Thursday 13 October 2011

Acai The Superfood

Dr. Nicholas Perricone, a renowned dermatologist who has written several books on weight loss and anti-aging regimens, has ordained the acai berry the “#1 super food.”  He’s not alone.  The title is commonly associated with the acai berry in books, websites, and a slew of health supplements as well as weight loss diets.
Is all the hype justified?
I guess it depends on your definition of “super food.”  It’s important to consider that the acai berry might just be the newest of the en vogue foods.  By now, we’ve all heard of noni juice and the goji berry.  They are the acai berry’s recent predecessors of this coveted title.        
You may be wondering, if the acai berry is really a super food or is it just the latest fad.  The truth is probably both.  No food is a super food in the sense that there isn’t one food that, by itself, can make you the picture of health.  If your goal is to be healthy, then that requires a combination of many things.  Aside from good genes, you have to commit yourself to a healthy balanced diet, exercise, activities that lessen your stress level as well as a positive outlook on life.  If you’re looking for a one-stop shop to finding good health, it simply doesn’t exist.
Is acai a nutritious and healthy fruit?
Like many fruits, it’s full of antioxidants, fiber, flavonoids, and phytonutrients.  However, acai is actually a pretty exceptional fruit in terms of its powerhouse of healthy nutrients.  It also contains B vitamins, protein, omega-3 acids and oleic acid.  If that weren’t enough this amazing little fruit also contains minerals, such as potassium, copper and manganese.
Acai is a purple fruit from the acai palm tree that grows in Central and South America.  Antioxidants called anthocyanins are attributed for providing its beautiful color and, it comes by its color honestly, as anthocyanin is Greek for “plant” and “blue.”   Anthocyanins are also the antioxidants that give the red, purple and blue coloring to other fruits, vegetables and flowers such as blueberries, pomegranates, cherries, red grapes and blackberries.  Anthocyanins aren’t just responsible for the beauty of the acai berry, but are also a powerful weapon in the immune system’s fight against free radicals.
Free radicals are insidious atoms that attack healthy cells, causing them to mutate.  When cells mutate to the point at which the immune system can’t keep up the fight, the result is premature aging and illnesses such as heart disease and even cancer.  It is also important to note that if your immune system is flying solo, it zaps a tremendous amount of your body’s energy, because it has to work in over-drive.  This leaves you exhausted and that is no way to go through life.   Antioxidants fight the good fight against free radicals and actually neutralize them, allowing your immune system to work at a healthier pace.
It’s true that we live in a world in which the air is full of pollutants and even under the best of circumstances we are exposed to dangerous chemicals, unnatural hormones and pesticides.  There is a lot that can make you sick and it’s a little known fact that the immune system is constantly bombarded with environmental contaminants.  The immune system is a magnificent machine, but it can’t keep you healthy all by itself.  You can help by empowering yourself by living a healthy and balanced lifestyle.  One sure way to do this to eat a healthy diet, which includes antioxidant-high foods; a great choice being acai berries.

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