Archive for October, 2008
For many years, the Acai berry (ah-sah-ee) has been a well-kept secret of the Amazon rainforest and it has only been on the market for about the last 5 years. The rainforests of the Amazon are thought to hold the key to treating many ailments and common diseases, and for thousands of years the indigenous peoples of the Amazon region have known about the many health-enhancing benefits of the Acai berry.
The Acai berry grows wild on top of many palm trees that are native to the rainforests of Brazil and the Amazon basin. Local farmers in the area harvest the fruit of the tree, and it is used to make a healthful fruit pulp. This fruit pulp is then quickly frozen in order to preserve its nutrient value.
The Acai berry itself is a deep purple color, and it is quite rich in a number of important nutrients, including many of the most valuable antioxidant vitamins.
ENERGY, HEART HEALTH: The Acai berry will give you a high energy boost. It is also thought to have a significant impact on heart health, and on the health of the cardiovascular system. In particular, the Acai berry contains a very high concentration of compounds known as anthocyanins. These compounds are the same ones thought to be responsible for giving red wine its widely reported health benefits. However the Acai berry has 10 to 30 times more anthocyanins then does red wine.
LOWERS CHOLESTEROL LEVELS: In addition to these anthocyanins, Acai berries are known to contain large amounts of protein and fiber, as well as both omega-6, which lowers cholesterol levels and omega-9 fatty acids, which lowers LDL cholesterol levels and maintains natural HDL cholesterol levels. These omega fatty acids have been studied for years as a way to protect the heart from damage, and reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood, thereby providing possible protection from heart attacks, strokes and other common cardiovascular complications.
These anthocyanins are known to have significant health benefits, and they are the subjects of many studies. Many people are looking for ways to capture the many health benefits that have been associated with the consumption of red wine, but without the calories and other negative consequences of red wine consumption. The rich, delicious fruit of the acai berry may be able to provide these important health benefits.
ANTI-AGING: Perhaps the most important health benefit of the acai berry, however, is its strong impact on the aging process. As a matter of fact, the acai berry is generally acknowledged to be one of the top superfoods for anti-aging. The amino acids and vital trace minerals found in the Acai berry aid in proper muscle contraction and regeneration, thereby slowing damaging effects to the skin that cause signs of aging. The fatty acid found in the Acai berry is similar to that of olive oil and is high in monounsaturated oleic acid. This fatty acid combined with Omega 3 fish oils penetrates cell membranes and makes them suppler. This allows for hormones, neurotransmitters and Insulin Receptors to operate more efficiently, which greatly reduces inflammation, inflammation being one of the leading causes of Aging.
HIGH IN ANTIOXIDANTS, DESTROY CANCER CELLS: The antioxidant benefits of the acai berry, combined with the fatty acids it contains, make this one of the most important superfoods on the market. The Acai berry is thought to have an antioxidant content which is a full 10 times greater than that found in grapes, and twice as high as those found in blueberries. As a matter of fact, the acai berry is widely acknowledged to have the highest nutritional value of any fruit in the world, and this has earned it the acai berry the title of superfood. These antioxidants destroy cancer cells. A study done by the University of Florida and published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in January of 2006 did research that showed that the antioxidants in the Acai berry triggered a self-destruct response in 86% of the cultured Leukemia cancer cells tested.
Additional information: For such a tiny fruit, the Acai berry seems to have a great many heart healthy benefits, and the secret that has been part of Amazon culture for thousands of years is slowly spreading to the rest of the world. The Acai berry is a rich source of antioxidant vitamins, protein, fiber and heart protecting fatty acids, and it has an important role to play in protecting our good health.
Acai berries can be purchased whole and eaten as part of a healthy diet, but they are most often encountered in juice form. Acai berry juice is widely available both in health food stores and from many Internet retailers. As with other kinds of juice, it is important to ensure that the Acai berry juice you buy is made with 100% pure juice, and that it contains no artificial ingredients or added sugar.
As the popularity of the Acai berry continues to grow, and as its value to good health continues to get out, it is likely that this little purple fruit will become more widely available. In coming years, Acai berries are likely to be available at traditional grocery stores and supermarkets in addition to health food stores and Internet retailers.
When choosing between products made with the Acai berry, it is important to choose only the highest quality products, and to look for products that have been frozen quickly after harvest. How the Acai berries are handled after harvest can have a significant impact on their health benefits, so it is important to buy your Acai berry juice from those who use the best manufacturing methods.
