Antioxident
Rich Foods Like The Acai Berry
Antioxidant
rich food is a subject that has become a hot topic the last
few years - and for good reason. We face a daily assault against
our immunity which affects our appearance as well as our internal
body systems and organs.
And
nutrition experts have learned that Acai Berries are one of
the richest sources of bioflavonoids, antioxidants proven to
destroy tissue-damaging free radicals and reinforce the cells
that make up blood vessel walls which results in significantly
enhanced blood circulation.
Some
beauty experts now tout berries among the best antioxidant rich
foods and their juice and extract to be so powerful that just
one eight ounce glass of pure cranberry juice (or the extract
equivalent) daily will diminish cellulite dimples in as little
as three weeks.
How
do you keep free radicals at bay? By the use of free radical
scavengers.
These
free radical scavengers occur naturally in the body and neutralize
free radicals. Certain enzymes serve this vital function and
four important enzymes are superoxide dismutase (SOD), methione
reductase, catalase, and glutathione
peroxidase.
The
body normally produces these enzymes but it needs help for full
spectrum free radical prevention and damage control. That's
where a diet rich in antioxidants is vital. These antioxidants
are also scavengers, gobbling up the sometimes deadly free radical
particles.
Many
health care practitioners see the wisdom in daily intake of
plenty of Acai and other fruits and vegetables in a variety
of colors. Some recommend daily: Intake of 1 quart (1.1 litre)
purified water a day PLUS 1 quart (1.1 litre) fresh fruit or
vegetable juice.
With
juicing one can consume many more enzymes and natural antioxidants
than a person normally would in a "good diet". Your
body is composed of billions of microscopic cells and your every
existence depends on these cells. They need live nourishment
and this can be supplied very well in the form of juicing.
There
are many juicers now available and you can achieve benefit from
any of them. We like the newer, time-saving models that allow
the user to place WHOLE fruits and vegetables in the unit and
delicious, fresh juice emerges in a matter of seconds.
The
more color and variety of produce, the more natural antioxidants
one can consume. Carotenoids and flavonoids found in these fruits
and vegetables can contribute to a very large extent to our
program of antiaging. Why? Because these natural chemical compounds
slow or halt oxidative processes that may prevent or deter the
onset of many diseases associated with aging, including heart
disease, prostate cancer, diabetes, wrinkles and sun damage
and much more.
By
adding concentrated berry extracts, one has even more natural
antioxidant tools. Once again, eating fresh is great. However,
some companies now offer concentrated extracts of berries like
elderberries, Acai, blueberries, cranberries, and bilberries
for 10-15 times the amount of antioxidants as can be found in
the fruit alone. Acai is the best source for antioxidants
out of any fruit on earth!
Researchers
at the USDA Human Nutrition Center have found that blueberries
rank number 1 in antioxidant activity when compared to 40 other
fresh fruits and vegetables.
Anthoycyanin
- the pigment that makes blueberries blue and Acai dark purple
- is thought to be responsible for this major health benefit.
Blueberries also contain beta-carotene, Vitamin C, Vitamin E,
Vitamin A, ellagic acid and phenolics that can also act as antioxidants.
Other health benefits one can expect form blueberries are:
Support
cognitive function, concentration and memory
Maintain eye and retina health
Promote urinary tract health
Support healthy glucose metabolism
Not
just for urinary tract health, cranberry extracts are provide
potent antioxidants that protect and detoxify. Combining cranberry
with the therapeutically beneficial elderberry and lo han fruits
results in a delicious herbal supplement that helps to maintain
urinary tract health, promotes cardiovascular health, cellular
health and even dental health. Because of its detoxifying properties,
it increases your energy levels and improves mood.
Pomegranates
too have been used for thousands of years by Mediterranean peoples.
And pomegranates
have recently been promoted for their beautiful skin-enhancing
properties. Pomegranates contain polyphenols,
tannins, ellagic acid and anthocyanins. These compounds are
believed to fight disease and pomegranates can also:
Support
healthy blood pressure levels
Help maintain healthy blood vessels
Reduce the oxidation of LDL cholesterol
Support oral health
Support skin health
Green,
black and white teas have been studied for their antioxidant
powers too. Many research organizations have demonstrated that
the polyphenols, detected in these teas, help to support a healthy
heart and cardiovascular system and are recommended for smokers,
the obese and those under stress and duress, though anyone could
benefit from their consumption. A source of concentrated green
tea extracts.
