Acai Berry- Health Benefits
Acai (Euterpe badiocarpa) is a highly nutritious and delicious palm berry native to the Amazonian rainforests. The health advantages associated with this berry were unknown for thousands of years. It was only in early 2000 that the Acai berry received its first recognition within the U.S. market and was immediately conferred a superfruit status. Its high antioxidant value and impressive nutritional profile quickly attracted consumer attention. In 2004, the market for Acai products was worth $435,000. As new Acai products were launched, the fame of those exotic berries started to spread resulting in blockbuster sales of $3.8 million in October 2005, a rise of 770 percent in the previous year! 1 The nutritive advantages of this little berry continue to make Acai one of the most sought-after superfruits.
Nutritive Profile of Freeze-Dried Acai Berries
Acai berries are touted to have the highest Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) antioxidant values associated with a food. The ORAC is a measurement of the antioxidant content in foods. Freeze-dried Acai can reach an ORAC value of over 1000, according to a reported published within the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.
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The Acai berries grow in clusters on palms that grow to some height of 60 feet. The berries are harvested by hand and immediately processed in order to preserve their maximum health benefits. A process called freeze-dried preservation (also known as lyophilization) reduces the moisture to a level which will no more support biological activity or chemical reactions, allowing bioactives to remain stable during transport. To be able to produce a high-quality Acai supplement, Acai manufacturers should ensure they use freshly plucked berries which are freeze-dried. This method of preservation retains the greatest antioxidant potency and maximum nutrient content from the Acai berry.
Research Studies on the Health Benefits of Acai
The flavour of Acai berries is often described as a combination of boysenberry, cherries along with a hint of chocolate. The Brazilian natives have traditionally known as the Acai the “fruit of life”, as well as for no small reason.
Containing powerful antioxidants, Acai might help prevent cellular damage for free radicals, considered to be the root cause of a number of degenerative health conditions. The berrys rich purple color is attributed to a high concentration of flavonoids called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are known to exhibit therapeutic benefits for the regulation of healthy blood sugar levels in diabetic conditions and hold potential benefits for inflammatory conditions related to the brain and central nervous system. Research indicates that anthocyanins might help protect patients from the negative effects of radiation treatment and chemotherapy.
Acais exceptional nutritive profile consists of 19 amino acids, boasting a nearly perfect composition. The total amino acid content of freeze-dried The acai berry is approximately 8 percent its total weight. Acai also includes a high percentage of fatty acids called oleic acid, constituting 54 percent of their composition. This is the same kind of fatty acids present in olive oil, which is known for its cardiovascular health benefits. In addition, the Acai berry contains dietary fiber, which promotes digestive and cardiovascular health. Fiber binds with the cholesterol excreted by the bile into the digestive system, and then safely excretes cholesterol out of the system before it is re-absorbed in to the bloodstream. Acai also contains phytosterols, namely beta sitosterol, campesterol, and sigmasterol. Phytosterols are recognized to lower cholesterol levels in the blood.
Acai extracts show positive effects on behavior and neuronal functions in aging according to an ongoing research study funded through the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the results of which will be released in the last quarter of 2011.5 A positive result from this two-year study may benefit the burgeoning number of baby boomers seeking age-related health supplements boosting Acais market potential even further.
In a recent research study published in Athelerosclerosis (2011) scientists at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences studied Acais inflammatory properties and figured the berry may provide protection against athelerosclerosis (hardening from the arteries). In attempting to understand the mechanism, researchers suggested that Acai supplementation may reduce the breakdown of lipids (lipid peroxidation). This may happen because of increasing levels and activity of two antioxidant enzyme genes-glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and glutathione reductase (GSR) that are important to vascular health. Another possibility is that the components in Acai assistance to regulate inflammatory mediators thus inhibiting the production of pro-inflammatory compounds (cytokines).
Lead researcher Dr. Xianli Wu commented, “We provide direct experimental evidence showing that a diet containing an Acai juice at the dose of Five percent developed significantly less atherosclerotic lesions.” This is the first reported study that clearly associates Acai with reduced lipid peroxidation, indicating the Acai may have a protective influence against atherosclerosis.
Phenomenal Growth Prospects for Acai Products
Between 2007 and 2009, SPINS, an industry research and information provider located in Schaumburg, IL, reported a 900 percent development of Acai products in the naturalmrket and a 1400 percent growth in the food, drug and mass merchandiser (FDM) channels. In March 2009, the sale of Acai products slightly decreased due to marketing scandals related to the Acai berry. Since then, sales have remained steady and Acai remains as one of the top superfood categories, according to the annual “Market Overview” of Functional Ingredients, a health business news magazine.
The media has often attributed Acais impressive market growth to sheer marketing hype. But facts and research speak on their own. Compared to grape seeds, Acai is one-tenth from the price and boasts a higher ORAC value. Consumers searching for high nutrition and a generous helping of antioxidants at an affordable price will find Acai berries reasonably limited choice for their money. With best-selling authors and medical experts such as Dr. Oz and Dr. Perricone praising the berrys unique health-promoting properties and it is powerful nutritive properties, pleasant flavor and affordability, its no surprise why sales of Acai cereals, baked goods and nutritional supplements have steadily increased over time. Popular delivery systems for Acai supplements may include capsules, tablets and powdered drink mixes. As studies continue to show stronger proof of Acais nutritive benefits, this little berrys exotic qualities for supporting critical aspects of health, are attracting new clients!
Nutricap Labs, a premier Acai berry manufacturer, offers a number of supplement manufacturing solutions for entrepreneurs and established supplement companies. GMP-manufacturing facility and a wide range of customizable manufacturing solutions offer supplement companies a competent, convenient and quick way to manufacture superior-quality Acai supplements.
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