Acai Berry: Healing Properties From The Plants Of Earth
Posted on 01. Dec, 2009 by Nicholas Page in Diet & Nutrition
Around 2004 Americans were starting to become aware of the little Brazilian acai berry. In the time since, television and the Internet have been swamped with acai offers. These herbal health products and supplements are plentiful. The buzz about them has been so loud in fact that many people are unwilling to jump aboard this speeding bandwagon, regarding it as nothing but the latest health fad. If you have been waiting for all the hype to subside and wait until the final verdict is in, then the wait is over. All you have to do is consider a few of the basic ingredients known to be in the acai berry – essential fatty acids, dietary fiber, and antioxidants – if you know anything about nutrition this should be enough to convince you.
By now most people know the story of red and purple grapes and the now famous French Paradox: high intake of red wines yet low rates of heart disease. This low rate of heart disease has been linked to the antioxidants in red wines. In fact the darker the grape the higher the antioxidant level. The acai berry is a very dark purple fruit and has very high levels of antioxidants. Most people who have tasted the fresh acai berry compare it to a mix of chocolate and berry, what a wonderful blend of flavors. These natural antioxidants are known to neutralize oxygen free radicals in our bodies.
Many of the claims about the health benefits of acai are due to the antioxidants. Without enough antioxidants in our system we can succumb to what is called oxidative stress. Oxygen free radicals are a natural result of cell metabolism but an excess of free radicals can damage and even kill biological cells. Free radicals have been linked to health problems such as heart disease, macular degeneration, diabetes and even cancer. Regularly ingesting natural antioxidants is a very good way to neutralize free radicals and promote the healing and strength of our cells thereby boosting our immune system.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids is another ingredient found in the acai berry. These are very important compounds required by our bodies. In fact they are so important our bodies are able to make these compounds out of other nutrients in our system, all except of course the essential fatty acids. These cannot be made by our system and so we must ingest them directly, that is why they are called essential fatty acids. You may be surprised to learn the acai berry contains some of these essential fatty acids similar to that found in olives. These essential nutrients play a major part in reducing our cholesterol levels which then improves our blood circulation and reduces the risk of heart diseases.
There is also plenty of fiber in the acai and we all know the benefits of fiber. The average American diet is very deficient in dietary fiber because of our love for processed and fast foods. Without the proper amount of daily fiber we are at a high risk for many forms of digestive disorders. Without a healthy digestive tract our bodies cannot move food and wastes properly which can contribute to obesity. Lack of fiber can also be the cause of irritable bowel syndrome, hemorrhoids and constipation. Now with the acai we have another source for dietary fiber.
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 posts:
Leave a reply