Acai Berry
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Acai is a berry fruit with potent antioxidant benefits. Many research studies have firmly established that taking berry fruits has a positive and profound impact on our health, performance, and disease prevention. |  |
Consider adding açaí berries to your regular dietary intake of pomegranate, blueberry and other berry fruits to maximize your long-term health and vitality.
You may want to try it to treat your arthritis problem but beware of scam and incredible inflated claims that it will cure it. It may work well for you. At least if it works a little, you might be able to lower your dose of your current anti-inflammatory medication. This would be great because anti-inflammatory drugs, with long-term use, have a nasty danger of hurting the stomach. Remember to discuss this with your doctor to let him or her know what you are planning to do.
Buy from online retailer or wholesaler that you trust so that you know exactly what you are getting. Where you get açaí is as important as which manufacturer made it.
Having said that, some websites are offering free trial bottles of açaí. Be aware of their policy so that you can avoid scams. We have heard of complaints of recurring credit card charges and non-responsive customer service department.
The two brands that have been used in research studies that are MonaVie Active and OptiAcai.
Table of Contents
Side Effects, Toxicity and Warnings
Common Drug & Health Condition Interactions
Dosage & How to Take It
Evidence of Benefits (Leaf Rating System)
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Antioxidant
benefits / General health In one clinical study, researchers showed that drinking açaí juice increases the antioxidant benefits in healthy adults. Antioxidants are proven to be beneficial to overall health. |
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High Cholesterol A recently published well-designed clinical study lasting 12 weeks showed that berry-derived anthocyanin brings down the "bad" cholesterol (LDL) and raises the "good" cholesterol (HDL) significantly. |
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Leukemia In laboratory settings at the University of Florida, this dietary supplement slows down the growth of leukemia cancer cells. The researcher cautioned that although açaí berry fruits are a rich source of antioxidants, other berries such as grapes, guavas and mangoes also have been shown to kill cancer cells as well. |
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Anti-inflammatory
benefits (Arthritis/Osteoarthritis/Rheumatoid arthritis) In laboratory settings, açaí mildly inhibited the COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes in the same way as Aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs (such as Celebrex, Naprosyn and Aleve). |
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Cancer
cure or prevention / Other health conditions There are no studies either in animal or human experiments. Lab test shows that this berry is able to stop the growth of cancerous leukemia cells. |
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Weight
loss / Obesity There are no studies either in animal or human trials. Anecdotal reports suggest that taking this berry can lead to a significant weight loss. |
Facts about Acai
The health benefits made on the internet and
television shows as to what acai berry plant and juice can cure far
exceed
any research studies we could find.
However, we do know that eating berry fruits have a positive impact on overall health. (Don't you hate it when your mother was right in suggesting eating more fruits and vegetables?!)
Some consider açaí berry to be nature's most perfect food as it has one of the highest Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) which neutralizes the dangerous free radicals that damages healthy cells. ORAC measures the power of the antioxidant capacities of various food products.
Experts believe that aging, atherosclerosis, heart disease plus many other ailments are the direct and indirect results of free radical damage to cells. It has been called "The Viagra of the Amazon."How do you pronounce acai?
AH-sigh-EE is the proper pronunciation for this berry.
What is are some other names?
What is acai?
The people of Amazon have been eating this traditional fruit or drinking the açaí juice extract as part of their diet for hundreds of years. The berries are a major part of their diet.
In addition to containing calcium, iron, phosphorus, thiamine and vitamin A, this fruit contains large amount of anthocyanins and flavonoids. Experts believe that the anthocyanins found in this fruit are what give it the extreme antioxidant power. The anthocyanins also give the fruit the purple colours.
What are the health benefits of acai berry juice?
In one study, açaí pulp showed greater antioxidant power than cranberry, blackberry, raspberry, strawberry or blueberry. In another study, on average as a group, açaí juice antioxidant power is about the same as black cherry and cranberry juice. See table below for a quick summary. Pomegranate juice shows the highest antioxidant potency and apple juice, orange juice and iced tea shows the lowest of the group.
This points out that the way the berry is prepared may lead to different antioxidant potency. There are a lot of differences in açaí content between manufacturers so buy with caution. In the study below, the amount of açaí found in the studied juice was not determined.
Juice (Averaged of different brands) |
Antioxidant Potency |
| pomegranate
juice |
Highest |
| red wine | |
| concord grape juice | |
| blueberry juice | |
| acai juice/black cherry/cranberry juice | |
| apple juice/orange juice/ice tea | Lowest |
Remember, this is an average. The juices used in this study did not specify exactly how much açaí was in them. Interpret the results with caution.
Does acai help with arthritis such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis?
Açaí is shown to block the cyclooxygenase enzyme COX-1 and COX-2 in much the same ways as anti-inflammatory drugs do to help with arthritis pain. This results was from studies in test tubes only.
Does acai help with different types of cancer?
This claim cannot be supported at the moment. At the least, we need some studies in rats or other animals first. We don't even have that. We can say with confidence that fruits with powerful antioxidant effects can "contribute to the prevention of biological damages." (Spada, 2008)
Are there any studies done in animals or humans?
The people of Amazon used it for hundreds of years. When did it become popular in North America?
Suggested Benefits and Traditional Uses
Oral- anti-inflammatory benefits
- antioxidant effects / free radicals scavenger
- cancer cure / prevention
- detoxification (detox) / cleansing program
- diabetes
- digestive aid
- erectile dysfunction (ED)
- heart disease prevention
- high cholesterol
- immune system stimulant
- improve skin texture and quality
- increase energy level / stamina
- insomnia
- leukemia
- maintenance of general health and well-being
- osteoarthritis / rheumatoid arthritis / arthritis
- weight loss / obesity
Side Effects, Toxicity and Warnings
However, taking concentrated açaí berry in large quantities in a powder or a pill form may results in excessive amount possibly causing stomach aches and diarrhea.
Safety - It is believed to be safe when taken in quantities normally found in a typical Amazonian diet.
Pregnancy and Lactation - No information is available. Avoid using in quantities larger than what would be found in a typical diet containing berry fruits.
Common Drug & Health Condition Interactions
Anti-inflammatory Drugs - theoretical
Dosage & How to Take It
Suggested Doses and How to Use It
There is no typical dose. We suggest starting with açaí extract of 500 mg taken once to three times daily.
Related Topics
Antioxidant Facts - What are the benefits of antioxidants to our body?Selected References for Acai
Updated: December 11, 2009
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