Acai Antioxidants

Acai is a berry that grows in the Amazon jungle. There is a lot of hype surrounding acai antioxidants lately. According to various medical and scientific studies there are some benefits to consuming acai. Acai berries cannot be purchased in whole form because they are mostly seed pits with only a small amount of pulp. The berries must be carefully processed to create a pulp puree that can be made into juice. Acai juice can be purchased at many supermarkets these days. You can find straight acai juice as well as acai juice that is blended with other berries.

So why is this berry so beneficial? Well, one reason is because of its high content of anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are antioxidants that fight free radical damage. Free radicals are molecules with damaging properties. They attack and mutate healthy cells and are linked to various diseases like cancer and heart disease. Antioxidants bind to these molecules and provide protection from damage. They may even help repair damage that has already been sustained. In addition to anthocyanins acai also contains Omega fatty acids, fiber, amino acids and a variety of other nutrients.

For ages, natives of the Amazon rain forests have combined acai pulp with guarana for a type of natural energy drink. You may be able to find blends that do contain guarana on store shelves as it is a common ingredient of popular energy drinks. However it is like caffeine so if you are sensitive to caffeine you may not want to consume guarana. Some people find they don't like the taste of acai. If you can't get used to the flavor, you should definitely try the blends that mix acai with sweeter fruits. There are even acai supplements in capsule and powder form.

To get the most out of acai antioxidants, aim to consume at least one serving of this nutrient rich juice each day. If you can't drink acai every day, even drinking it a few times a week can help. It certainly can't hurt. In addition to consuming acai, you can up your antioxidant levels by also consuming green tea, dark chocolate, blueberries, leafy greens and other types of colorful produce. A diet rich in produce is one of the healthiest things you can do for your body, so aim for at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

Free Radicals & Antioxidants

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Free Radicals Explained

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