Acai packs a nutritional punch
Laura on Oct 24th 2008
Acai, Anthocyanins, and the French paradox
Have you ever seen beautiful purple flowers? How about a deep red grape or a bright red Fuji apple? If you answered yes (and if you said no - stop reading this article and go out and enjoy nature more!) then you have seen anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are flavonoid pigments that plants and fruits synthesize. Anthocyanins give plants and fruits their beautiful pigmentation - but it is not all about looks. Anthocyanins can acts as a sunscreen for plants and in fruits the bright color attracts animals which feast on the fruits and in the process disperse the seeds. However, the aspect of Anthocyanins that is of most interest in regard to the Acai fruit is their antioxidant properties.
Fruits (like the Acai Berry Fruit) that are exposed to strong sunlight face a tremendous amount of ultra violet light stress. This UV light triggers free radicals to form in the fruit. Fruits, such as the Acai berry, develop high levels of anthocyanins because they have very strong antioxidants properties and can quench the free radicals. Here is the interesting part - the antioxidant properties of anthocyanins are maintained even after they are eaten by another organism. This is why fruits with bright pigmentation tend to have the great ORAC values - they are loaded with anthocyanins! Yes, you guessed it - Acai berries have a tremendous concentration of anthocyanins.
The French have a diet very rich in cheese, sugar, coffee, nicotine, sugar and white flour. With this type of diet you would expect the French to have a very high rate of heart disease, however, the exact opposite is true. The ability of the French to consume a heart clogging diet and yet have a very low rate of heart disease has been labeled the French Paradox.
Researchers now believe they have the reason for the “French Paradox” - anthocyanins! The French drink a significant amount of red wine and the the red wine grape, due to its anthocyanins is what is believed to be responsible for the very low incidence of heart disease. While red wine has a good quantity of anthocyanins, the Acai berry has over 30 times the anthocyanins as red wine.
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Acai is the new fad in southern Brazil Oct 24th 2008 at 04:56 pm 1
[...] Acai berries – what is it? [...]
Acai is considered an energizer Oct 24th 2008 at 04:57 pm 2
[...] makes Acai so [...]
Try the new fab the Acai berry Oct 29th 2008 at 12:24 am 3
[...] 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, amino acids, essential omegas, fibers and protein. Some of the health benefits associated with the acai berry are: increase in sustained energy, help with healthy cholesterol management, improvement of digestive system, strengthening immune system, among others. Oprah’s website described acai as “one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in the world…”, while the book, The Perricone Promise, calls it the “nature’s perfect energy fruit.” over at http://www.tangent.com. [...]
Can the Acai berry kill cancer cells? Oct 29th 2008 at 12:26 am 4
[...] Acai, Anthocyanins, and the French paradox [...]
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Acai is the world’s number one super food Nov 5th 2008 at 01:16 am 6
[...] berry is a small fruit with huge appeal, and its popularity is simply booming. The beauty of an acai diet – that is a diet that incorporates Acai in some part of it, not a diet consisting purely of [...]
Find the beauty of the Acai diet Nov 5th 2008 at 01:19 am 7
[...] berries are harvested almost exclusively as food in the Amazon region of Brazil. Whilst the acai diet may be growing in popularity in the US and Europe, it is interesting to note that some of the people [...]
Acai diet is a healthy way to lose weight Nov 5th 2008 at 01:26 am 8
[...] has been plenty of discussion lately about the positive benefits of an acai diet. Acai is a wonderful little fruit from the Amazon region which has been widely billed as the newest [...]
Acai diet is suitable for absolutely everyone Nov 7th 2008 at 01:48 am 9
[...] to reduce the physical and mental effects of ageing will be immediately popular. So it is with the acai diet, which promises much and delivers even [...]
Acai berry has increased in popularity around the globe Nov 9th 2008 at 02:38 am 10
[...] People everywhere are searching for the elusive ‘cure’ to ageing These people will do well to consider an acai diet. [...]
Why don’t Acai berries come in their natural form? Nov 10th 2008 at 02:45 am 11
[...] may have been hearing a lot about the acai berry. And rightly so. Not only is this berry one of the best sources of anti-oxidants known to man, it is [...]