July 1, 2009
The Health Enhancing Benefits Of The Acai Berry
The acai berry has only been available for worldwide expenditure for about the past 5 years. Because this berry is exceedingly perishable it has only been in the past years that processing methods have allowed this fruit to be available outside of Brazil.
This tiny berry is laden with a array of healthful nutrients and it is said to be beneficial for many ailments including obesity, heart disease and the prevention of cancer. There are few scientific studies that prove the usefulness of the actual berry, however there are many studies on the nutrients contained within the berry.
The acai is a deep purple color. This color is in reality a very important antioxidant called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are also abundant in red wine and blueberries. Studies on laboratory mice showed a definite advantage for weight loss when the mice were given purified anthocyanins. The antioxidant is also supposed to have a significant impression on heart health and the health of the entire cardiovascular system. The acai berry actually contains 10 to 30 times more anthocyanins than red wine.
Our cardiovascular health can acquire large advantages from anthocyanins. Studies show that this antioxidant can improve blood circulation, avert blood clots, relax blood vessels and avoid atherosclerosis. Further studies are concluding that anthocyanins also have antiviral and antiallergenic properties and they may even be part of the cause to cancer prevention by blocking carcinogens on a molecular level and encouraging tumor cell death.
Acai berries contain many healthy fats that are related in composition to the fats from olive oil. They contain a monounsaturated omega-9 fatty acid called oleic acid, and a polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid called linoleic acid. Both of these fatty acids are advantageous to cardio health because they lower the LDL cholesterol and maintain the HDL cholesterol. Healthy fats also intensify the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins, which are essential to good health.
The fatty acids found in the acai berry penetrate the cell membranes and make them more supple. This allows for hormones, neurotransmitters and insulin receptors to operate more powerfully, which in turn critically reduces inflammation, which is a leading cause of the problems normally associated with aging, including wrinkles, gray hair and dementia.
Anti-aging is perhaps the most imperative benefit of the nutrients found in this berry. The vital nutrients such as the antioxidants, the essential and healthy fatty acids and the 19 amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein, are all constructive in slowing the aging process.
The acai berry is a enormously helpful dietary finding. It has one of the uppermost antioxidant capacities of any food, the content of healthy fats is outstanding and the fiber and protein add to its marvelous dietary value. The acai berry is actually a incredible dietary discovery.
Filed under Anti Aging by Guest Author
