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Açairoots.com
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| Acai is a Brazilian berry original from the Amazon Region that is considered to be one of nature's most complete and healthy foods. The acai berry is loaded with antioxidants, anthocyanins (approximately 20 times the amount in red wine), amino acids, essential omegas, fibers and protein. Some recent studies from the University of Florida indicate that Acai may even fight cancer cells: "Brazilian berry destroys cancer cells in lab, UF study shows". |
Acai (Açaí), also known as super berry or power berry (in the Amazon they call it "Viagra da Amazonia") due to the amount nutrients and fibers ascribed to it.
Because of its rich content of anthocyanin pigments that give it the characteristic deep purple color, açaí likely imparts important health benefits associated with consumption of antioxidant pigments, such as reduced risk or prevention of cancer, diabetes, chronic inflammation, heart and vascular disease, Alzheimer's disease and other types of neurodegeneration, high blood cholesterol, stroke, bacterial infections, urinary tract infections, age-related visual deterioration and premature aging. Acai is constantly used topically as a strong antibacterial mix in Brazil.
Acai in the fight against cancer?
On a study performed at the University of Florida in 2006, it was showed that acai antioxidants could induce faster death, also known as apoptosis, of leukemia cells in vitro. An article is published on the University's website, titled as "Brazilian berry destroys cancer cells in lab, UF study shows". The article starts like this:
"GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A Brazilian berry popular in health food contains antioxidants that destroyed cultured human cancer cells in a recent University of Florida study, one of the first to investigate the fruit's purported benefits. Published today in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the study showed extracts from acai (ah-SAH'-ee) berries triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells tested, said Stephen Talcott, an assistant professor with UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences."
Mr. Talcott emphasizes the fact that Acai is one of the richest fruit sources of antioxidants: “Acai berries are already considered one of the richest fruit sources of antioxidants,” Talcott said. “This study was an important step toward learning what people may gain from using beverages, dietary supplements or other products made with the berries."
This preliminary research indicates a possible anti-cancer effect of anthocyanins and other pigments, as shown for North American dark berries like the blueberry and black raspberry.Six reports have been listed on the US National Library of Medicine database, since 2004. |
| The history of the berry from the Brazilian Amazon that is changing the concept of healthy food. Acai (açaí) is a palm tree that grows in the North of Brazil. It is known by the native people (indigenas) as "içá-çai", which means “fruit that cries”. The Acai tree can be found all over the Amazonia region. To make Acai Roots, juice is extracted from the pulp of the skin of the seed. No trees are harmed in the process. For hundreds of years, acai (açaí) has been a traditional food of the native people of the Amazon – and part of its folklore, finding its way into legend as well as onto the table. Once upon a time, there was an Amazon Indian girl named Iaca, whose father was the tribal chief. His tribe had grown so large that there wasn't enough food to go around. So, the chief decreed that all newborn babies must be killed. When Iaca, his own daughter, bore a child, the chief had his decree carried out. Iaca mourned her baby's death alone in her hut for days. Then she thought she heard a baby crying. When she went outside in search of the baby, she saw a palm tree shooting up from the earth, covered in fruit. Full of despair, she lay down under the tree and died. The next day, the tribe found Iaca's body under the new tree. The tree's fruit satisfied their hunger and renewed their energy, and the chief lifted his harsh decree, declaring that the fruit would be named after his daughter (“Acai” is “Iaca” spelled backwards). With abundant food for all, the tribe grew and flourished. Acai has been enjoyed for decades by the people of Brazil. A bowl of Acai is usually eaten in the morning with breakfast. In the 1950's, doctors began to realize the health benefits of Acai. In the 1960's, the famous Gracie jiu-jitsu family recommended eating Acai before and after workouts. Recently, several new medical studies in the United States and Europe have found even more exciting health benefits of Acai. |
The Acai Berry Boosts Immunity
More and more people seem to be getting sicker, longer than ever before. This is because our food is grown in environments which are poorer in natural minerals and we don't eat as well as we should. The Acai berry is grown in the Brazilian Amazon rain forest in some of the richest soil on the planet. As a result, each berry is packed with the most complete naturally occurring assortment of exactly what the body needs to fight disease and increase energy. When the body has what it needs to fight off disease, the human body becomes amazingly resilient to infections both from bacterial agents, as well as viral agents.
Why are Antioxidants so Important
To understand the role that antioxidants play, you have to understand what free radicals are. Free radicals are molecules that reportedly damage our cellular membranes and even our DNA. Free radicals come from various pesticides, preservatives, and pollutants in the very air that we breath. If our bodies lack the fuel to fight off these free radicals, then we run the risk of our cells mutating and forming cancerous growths. Antioxidants are created by the body from various substances and are what the body uses to fight off these free radicals and strengthen cells. Antioxidants allows the body to neutralize many of these free radicals reducing the risk of many diseases, including heart disease. The body converts many vitamins and minerals into antioxidants, of these most are contained in the Acai berry.
The Acai Berry Boosts Resistance to Diseases
Nothing is more essential to living a healthy life, than having a strong immune system. It is extremely important that we give our body nutrients that it needs to fight sickness. Diseases can cause us to age more rapidly and can lead to many more life threatening issues. Research has shown that antioxidants are vital to strengthening the body's ability to resist disease. These antioxidants play a vital role in strengthening our cellular walls and decreasing cholesterol related disease.
The Acai Berry Increases Energy
While the immune system is perhaps the most important benefit, many people also use Acai to boost their energy levels. The failure of people to eat a diet high in antioxidants leads to drastically decreased energy levels as they grow older. Many people have reported having increased energy, stamina, and vitality comparable to when they were in their twenties. Imagine the change in lifestyle you will see simply by adding Acai to your diet.
The Acai Berry and Cholesterol
The Acai berry can help maintain good (HDL) cholesterol while reducing bad (LDL) cholesterol. This is necessary to reduce the risk of fatty buildups in the arteries which can lead to heart disease. Even the FDA is starting to realize the potential that the essential fatty acids can play in decreasing heart disease. They recently began allowing manufacturers to put the following statement on their Omega-3 containing products: "Supportive but not conclusive research shows that consumption of EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease." In addition to the essential fatty acids, the antioxidants contained in the Acai berry, can help to reduce the risk of heart disease reportedly caused by free radicals in the body. |
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