, which are a form of plant antioxidants. Antioxidants are the
scavenging particles in our body which seek out and eliminate the free radicals
that are responsible for a wide variety of damaging diseases and conditions
including heart disease. Anthocyanins are also related to reducing blood
cholesterol by scavenging some of the harmful LDL cholesterol off of artery
walls, reducing the risk of atherosclerosis, stroke, and heart attack.
Acai berries also have a large amount of plant sterols,
which act as vasodilators and relax blood vessels to reduce blood pressure,
prevent blood clots that can lead to strokes and heart attacks, and generally
improve the circulation and oxygenation of the blood.
Weight Loss: Early research indicates that the pulp of the
acai berry can help in weight loss efforts in many people. It not only
stimulates weight loss, but can also help people maintain a healthy weight by
reducing the negative impact of high-fat diets. In recent years, acai weight
loss supplements and pills have become wildly popular and although the results
are not uniformly successful, there have been a number of positive testimonials
regarding the success with weight loss brought on by consistent consumption of
acai berry juice and other products. One reputable study found that 30 days of
using acai berries resulted in a lower level of fasting insulin and glucose
levels, as well as a reduction in total cholesterol. Although more research is
currently being done, it appears that acai berries do have a strong effect on
weight loss. The high fibre content of acai berries can also reduce appetite
and stop hunger pains associated with overeating and weight gain.
Skin Health: The antioxidant properties of acai berries have
been well-documented, and the relationship between antioxidants and skin health
is well known. Acai oil is frequently used in modern cosmetic products because
the antioxidants in the oil can relieve irritation and redness and moisturize
the skin. Also, if acai berries are ingested, they can give the skin a healthy,
attractive glow. In fact, in indigenous populations of Brazil, the pulp of the
acai berry has been used for generations to treat or reduce a number of skin
conditions and diseases.
Cancer Prevention: Acai is a wonderful source of vitamin-C,
which is a well-known immunity booster and can generally improve your ability
to fight off many diseases, including cancer. Besides the immunity boosting
ability of vitamin-C, the ellagic acid in acai berries also aids in the fight
against cancerous cells. Acai is packed with polyphenols, which battle
cancerous growth on a molecular level, and prevent small cancerous growths from
multiplying and metastasizing into lethal amounts of carcinogenic growth. One
study actually found that acai berry can stop the growth of cancer cells up to
80%, which is one of the most successful rates for alternative medical
treatments for that dreaded disease. There has been specific attention placed
on acai berry’s effect on prostate cancer in men.
Aphrodisiac: Although the direct impact of acai berries on
sexual stamina and sex drive is not completely known, the acai berries do have
a well-researched ability to increase the general blood circulation throughout
the body. Since lack of blood flow is one of the primary causes of sexual
dysfunction and lack of sexual stamina, acai berries is commonly used as an
alternative medicine for helping patients with these conditions.
Premature Aging: One of the most important medical qualities
of acai berries is its ability to slow down the aging process in people, due to
its high levels of antioxidants. Antioxidants remove the free radicals that
cause the breakdown of skin, hair, teeth, and eye health that is so often
associated with premature aging. Regular consumption of acai berry juice or the
application of acai oil to certain topical areas of the skin can help reduce
the damaging effects of free radicals, reduce tooth and hair loss, prevent
wrinkle formation, and slow down the effects of macular degeneration and
cataract formation. Cellular oxidative damage and various types of inflammation
can also be reduced with frequent use of acai berries, although the specific
components of acai berries has not been identified that give it such potent
health abilities. Finally, in terms of brain health and function, acai juice
has been linked to increased mental function and sharpness of mind.
Digestion and Intestinal Health: Acai berries have been
found to have strong detoxifying effects on the human body, which help to
cleanse the body’s digestive system and remove some of the hazardous toxins
that build up. Also, acai berries, along with most other types of berries, have
high levels of natural fibre, which aids in digestion and absorption of
nutrients from food. The fibre bulks up the bowel movements of people, making
their excretory processes more regular, and reducing the chances of
constipation and other uncomfortable digestive issues. Also, if people suffer
from loose stools or diarrhoea, consuming acai berries or other fibre-rich
foods can give more bulk to the stool and reduce the chances of diarrhoea.
Cellular Health and Metabolism: The antioxidant qualities of
acai berries are its most celebrated aspect, and it can also benefit healthy
cellular metabolism and functioning. it reduces the chances of unhealthy
apoptosis (cell death) and increases the efficiency of the cell’s absorption of
nutrients and the subsequent translation into useful energy.
A Few Words of Caution:
While it is clear that consuming acai berry can be very
beneficial to overall health and is used by millions to protect themselves from
various diseases, there are also inherent risks in taking this miraculously healthy
berry. If you have any allergies to pollen or other fruits, be very careful
before adding it to your diet, and consult your doctor for an updated allergen
test.
However, besides allergic risks, which is the same caution
that should always be taken before adding something to your diet, the dangers
of the acai supplements is quite real. The additional ingredients that are
frequently added to the supplements can sometimes reduce the benefits of the
fruit, or even prove detrimental to your health if you don’t know the full
ingredient list. Some of the most common additives are caffeine, which gives
the energetic boost that people associate with “healthy activity” in the body.
The health benefits often encourage people to overdue their
intake of acai supplements, but since the fruit itself contains many minerals,
it is possible to consume too much, which can result in new health conditions.
Finally, the fruit and its juice contains many sugars and calories, which can
be detrimental to weight loss attempts, and can be very dangerous for diabetic
patients if taken in bulk.
Other than those risks, acai berries can provide you with a
wealth of health benefits to improve your body and mind!
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