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Tuesday, July 21, 2009

What is Acai Good for? The Science Behind the Super Fruit

By Travis Van Slooten

The acai berry has been all over television and the news and has people asking, "What is acai good for?" Sometimes it gets headlines because people are touting its remarkable value as a health supplement. Other times because it has become the undeserving product of many scam artists. So why all the fuss about the little berry? What is it that has people so crazy about this new health supplement?

Antioxidants vs Free Radicals

The first thing you are likely to hear about when discussing the acai berry is antioxidants. But why all the fuss? Well, it starts with something called free radicals. Essentially, these are atoms which are missing an electron from their standard pair. Because of this, they seek out other atoms and steal their electron. This is a normal process and occurs in everyone. In fact, free radicals are essential in fighting off harmful bacteria. But they have a mean streak as well. Especially when you get too many of them. An overabundance of free radicals can lead to mutations at the cellular level. They can damage DNA itself and cause any number of health problems. Antioxidants slow down free radicals and balance out the good with the bad.

The French Paradox and the Role of Anthocyanins

Still looking for more answers to "what is acai good for"? Let's go to a scenario which isn't quite as familiar as antioxidants and free radicals. It's called the French Paradox. For years, health professionals have been baffled as to why the French people, who live on a typical diet of meats and saturated fats, have low incidence of coronary heart disease. It was later found out that the anthocyanins found in red wine that is also a staple among them, was helping to offset their high fat intake. Now where does acai come in in all these? Acai contains a high level of anthocyanins just like red wine, and yet none of the alcohol content.

Shouldn't we stay away from fat?

Definitely not. Fat is often pointed out as something we should avoid at all costs but there are actually good fats. These are the type of fats contained in acai berries which reduce bad cholesterol and promote good cholesterol. What makes this fat from acai doubly important is that good or unsaturated fat are not produced by the body and can only be obtained from dietary intake.

Acai berry is believed to be so beneficial because it contains many compounds which have been known for years to be good for you. As research continues into the acai berry, the facts will tell us exactly how healthy the acai berry really is. So if you are still wondering what is acai good for, stay tuned and this amazing little fruit may surprise you. - 17268

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