Some
vitamins are considered antioxidants such as vitamins E and
C. As are the carotenoids
(such as beta-carotene); selenium; and flavonoids (anthocyanidins,
polyphenols, quercetin, glutathione, alpha-lipoic acid, and
coenzyme Q10. Vitamin E is the body's principal fat-soluble
antioxidant vitamin and protects fatty cell components from
free-radical oxidation. It works well in conjunction with selenium
and vitamin C.
As
an antioxidant, vitamin E protects DNA and other cell structures
from damage. It also protects LDL cholesterol from oxidation
which would otherwise trigger an early step in the development
of cardiovascular disease. There are other antioxidants so to
verify a wide spectrum of protection, eat a wide variety of
fruits and vegetables and consider a daily intake of a plant-based
green "superfood" formula. Preferably one that contains
foods from the allium family (onions, garlic, chives) and sprouts.
Sprouts
from vegetables and legumes are extremely health-enhancing and
often contain a concentrated form of antioxidant protection
not found in the food alone. Broccoli sprouts, especially have
been noted to provide more protection than just eating the cruciferous
vegetables by themselves. Which is very important for immune
enhancement and cancer prevention.
Acai Antioxidant Study
Highlight:
In a major study on fruit and vegetable antioxidant content
published in the June 9 2004 Journal of Agricultural and Food
Chemistry Acai berries won easily in terms of the amount of
antioxidant per pound. Antioxidants are disease fighting compounds
that scientists believe help repair and/or prevent the stress
of oxidation, a process that occurs naturally during normal
cell function.
This
comprehensive study used cutting-edge technology to gauge antioxidant
levels in more than 100 foods, among them Acai fruits, vegetables,
cereals, breads, nuts, and spices. Among the fruits studied,
acai berry, cranberries, blueberries, and blackberries ranked
highest. But although some fruits and vegetables have a high
antioxidant content, the body may not absorb all of it because
of bioavailability, which is tied to the mechanical structure
of antioxidants in food.
But
don't forget peaches, plums, and a little red wine. By Jeanie
Lerche Davis WebMD Feature Fruits, especially berries, are chock-full
of the disease-fighting antioxidants essential to your health.
Berries
are the crown jewels of summer, the gems that inspire pies,
parfaits, cobblers, ice cream treats, and whipped cream wonders.
Best of all, berries deliver super-healthy antioxidants
that help fight disease.
A
landmark study shows that just one cup of berries provides all
the disease-fighting antioxidants you need in a single day.
Of
course, dietitians will tell you, "Don't stop there."
A healthy diet needs a variety of nutrients from many food sources.
Raspberries,
blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries are plentiful in
most corners of the U.S. "Berries are available almost
year-round now...and even though they may be more expensive
some times of the year, they're still much more accessible than
they used to be," says Cindy Moore, MS, RD, spokeswoman
for the American Dietetic Association and director of nutrition
therapy at The Cleveland Clinic.
Berries
and other foods figured in a major study published in the June
9, 2004, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
This
research provides the largest, most comprehensive report thus
far of antioxidant content in fruits and vegetables.
A
small percentage of cells becomes damaged during oxidation and
turns into free
radicals, which can start a chain reaction to harming more cells
and possibly disease.
This
newest study used updated technology to assess antioxidant levels
in more than 100 foods, including fruits, vegetables, cereals,
breads, nuts,
and spices.
Cranberries,
blueberries, and blackberries ranked highest among the fruits
studied.
Peaches,
mangos, and melons, while scoring lower than berries, still
contain plenty of antioxidants as well as other nutrients.
However,
there's a catch: Even though some fruits and vegetables have
a high antioxidant content, the body does not absorb all of
it.
The
concept is called bioavailability, explains researcher Ronald
Prior, PhD, a chemist and nutritionist with the USDA's Arkansas
Children's Nutrition Center in Little Rock, Ark.
