July 29th, 2009 - No Comments

Acai Nutritional Information: Get the Acai Nutrition Facts Before You Buy


The acai berry has become a byword when it comes to health supplements, and yet many are still unaware of exactly what the acai nutritional facts are that makes this little berry so in-demand. Looking at the long list of the healthy minerals and vitamins contained in the acai berry is like looking at the “who’s-who” in the world of nutrients. Name it, the acai has got it. Care to find out what these are? Let’s start with the acai’s most important and useful components.

The Ever-Important Antioxidant

If you’re paying any attention at all to many of the leading diseases present in our society today, you’ve most likely come across the terms free radical and antioxidant. These are like the good and evil in our bodies, the former causing the diseases and the latter combating its effects. Free radicals are produced in the body even while we go about our daily activities. These are naturally produced atoms that lack an electron pair, and they go about stealing electron from other atoms, which in turn cause other atoms to turn into free radicals. Now in low levels, free radicals are tolerable in the body but an overabundance of them can trigger a host of illnesses including some of the most serious ones like cancer and heart diseases. Antioxidants slow down the negative effects of free radicals by providing that much-needed electron.

And this is where the acai berry is so incredible. ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) measures how well a food combats free radicals. The avocado, long known for lowering rates of prostate cancer, has an ORAC count of 19. Cranberries, touted as the king of super fruits, measures an astounding 94. But the acai berry has an ORAC count of 610. Go ahead and read that again. It’s not a typo. The acai berry doesn’t just push the bar, it sets an entirely new standard among super fruits.

There is Still More to the Acai Berry

The acai is not touted as a super food for nothing. True, its antioxidant content is just unbelievable but it doesn’t stop there. Acai contains a component called anthocyanins, the same substance found in red wine, which is effective in fighting coronary heart disease. A decent amount of unsaturated fats can also be found in acai berry. These unsaturated or “good” fats, produce essential fatty acids like Omega-6 which are needed in the body. Acai berry is also a good source of fiber, which is an energy booster.

Is the Acai Berry Deserving of the Title of Super Fruit?

If being a super fruit means having an incredible level of antioxidants as compared to other foods, and an abundance of fiber, anthocyanins, and essential fatty acids, then yes, acai berry is nothing less than a super fruit. Fresh acai may never be available to you unless you visit the specific areas in Brazil where acai is grown but it doesn’t mean that you’ll miss out on all the nutrients that acai berry can offer. By getting high-quality acai supplements, you can also take advantage of the acai nutritional benefits.

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