Rapid Fat Loss Diets

Thursday, December 3, 2009

Acai Berries: Discoveries From The Amazon

By Nicholas Page

Around 2004 Americans were starting to become aware of the little Brazilian acai berry. In the time since, television and the Internet have been swamped with acai offers. These herbal health products and supplements are plentiful. The buzz about them has been so loud in fact that many people are unwilling to jump aboard this speeding bandwagon, regarding it as nothing but the latest health fad. If you have been waiting for all the hype to subside and wait until the final verdict is in, then the wait is over. All you have to do is consider a few of the basic ingredients known to be in the acai berry - essential fatty acids, dietary fiber, and antioxidants - if you know anything about nutrition this should be enough to convince you.

Just like the beneficial antioxidants in purple and red grapes, the acai berry also has its share of antioxidants. It has been found that the darker grapes contain more antioxidants than the lighter ones. The acai berry is a very dark purple fruit with very high levels of antioxidants, people have described the taste of this berry as a mixture of unsweetened chocolate and berry. This description alone is enough to make people want to taste this berry. But are the health benefits for real? It has long been established that antioxidants are effective in neutralizing the damaging action of oxygen free radicals in our system. A case in point is the now famous French Paradox - high consumption of red wines and low rates of coronary diseases - due to red wine containing antioxidants.

Many of the claims about the health benefits of acai are due to the antioxidants. Without enough antioxidants in our system we can succumb to what is called oxidative stress. Oxygen free radicals are a natural result of cell metabolism but an excess of free radicals can damage and even kill biological cells. Free radicals have been linked to health problems such as heart disease, macular degeneration, diabetes and even cancer. Regularly ingesting natural antioxidants is a very good way to neutralize free radicals and promote the healing and strength of our cells thereby boosting our immune system.

Another wonderful ingredient in the acai are the polyunsaturated fatty acids. These nutrients are so important to us that our bodies are actually capable of producing them from other compounds. But there are some fatty acids our bodies cannot produce, these are the essential fatty acids. Acai berries contain some of the same essential fatty acids found in olives. The only way our bodies can get these essential nutrients is by directly eating them. Polyunsaturated fatty acids can lower our cholesterol levels which in turn improves blood circulation, lowering our blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart diseases.

And of course the acai contains its own mix of dietary fiber. It is this component of the berry that is responsible for most claims about weight loss. It is well known that the typical American diet is lacking in dietary fiber, mostly due to our affinity for processed and fast foods. Low fiber in our diets contribute to poor digestive health which certainly can promote obesity, constipation, hemorrhoids and irritable bowel syndrome.

There are still many thousands of plants that have not yet been evaluated. Who knows what their herbal and medicinal properties might be. Is it any wonder that discoveries like the acai berry are still being made today? This little Brazilian acai berry really is a remarkable discovery. While we may not be able to get our hands on this fruit directly, there are many acai products and supplements available to us. Right now these supplements are the best source for the healing properties of the acai. Extracting and preserving the potency of the active ingredients is difficult and not all manufacturers and distributors are the same. Maximum Acai Power is a high quality source giving you the option of trying first for free to prove their quality. - 17273

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