The Acai berry, pronounced a-sigh-ee, used to be a well kept secret of the Amazon rainforests and is thought to hold the key to treating many ailments and common diseases, now however it has become a widely known superfood!
The Acai berry grows wild on top of many palm trees that are native to the rainforests of Brazil and the Amazon basin.
It is a deep purple color and is quite rich in a number of important nutrients, including many of the most valuable antioxidant vitamins.
ENERGY, HEART HEALTH: The Acai berry gives you a nice energy boost. It is also thought to have a significant impact on heart health, and on the health of the cardiovascular system. In particular, it contains a very high concentration of compounds known as anthocyanins.
Anthocyanins are powerful antioxidants that halt damaging free radicals and helps protect cells.
These compounds are the same ones thought to be responsible for giving red wine its widely reported health benefits. However the Acai berry has nearly 30 times more anthocyanins then does red wine.
LOWERS CHOLESTEROL LEVELS: In addition to these anthocyanins, Acai berries are known to contain large amounts of protein and fiber, as well as both omega-6, which lowers cholesterol levels and omega-9 fatty acids, which lowers LDL cholesterol levels and maintains natural HDL cholesterol levels.
These omega fatty acids have been studied for years as a way to protect the heart from damage, and reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood, thereby providing possible protection from heart attacks, strokes and other common cardiovascular complications.
ANTI-AGING: Perhaps the most important health benefit however, is its strong impact on the aging process. As a matter of fact, the Acai berry is generally acknowledged to be one of the top superfoods for anti-aging.
The amino acids and vital trace minerals found in the Acai berry aid in proper muscle contraction and regeneration, thereby slowing damaging effects to the skin that cause signs of aging.
The fatty acid found in Acai is similar to that of olive oil and is high in monounsaturated oleic acid. This fatty acid combined with Omega 3 fish oils penetrates cell membranes and makes them suppler. This allows for hormones, neurotransmitters and Insulin Receptors to operate more efficiently, which greatly reduces inflammation, inflammation being one of the leading causes of Aging.
HIGH IN ANTIOXIDANTS, DESTROYS CANCER CELLS: The antioxidant benefits of Acai, combined with the fatty acids it contains, make this one of the most important superfoods on the market.
These antioxidants destroy cancer cells. A study done by the University of Florida and published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in January of 2006 conducted research that showed that the antioxidants in Acai triggered a self-destruct response in 86% of the cultured Leukemia cancer cells tested.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Acai can be purchased whole and eaten as part of a healthy diet, but they are most often encountered in juice form. It is available both in health food stores and from many Internet retailers. As with other kinds of natural health foods, it is important to ensure that you buy 100% pure organic Acai, and that it contains no artificial ingredients or added sugar.
Also, beware of the Acai products that promote weight loss benefits, because to my knowledge, there is no accepted medical research available that supports those claims.
There are many Acai products on the market today, but they are not created equal. When choosing between products, it is important to choose only the highest quality, and to look for products that have been frozen quickly after harvest. How the berries are handled after harvest can have a significant impact on their health benefits, so it is important to buy your Acai from those who use the best manufacturing methods.
The best method for preserving all the nutrients of the Acai is to Freeze Dry it, this way you are getting all the nutrients available in this powerful little fruit.
For such a tiny fruit, the Acai berry seems to have a great many heart healthy benefits, and the secret that has been part of Amazon culture for thousands of years has now spread to the rest of the world. It is a rich source of antioxidant vitamins, protein, fiber and heart protecting fatty acids, and it has an important role to play in protecting your good health.
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