Acai
Antioxidants and Vitamins
Vitamins
and antioxidants are fast becoming widely accepted as anti-ageing
nutrients and the market for anti-ageing formulations is growing
at 7.6 per cent annually.
"There
is overwhelming evidence that Acai decreases the risk of heart
diseases,"
Free
radicals are involved in both the onset and the progression
of heart disease The damage to the heart muscle is due to a
burst of free radicals after the flood flow resumes,"
says Packer who is currently director of Packer Lab and a member
of the Scientific Advisory Board for Nu Skin and Pharmanex.
He
has also published over 800 scientific papers and more than
100 books on antioxidants and health as well as a book, The
AntiOxidant Miracle --- his first book for non-scientists.
They
have a unique role in preventing and treating conditions such
as atherosclerosis, high cholesterol levels and even some cancers.
The cause of heart disease means a failure of the body's antioxidant
network to do its job. Thus bolstering Vitamin E and the entire
antioxidant network has a profound effect on our ability to
stave off heart diseases.
This
was because the south's Mediterranean diet includes high amounts
of Vitamin E-rich foods such as olive oil and and an assortment
of fruit and vegetables," says Packer. Antioxidants
regenerate each other and work in coordination. Some antioxidants,
although metabolically connected with the other antioxidants
like the carotenoids (natural pigments found in fruit and vegetables)
--- don't operate the same way.
It
is better to take a multivitamin supplement with all the antioxidant
and antioxidant enzymes.
Acaí
Antioxidants
Taking
the world by storm is a newly-found Amazon berry, acai. The
acai’s antioxidants are what really make this berry stand
apart from the rest of the fruit in the world. This amazing
Brazilian berry has twice the antioxidants of blueberries, which
was previously one of the best antioxidant providers. It also
has 10 times the antioxidants of grapes and as much as 30 times
more than some types of wine.
Per
gram, the acai berry’s pulp, which is really all that
is used of the berry, has an antioxidant potency of 167 while
pomegranates have 106 and blueberries have 32. The high levels
of acai’s antioxidants contribute to fighting premature
aging, cancer and other health related issues. Much like the
French attribute their low rate of cardiovascular diseases to
red wine the people of South American can contribute their low
rates of disease to the acai berry. The fatty acid ratio is
also a contributing factor for lowering the risk of heart disease.
Native Indians around the Amazon have relied on this berry for
hundred of years. They even refer to the acai palm tree, which
bears this fruit, the “Tree of Life” because it
offers such a vast amount of berries with each plant.
In
addition to acai’s antioxidants, these berries contain
an almost perfect essential amino acid complex, monounsaturated
fats, dietary fibers and phytosterols. Several health drink
and juice products are sold over the internet. Some can even
be found in health stores in the United States and Europe. The
popularity of this super berry has been increasing rapidly.
Since the berry itself cannot be transported from Brazil (it
must be harvested, pulped, frozen, and then shipped), a convenient
powder or purée form is available. Be careful which products
you choose. Not all of them are 100% acai based and therefore,
their nutritional value varies. Base your product choice off
of your needs.
I
bet by now you are curious just how you would use this new fruit
and gain some of acai’s antioxidant power in your daily
life. Any way you want. Try it for breakfast, lunch, dinner,
dessert, or a snack during the day. Just like with blueberries,
it is a great addition to starting your day and it can be added
as a juice, powder, purée, or even in a capsule form
with your daily multi-vitamin. Amazingly, freeze-dried berries
will retain their nutritional value for up to three years.
If
you buy it in powder form, all you have to do is mix the powder
with water or add to your smoothie for a health and energy boost.
A purée can also be added to a smoothie or used as a
condiment. One of the first uses for the acai berry by the natives
was to warm it and use it as a sauce over meat or fist entrees
or to freeze the purée and serve it as a sorbet. These
alternate forms of the berry seems like a much better option
for everyone outside of the Amazon region considering a berry
that sits in the hot sun for a day will cause the acai antioxidant
levels to decrease by almost 40 percent. That takes a lot of
power out of the acai antioxidant punch.
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