It was around 2004 when the Brazilian acai berry gained national attention in America. Since then the TV and Internet offers have exploded. Acai berry products and herbal supplements seem to be everywhere. The promotional hype lately has been so huge most people don't know what to think about this amazing little berry and are reluctant to try it for fears of jumping on the proverbial bandwagon. If you consider just three of the basic ingredients in these little berries - antioxidants, essential omega fatty acids, and dietary fiber - you can only come to the conclusion it must be good for you.
By now most people know the story of red and purple grapes and the now famous French Paradox: high intake of red wines yet low rates of heart disease. This low rate of heart disease has been linked to the antioxidants in red wines. In fact the darker the grape the higher the antioxidant level. The acai berry is a very dark purple fruit and has very high levels of antioxidants. Most people who have tasted the fresh acai berry compare it to a mix of chocolate and berry, what a wonderful blend of flavors. These natural antioxidants are known to neutralize oxygen free radicals in our bodies.
Much of the claims you hear about the benefits of the acai are a result of the antioxidants in this berry. If we do not have enough of these in our system we could suffer from what is called oxidative stress. Free radicals in our bodies are actually natural, the result of cell metabolism, but if we accumulate too many free radicals they can damage our cells. This can lead to various health problems such as diabetes, cancer, even coronary heart diseases. If we regularly supplement our diets with antioxidants they will neutralize the excess oxygen free radicals and help to boost our immune system by healing our cells.
Another benefit of the acai berry is its polyunsaturated fatty acids. These are the good fats our bodies need. These compounds are so necessary to our health that our bodies can even make these compounds for us out of other nutrients we consume. However, there are some unsaturated fatty acids our bodies cannot make, these are called essential fatty acids. The only way our bodies can get these important nutrients is for us to ingest them directly. That is why they are called essential. The acai berry contains polyunsaturated fatty acids similar to those found in olives. These compounds can actually help to reduce our cholesterol levels, improve blood circulation, reduce the risk of high blood pressure and 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 literally thousands of plants that are yet to be evaluated for their herbal and medicinal properties so it is no wonder new discoveries like this are still being made.The Brazilian acai berry really is an amazing little fruit. In this country we may not have direct access to this berry but we now have readily available to use many products and supplements containing various forms of this healing fruit. In many cases the supplements are the best way to go as the beneficial natural ingredients don't always survive human attempts at extracting and preserving their natural potency. It is important you buy from a source who knows how to preserve the potency of the ingredients. Maximum Acai Power is a great product giving you the option of trying it first before you buy.
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