There are a number foods available on the market today that contain the important chemicals known as antioxidants, one of which is the acai berry from the Amazon. This berry, although tiny in size, has a significant amount of many vital antioxidants other foods may lack. These acai berry antioxidants are important for our body in more than one way.
Acai berries are the antioxidant-rich fruits of eight species of palms from the genus Euterpe, which are native to South and Central America. These trees grow in floodplains and swamps, where water is plentiful. Each palm produces two crops of berries a year, which are harvested for many uses. Of particular note is the importance of the acai berry in South American countries like Brazil, where some of the locals use the fruit as a major part of their diet in their everyday life.
These berries make up to 42% of total food intake for members of several traditional Caboclo communities in Brazil. Even in modern communities, acai berries are enjoyed as juices, shakes, smoothies, and a number of other ways. For an even more enjoyable treat during the summer, it is eaten cold, as they have acai berry flavored sodas and ice creams available.
More recently, the acai berry has entered popular consciousness as a health food, with people calling it a superfruit. Superfruit's are fruits that taste pleasant and contain antioxidants and other nutritional substances. Examples of superfruit's are acai berries, blueberries, goji berries, and pomegranate. The definition of a superfruit may seem dubious for some, since delicious and nutritious fruits like strawberries, oranges, blackcurrant's, and blackberries are not commonly called superfruit's. 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
Because acai berries spoil very quickly after being picked, they are rarely sold outside production areas as whole fruit. More often than not, they are freeze-dried and powdered. This allows the nutrients to remain preserved so they can be properly shipped worldwide. From this powder, companies can create juices, blends, and supplements.
The fat content is distributed among oleic acid, palmitic acid, sitosterols and linoleic acid. Other substances found in the fruit are polyphenols, such as vanillic acid, syringic acid, procatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and ferulic acid. These perform many functions in the body, ranging from increasing omega-3 fatty acid absorption to improving hair quality. Also, laboratory tests have shown that it contains significant amounts of iron, vitamin A, vitamin E, calcium, and several amino acids.
There are two types of acai berries: the white variety and the purple (the most common) variety. The white kind of berries showed no antioxidant activity when tested, whereas the purple variety, the kind most often used, showed significant reactions. 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.
Antioxidants vs Radicals
Radicals are defined as atoms, molecules, or ions that are likely to be part of chemical reactions. This description may seem innocuous enough, but radicals can be dangerous to living organisms. Also known by the term free radicals, these substances are used in many biological processes, yet some of them can cause degradation on a cellular level. For example, a group of radicals known as super oxides which normally serve as microbe killers can cause oxidation in cell walls, shortening their life spans. Radicals are biologically useful, but they can be deleterious in excess.
Radicals are thought to have roles in aging, as well as cancer. Their relationship to cancer is based on the capability of radicals to cause damage to strands of DNA, leading to mutations that cause uncontrolled cell growth, thus tumors and cancer.
Most radicals are controlled by enzymes that break them down or otherwise transform them to more stable, non-reactive forms. Often, the reactions occur faster than the enzymes can cope, so cells age and deteriorate. This is thought to be the mechanism of aging. To counteract these radicals, antioxidants are used. Antioxidants are able to inhibit the oxidative reactions caused by radicals, thus the term “antioxidant”. In theory, antioxidants can prevent cellular damage and slow or prevent aging.
Antioxidants stay in the blood for varying lengths of time. Some may stay for up to two hours, while others can persist for longer or shorter. Different antioxidant substances are also effective against different groups of radicals.
Why Antioxidants Matter
In the body, radicals need to be controlled. Without antioxidants, the body would in theory age faster and fall sick more often. Some of the illnesses believed to be related to the deleterious effects of radicals are atherosclerosis, cancer, liver damage, emphysema, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, deafness and schizophrenia. While scientific studies are still being conducted to confirm these theories, they have sound scientific foundations. This means that we cannot take chances when it comes to free radicals. Antioxidants can help your body keep the double-edged 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.