Acai - Nutritional Breakdown

Antioxidants - Probably one of the greatest byproducts of the little berry. If you have read any of our other articles, you will note that the words; antioxidants and anthocyanins appear frequently through the text. Anthocyanin gives the berry its deep purple color and acts like a sunscreen, protecting the Acai from the harsh ultra violet light from the sun. This same UV light triggers free radicals to form in the berry. Fruits, such as Acai, develop high levels of anthocyanins because they have very strong antioxidant properties that quench the free radicals.

 

These antioxidants aid the body in many ways. They improve circulation and digestion while at the same time, reduces inflammation and decreases the aging process.  

Doctor Perricone, seen below left, is a leader in his field. He has been seen on the Today Show, Oprah, Larry King, 20/20, Good Morning America, The View, CNN, Fox, and many more. He calls Acai the #1 Superfood and has this to say about antioxidants and free radicals:

Nutritional Value:

Compared with raw cow milk, Acaí contains:

 

Acai Orac Score for Freeze-dried Acai Berry reveals High Antioxidant Activity!

Source: healthy-is-wealthy.com

Medical research studies conducted on the Acaí berries indicate:

• The proanthocyanidine contents in Acaí are 10 to 30 times the anthocyanins (these are the purple colored antioxidants) in red wine per volume. Although the French have a high fat diet, they have a low incidence of cardio vascular disease compared to the western countries. They attribute this factor to their consumption of red wine.

• Acaí berries can help promote a healthier cardio vascular system and digestive tract. Because of its synergy of monounsaturated (these are the healthily fats), dietary fiber and phytosterols.

• An excellent source of fiber! Fiber promotes a healthy digestive system. Research studies suggest soluble fibers may help lower blood cholesterol, and the insoluble fiber may help to reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancers.

• Essential amino acid complex along with trace minerals, which are vital for proper muscle contraction and regeneration.

• Aside from the energy and fluid replacement, Acaí provides a nutrition profile complete with vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids (omega 3, 6 & 9).

• The fatty acid ratio in Acaí resembles that of olive oil. Studies suggest this is a contributing factor to the low incidence of heart disease in Mediterranean populations.

• Acaí berries contain plant sterols including beta-sitosterol. Today, sterols are being used to treat associated benign prostate dyperplasia. These plant sterols have also been shown to help control cholesterol as well as act as precursors to many important substances produced by the body.

• Omega Fatty Acids: (Omega 9, Omega 6, and Omega 3). These mono-saturated essential fatty acids help lower LDL (harmful cholesterol) while maintaining HDL (beneficial cholesterol). This unique ratio resembles the same combination as olive oil. Omega fatty acids combat heart disease by increasing healthy cell development. Omega fatty acids are essential for healthy nervous system development and regeneration. They help rapidly repair and rejuvenate muscles after intense exercise.

• Amino Acids: Acai contains an almost perfect essential amino acid complex. This is vital for proper muscle contraction and regeneration, and for endurance, strength, sustained energy and muscle development.

• Natural Vitamin E: to protect against aging.

• Theobromine: acts as a bronchial dilator to help open air passage ways in the lungs. This increased air capacity helps in oxygen intake, which increases endurance, strength, and athletic performance.

• Photosterols: These complex compounds of plant cell membranes are used to treat symptoms associated with BPH, (benign prostate hyperplasia). Photosterols also help promote a healthy cardiovascular system and contributes to a healthy digestive tract.

Above references were obtained from:

1. Rogez H. AÁaÌ: Preparo, ComposiÁao, e Melhormento da ConveraÁao. Belem: EDUFPA; 2000.
2. Seager S, Slabaugh M. Chemistry for Today: General Organic and Biochemistry - 4th ed. California.
3. Wardlaw G, Insel P. Perspectives in Nutrition - 2nd ed. Saint Louis: Masby - Year Book, Inc; 1990.
4. Sillberberg S. Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of matter and Change - 2nd ed. USA: McGraw-Hill; 2000. 1086p.
5. Cook-Fuller C, editor. Annual Editions Nutrition 00/01 - 12th ed. Connecticut: Dushkin/McGraw-Hill; 2000.
6. Berges B, et al. Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial of beta-sitosterol in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Lancet 345: 1529 - 1532, 1995.
7. Pegel K. The importance of sitosterol and sitosterolin in human and animal nutrition. S African J Science. 93, 263 - 268, 1997.
8. Miura T, et al. Effect of guarana on exercise in normal and epinephrine-induced glycogenolytic mice. Biol Pharm Bull. 1998 Jun;21(6):646-8.
9. Henman AR. Guaran (Paullinia cupana var. sorbilis): Ecological and social perspectives on an economic plant of the central Amazon basin. J. Ethnopharmacol, 1982 Nov.
10. Duke JA. CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 1985, 349

  Amount of food needed to achieve 10,000 ORAC unit score:

Food	ORAC	Grams	Pounds	Comments
Bananas	8.79	1137	2.5	Almost 10 med. Bananas
Radishes (raw)	17.36	576	1.27	about 128 med. Radishes
Red Wine (Cab)	50.34	199	0.44	5 oz. wine
Pomegranate fruit	105	95.2	0.21	1 pomegranate contains about 1.6 servings
Acai Fruit	167	60	0.13	Acai Bowl Contains less than whole pulp
Pecans	179.4	55.7	0.12	Easy
Dark Chocolate	208.23	48	0.11	It is hard to eat so little!
Curry Powder	675.3	14.8	0.03	Sprinkle it on
Freeze Dried Acai	500-1027	9.7-20	.021-.044	Think supplement; 500 commercial typical
Cloves	3144.5	3.2	0.007	This is 38 to 50 cloves

 

Acai - 120 caps, 500mg ea. List Price: $49.95 Our Price: $39.95 YOU SAVE $10.00!

Acai Revive: 180 caps List Price: $69.95 Our Price: $45.95 YOU SAVE $24.00!