I'm sure you've seen weight loss or antioxidant ads on TV touting the great weight loss and anti-aging properties of acai. Well, not knowing much about it or actually what it is I decided to do some research.
The acai berry is an inch-long reddish, purple fruit. It comes from the acai palm tree which is native to Central and South America. It is a relative of the blueberry, cranberry, and other dark purple fruits. Acai contains several substances called anthocyanins and flavonoids. Anthocyanins are responsible for the red, purple, and blue hues in many fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Foods that are richest in anthocyanins -- such as blueberries, red grapes, red wine, and acai -- are very strongly colored, ranging from deep purple to black.
Anthocyanins and flavonoids are powerful antioxidants that help defend the body against life's stressors. They also play a role in the body's cell protection system. Free radicals are harmful byproducts produced by the body. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants may interfere with aging and the disease process by neutralizing free radicals. Some studies show that acai fruit pulp has a very high antioxidant capacity with even more antioxidant content than cranberry, raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, or blueberry. Studies are ongoing, though, and the jury is still out.
People eat acai berries to address various health conditions. But so far, acai berries have no known health benefit that’s any different than that of other similar fruits.As far as the weight loss claim, although acai is touted in some weight loss products, few studies have tested the benefit of acai in promoting weight loss. The jury’s still out on whether there is something special about acai’s ability to shed excess pounds.
Source: WebMD
Chakras
Thursday, March 19, 2009
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