There are numerous antioxidant foods available on the market now days containing the important chemical compositions that are so good for our body.   One that has gained in use and popularity is the Acai Berry which can only be found int he Amazonian Jungle in it natural form.

Despite is modest size, the Acai Berry contains a hugh volume of vital antioxidants than many other natural foods do not provide.   These acai berry antioxidants are very important for our body in more than one way as they help the fight against free radical attack which often lead to cancers, heart problems and other unwanted diseases.

The antioxidant-rich Acai Berries are the fruits of eight species of palms from the genus Euterpe, which are native to South and Central America. The trees grow in floodplains and swamps where there is plenty of water.  Each palm usually produces two crops of berries a year, which are harvested for many uses.   It is well documented that the native people of  South American countries, such as Brazil, use the Acai Berry as a major part of their diet so as to enhances their lifestyle.  To give you an example, the acai berry make up to 42% of total food intake for members of several traditional Caboclo communities in Brazil and even in their modern communities, these berries are enjoyed in numbers of ways such as juices, shakes, smoothies, eaten cold, flavored sodas, ice creams, etc.

Acai Berry – Number One Provider of Antioxidants Foods

It easy to see why the Acai Berry has fast become the number one source of healthy eating due to its many characteristics that allow for weight loss, a balanced  calorie intake,  rich source of antioxidants when comparing with other Antioxidant Foods.  It has been hailed as the “number one of superfruits”.  You may be wondering what Superfruit’s are and these in their purest form are fruits that taste pleasant and contain antioxidants and other nutritional substances.   Examples of these include acai berries, blueberries, goji berries, and pomegranate.

The definition of a superfruit may seem dubious for some, since there are many delicious and nutritious fruits like oranges, blackcurrant’s strawberries,  but they do not pack the punch of an Acai Berry. when compared to how much this remarkable little berry provides in comparison.  However, as more people learn about the amazing nutritional properties of these foods,  you will probably start hearing that term more often.

The Facts About Acai and Antioxidants

You will not find fresh Acai Berries in your local supermarket as they degenerate very quickly once picked from the stalk and the only way to safeguard their qualities is to immediately freeze dry them. and make powders. In this type of form the nutrients and compounds are preserved so they can be properly shipped worldwide in various forms such as supplements, juices and blends.

The Acai Berry contains many healthy fats and their content is distributed through a combination of:

• Oleic Acid
• Palmitic Acid
• Sitosterols
• Linoleic Acid.

Other substances found in the fruit are Polyphenols, such as:

• Vanillic Acid
• Sringic Acid
• Procatechuic Acid
• P-hydroxybenzoic Acid
• Ferulic acid.

These Acids are very important as they perform many functions in the body that ranges from increasing Omega-3 fatty acid absorption to improving hair quality.  Also, laboratory tests have shown that the Acai contains significant amounts of iron, vitamin A, vitamin E, calcium, and several amino acids.  Now you can appreciate why this little berry is called a “Superfruit”.

Types of Acai Berry

There are two types of Acai berries:

• White variety
• Purple, where the purple one is the most common variety.

The huge difference between the two is remarkable as the test have shown that the white variety showed no antioxidant activity when tested, whereas the purple variety showed significant reactions which is the reason for it popularity.  These berries work very well against peroxyl radicals, and well against peroxynitrite. Additionally, extracts from the seeds of the purple variety have shown better antioxidant abilities against peroxynitrits and hydroxyl radicals than the pulp.

Acai berries contain antioxidants like anthocyanins, and flavonoid-like compounds such as orientin, homoorientin, scoparin, deoxyhexose, taxifolin, and isovitexin. Proanthocyanidins and small amounts of resveratrol have also been found.  These compounds are known for their antioxidant capabilities.

Why We need Antioxidants Matter

In the body, radicals need to be controlled and not be allowed to run riot in our bodily systems.  Without antioxidants, the body would in theory, age faster and fall prey to diseases more often.  Some of the illnesses are believed to be related to the deleterious effects of radicals whcih cause :

• Atherosclerosis
• Cancer
• Liver damage
• Emphysema
• Alzheimer’s
• Parkinson’s
• Deafness
• Schizophrenia

While studies are still being conducted to confirm these theories, they have sound scientific foundations to support these views.   We cannot take any chances when it to free radicals and the damage they cause to our bodies.   Antioxidants can help your body keep these nasty free radicals in check.

The Acai berry is more than just a tasty berry, it is a great source of antioxidants and other nutrients.  Whether you enjoy the berry for its taste or health benefits, you can rest assured knowing you are getting a good dose of antioxidants when you consume it.

We hope that you found this article on  Acai Berry Antioxidant Foods useful.