It was around 2004 when the Brazilian acai berry gained national attention in America. Since then the TV and Internet offers have exploded. Acai berry products and herbal supplements seem to be everywhere. The promotional hype lately has been so huge most people don’t know what to think about this amazing little berry and are reluctant to try it for fears of jumping on the proverbial bandwagon. If you consider just three of the basic ingredients in these little berries – antioxidants, essential omega fatty acids, and dietary fiber – you can only come to the conclusion it must be good for you.
Just like the beneficial antioxidants in purple and red grapes, the acai berry also has its share of antioxidants. It has been found that the darker grapes contain more antioxidants than the lighter ones. The acai berry is a very dark purple fruit with very high levels of antioxidants, people have described the taste of this berry as a mixture of unsweetened chocolate and berry. This description alone is enough to make people want to taste this berry. But are the health benefits for real? It has long been established that antioxidants are effective in neutralizing the damaging action of oxygen free radicals in our system. A case in point is the now famous French Paradox – high consumption of red wines and low rates of coronary diseases – due to red wine containing antioxidants.
Most of the health claims about the acai are the result of these antioxidants. Antioxidants are very effective at neutralizing free radicals. If too many oxygen free radicals accumulate in our bodies we can suffer from oxidative stress which has been linked to heart diseases, diabetes and even cancer. Oxygen free radicals are actually a natural by-product of our cells but too many free radicals will result in damage to our cells. Taking an acai supplement on a regular basis keeps enough of these antioxidants in our system to stop free radical damage and improves our immune system.
Another benefit of the acai berry is its polyunsaturated fatty acids. These are the good fats our bodies need. These compounds are so necessary to our health that our bodies can even make these compounds for us out of other nutrients we consume. However, there are some unsaturated fatty acids our bodies cannot make, these are called essential fatty acids. The only way our bodies can get these important nutrients is for us to ingest them directly. That is why they are called essential. The acai berry contains polyunsaturated fatty acids similar to those found in olives. These compounds can actually help to reduce our cholesterol levels, improve blood circulation, reduce the risk of high blood pressure and heart diseases.
And of course the acai contains its own mix of dietary fiber. It is this component of the berry that is responsible for most claims about weight loss. It is well known that the typical American diet is lacking in dietary fiber, mostly due to our affinity for processed and fast foods. Low fiber in our diets contribute to poor digestive health which certainly can promote obesity, constipation, hemorrhoids and irritable bowel syndrome.
There are still many thousands of plants that have not yet been evaluated. Who knows what their herbal and medicinal properties might be. Is it any wonder that discoveries like the acai berry are still being made today? This little Brazilian acai berry really is a remarkable discovery. While we may not be able to get our hands on this fruit directly, there are many acai products and supplements available to us. Right now these supplements are the best source for the healing properties of the acai. Extracting and preserving the potency of the active ingredients is difficult and not all manufacturers and distributors are the same. Maximum Acai Power is a high quality source giving you the option of trying first for free to prove their quality.
Related articles: That little Brazilian acai berry. Big secrets in little packages, the acai fruit.
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