Acai

What is Acai?

Acai is a berry from the Amazon. It has been considered the healthiest berry in the world due to the great concentration of antioxidants, healthy omega fats and fibers.

What is the origin of Acai?

Acai is original from Amazon, Brazil.

How to pronounce "acai"?

Acai is pronounced "a-sigh-eeh" in Brazilian Portuguese.

Why Can't I buy the Acai Berries?

The acai berry is about 97-98% seed, and only 2-3% "meat" (as the Brazilian locals call it). 24 hours after harvested, the Acai berry already lost most of its nutritional value.

Why Acai is called the "super food" ?

Acai is loaded with antioxidants, about 20 times more than red wine, which helps fight aging. Acai also carries lots of fibers, healthy monounsaturated fats, iron and amino acids.

What is the Acai Fruit?

Acai – Scientific Name: Euterpe Oleracea

The fruit is small, round and blackish purple. It looks like a grape, but smaller and darker. It has a big seed and very little pulp. Acai is widely used in energy drinks, ice cream, energy bars with granola, and mainly in Brazil the pulp is taken straight or used in juices.

Why Acai is so good for us?

Acai is loaded with antioxidants (considerably more than pomegranate, blueberries and grapes). Antioxidants are molecules that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Free radical damage may lead to cancer. Antioxidants interact with and stabilize free radicals and may prevent some of the damage free radicals otherwise might cause. Acai also carries lots of fibers, healthy monounsaturated fats, iron and amino acids. To learn more about acai health benefits click here.

Acai Berry and Weight loss?

First of all, we at Acai do not believe in "magical ingredient" that by itself will make you loose 20 lbs one week.

Acai is considered by many doctors and specialists the most powerful fruit on earth due to its great concentration of antioxidants, essential omegas, proteins, dietary fiber and other vitamins and enzymes. Combined with proper diet and exercise the acai berry can be an outstanding weight loss aid. Acai berry's natural combination of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, amino acids, and phytosterols work very well together to help your body function better, process food easier, and burn fat more efficiently. At Acai we promote a whole lifestyle change including regular physical activities (sports), balanced diet with lots of acai in order to obtain significant better health and weight loss. To learn more about acai and weight loss visit our acai and weight loss section.

What benefits can I expect from Acai?

The following are just some of the reported benefits of taking Acai, results vary from person to person but benefits can be felt in 1-2 weeks of usage:

• Greater energy/stamina
• Improved digestion
• Improved Mental Focus
• Better sleep
• All nutrients come from one berry
• Acai has more proteins then an average egg
• Acai has a high amount of lipids that gives you the energy of a raging bull.
• It is an all in one Multi-Vitamin Product; why take 15 or 20 capsules just to have the same vitamins found in just 2 capsules of Acai.
• Acai has essential minerals such as iron, potassium, phosphorus and calcium.
• Acai has all natural Vitamin B1 (Thiamin), Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin), Vitamin B3 (Niacin), Vitamin C, Vitamin E (tocopherol)
• Improved sexual function
• Acai has been shown to have up to 33 times the Antocyanine (a powerful Anti-Oxidant) then red wine grapes.
• Acai has a high level of fibers that is good for elderly and for people who have problems with digestive organs.
• Acai has two essential fatty acids known as Omega 6 (Linoleic acid) and Omega 9 (Oleic acid). Research shows that these fatty acids maintain normal cholesterol levels.
• Research has shown that these Anti-Oxidants help regulate normal cholesterol levels.
• Acai's Anti-Oxidant factors play a large role in maintenance of vascular cardiac system, which is important for better blood circulation.
• Acai is considered one of the richest nutritive fruits from the Amazon or the world for that fact.
• An almost perfect essential amino acid complex in conjunction with valuable trace minerals, vital to proper muscle contractions and regeneration.
• More bio-active then liquid freeze dried versions of Acai
• Very low Sugar content for a fruit
• Cleansing and Detoxing your body
• Boost your Immune System

What difference does an Extract make to a powder?

Our Acai is a pure 2 to 1 ratio Extract. This means that it takes more then 2 kilos of pure pulp to make 1 kilo of our extract. Thus giving you the customer the most benefits for your money. Powders is a basic processing that involves the pulp being made in a 1 to 1 ratio and dried. This process is not as bio-active and contains less benefits.

What is the relation to Red Wine and Anti-Oxidants?

The Acai is very rich in Anthoyanins, and antioxidant substance that help fight the cholesterol and free radical. Have you every heard that a glass of red wine everyday is good for the heart? This is because of the Anthocyanins in the grape. It is not by accident that the color of the Acai is similar to the color of red wine, although the Acai has 33 times more Anthocyanins than the grape. The Anthocyanins is also a strong natural coloring.

Other Facts about Acai:

• Acai is a dense source of particular class of flavonoids called anthocyanins (red-blue phenols with potent antioxidant properties)
• Anthocyanins are a group of phytochemicals in red wine thought to contribute to the "French paradox", i, e. France has one of the lowest incidences of heart disease of any westernized society despite a prevalence of smoking and a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol (5). Acai pulp contains 10-30 times the anthocyanins of red wine per equal volume (1).
• The primary anthocyanin in .Acai is cyanidin-3 glucoside (1), Cyanidin-3- glucoside has been found to be 3.5 times stronger than Trolox (vitamin E analogue) and the predominate anthocyanin found in red wine (nalvadin-3-glucoside) in an ORAC analysis (measure of antioxidant capacity) (2).
• Anthocyanins have been found to "exhibit numerous potential therapeutic effects including treatment of diabetic retinopathy and fibrocystic disease of the breast in human" (2). "Other potential physiological effects of anthocyanins include radiation ­protective, chemopratective, vasoprotective and anti-inflammatory agents" (2),
• The fatty acid ratio of Acai resembles that of olive oil, which is thought to be a contributing factor to the low incidence of heart disease in Mediterranean populations (1, 5),
• 60% Oleic (Omega 9) a monounsaturated, essential fatty acid, helps lower LDL (harmful cholesterol) while maintaining HDL, (beneficial cholesterol) levels (5).
• 12% Linoleic (Omega 6) a polyunsaturated, essential fatty acid, has been found to lower both LDL and HL levels (5).
• Fatty acids aid in the transport and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins ice. Vitamins A, E, D, and K(3).
• Acai contains valuable phytosterols
• Sterols are components of plant cell membranes providing numerous benefits to the human body, namely the reduction of blood plasma cholesterol (5)
• Sterols are currently being used to treat symptoms associated with BP.

References,

1) Claire Madden, VP Marketing at MarketResearch.com,

2) "Biochemical and Technical Studies on Acai" by Dr. Herve Rogez 2, Sofia Pascal 2, Jesus N.S. de Souza, Arlete R. Aquino & Raphaele Buxant Dept.. de Engenharia Quimica - Centro Tecnologico, Diaouiweir ria I niinnin, Beligica)

3) National Contor for Health Statictice. Annual summary of births, marriages, divorces, and deaths United States, 1993, Monthly vital statistics report-, vol 42 no 13. Hyattsville, MD: Public Health Service, 1594.

4) American Heart Association. Heart and stroke facts 1995 statistical supplement. Dallas, TX: American Heart Association, 1994,

5) National Cholesterol Education Program. Second report of the Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol In Adults Adult Treatment Panel II). BeM6sda National Heart, Lung.