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It is no secret that acai is fast becoming recognized as one of the world's foremost health supplements, as well as an impressively effective, all-natural body cleanser. Recently, a number of respected medical journals published research that supplies a wealth of data to back up the many claims touting the benefits of consuming acai. Here are just a few:
This first excerpt, from Neutraceuticals International, discusses the high levels of antioxidants present in acai, and the ability of our bodies to take in the nutrients:
"US researchers have shown that the juice and pulp forms of the acai berry can be absorbed by humans, supporting the consumption of this Brazilian fruit as a "super food." Known to contain a variety of antioxidants such as flavonoid-like compounds, proanthocyanidins and resveratrol, it has been growing in popularity as a powerful nutrient with diverse health benefits. Published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the study assessed absorption of the antioxidants in the juice or pulp in 12 volunteers and is one of the first evaluations of the acai berry in humans."1
Published in International Journal of Food Sciences & Nutrition, this second excerpt discusses the source of acai's antioxidant richness:
"The antioxidant capacities of all purple açaí samples were found to be excellent against peroxyl radicals…."2
A finding from a University of Florida professor, Stephen Talcott, says this about acai's ability to fight cancer:
"Four of the extracts were shown to kill significant numbers of leukemia cells when applied for 24 hours. Depending on the extract and concentration, anywhere from about 35 percent to 86 percent of the cells died."3
Finally, an excerpt from Clinical Advisor discusses the nutritional makeup of acai, as well as its overall effect on the human body:
"Chemical analysis finds acai juice to be an excellent source of essential fatty acids, fiber, and antioxidants. The National Institute on Aging has developed oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values to measure the antioxidant capacity of various foods. With a rating of 161,400 units/100 g, acai has the highest ORAC value of any food tested to date and is 10-30 times more powerful than red wine by volume. This rich antioxidant activity has spurred intense research into acai's potential for preventing numerous diseases. A University of Florida study showed that acai extract triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86% of leukemia cells in vitro. In a rat study at the University of Rio de Janeiro, acai extract induced long-lasting endothelium-dependent vasodilatation, which is strongly linked to improved cardiovascular function. Meanwhile, in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 12 healthy volunteers ingested a standardized acai extract. When serum antioxidant levels were sampled one and two hours later, the concentrations had definitely increased at each interval."4
It is quite clear, then, that the medical community has unanimously begun to concur that acai is, in fact, a super fruit that has an impressive amount of vitamins, minerals and nutrients that-when combined-prove to be quite advantageous for the user.
1Nutraceuticals International. (2008, November). Acai antioxidants absorbed by body. Gale Cengage Learning. Retrieved February 5, 2009, from Health and Wellness Resource Center database.
2Lichtenthäler, R., Rodrigues, R., Maia, J., Papagiannopoulos, M., Fabricius, H., & Marx, F. (2005, February). Total oxidant scavenging capacities of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Açaí) fruits. International Journal of Food Sciences & Nutrition, 56 (1), 53-64.
3Nordlie, Tom. (2006, January). Brazilian berry destroys cancer cells in lab, UF study shows. University of Florida News. Retrieved February 5, 2009 from http://news.ufl.edu/2006/01/12/berries/.
4Sherril Sego. (2009, January). Acai berry: Alternative Meds Update. Clinical Advisor, 12 (1), 65-67.
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