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Conservationists worry about acai craze
United Press International?- Sep 21, 2008 21 (UPI) — Acai has gone from being a mostly unknown Amazonian fruit to a global sensation as a something of a wonder berry, threatening forests, … |
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Acai has gone from staple of the Amazon to global wonder-berry
Los Angeles Times,?CA?- Sep 21, 2008 The cargo is acai (pronounced ah-sigh-EE), the unassuming fruit of a jungle palm that has gone from Amazonian staple to global wonder-berry: a much-hyped … |
Why Superfoods Are Important For Weight Loss And Energy
Author: admin
Over the last 50-75 years our soils have slowly become depleted. We can no longer rely on our normal diet to supply the RDA of the vitamins and minerals our bodies need. Nutrients such as vitamins, proteins, enzymes and amino acids, are required for our bodies to function properly. These nutrients are dependent upon minerals. Minerals are predominantly obtained from the food we eat, and the mineral content of that food is dependent upon the mineral content of the soil it grows in. Add to that the increase in pollutants and toxins entering our food from our environment and you have a severe shortage of optimal health and well being. It is no wonder there is an obesity epidemic and untold amounts of disease in our culture.
We have been able to track and study the mineral levels in our soil and in our foods for about one hundred years. As early as 1936 (Senate Document 264) we recognized that our soils were becoming depleted. According to Senate Document 264 (1936) it states:
“The alarming fact is that foods (fruits, vegetables and grains) now being raised on millions of acres of land that no longer contain enough of certain minerals are starving us - no matter how much of them we eat. No man of today can eat enough fruits and vegetables to supply his system with the minerals he requires for perfect health because his stomach isn’t big enough to hold them.”
The 1992 Earth Summit soil mineral depletion report showed soil depletion in North America to be at 85 percent, the highest in the world. Nutrition in this country is just like global climate change. Economics play a larger role in decision making than planning for our children’s futures.
There are two reasons are soils have become so depleted and the nutritional value of our foods have fallen. One, is that today’s agriculture does not allow to regenerate the soil. We rely on chemical fertilizers to only replace three or four minerals. Phosphorous, Potassium and Nitrogen are the main ingredients in our fertilizers. The second reason our foods are less nutritious than fifty years ago is that fruits and vegetables are picked while they are still green and have not have the chance to extract all of the nutrients from the soil. They are harvested green so that they ripen on the way to market (your grocery store.) Many times fruits and vegetables have to travel thousands of miles from farm to factory and finally to the store. They are harvested while still green to enable them to last longer in storage, but it also leaves insufficient time for the plant to fully absorb whatever minerals are available in the soil, and to synthesize vitamins and other nutrients. The ripening process continues, cut off from the soil and sun, in box and storage depot, often for weeks, resulting in further losses of vitamins and other essential nutrients.
All of this results in mineral deficient bodies, from which comes an abundance of health problems and degenerative diseases. A few of the major symptoms and illness linked to mineral deficiencies are osteoporosis, bone and muscle weakness, lack of focus and energy, glucose intolerance, poor wound healing, poor hair, skin and nails, and liver problems. A lack of minerals can also lead to weight gain, as a deficiency leaves your body craving minerals and never feeling satiated.
That is why you see one popular Superfood in may diet products on the shelves today, Spirulina. Spirulina combats excessive hunger by providing the body with quality protein, vitamins, and minerals. Spirulina, because it is very dense in nutrients, it is a wonderful energy booster and is known to help curb cravings and lower cholesterol.
Other Superfoods like chlorella help absorb heavy metals like mercury out of your system. It acts as a natural detoxifier. Look for Superfoods such as berries high in anti-oxidant ratings like Acai, Mangosteen and Gogi. Wheat grass, barley and other seaweed vegetables are great choices because of their nutrient content when adding Superfoods to your diet.
Superfoods are an excellent way to make up for dietary deficiencies. Even if you are eating a 100% organic diet you will still not be able to get all the nutrients you need because of depleted soils.
Food show features a world of taste - Toledo Blade
Author: admin
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Food show features a world of taste
Toledo Blade,?OH?- Oct 5, 2008 There are also an increasing number of foods made with acai and pomegrantate on the market, such as Rothschild Cherry Acai Preserves and the Cranberry … |
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Research shows Brazilian acai berry antioxidants absorbed by human …
AgNews,?TX?- 9 hours ago In the first research involving people, the acai (ah-sigh-EE) berry has proven its ability to be absorbed in the human body when consumed both as juice and … |
Selecting Acai Berry Products
Author: admin
The Acai berry is one of the most potent super foods you can eat. The health benefits of the acai berry are now well documented as it has received more press coverage lately. There are some things you need to be aware of before you start to buy products with acai in them. This article will provide you with tips for buying acai berry juice. What’s so special about the acai berry? If you know anything about the blueberry, you will know that it is a highly recommended super food because of its powerful antioxidant qualities. If you eat blueberries on a regular basis, you will get sick less and your skin will be healthier. There are several more benefits of eating blueberries. What does this have to do with the acai berry? The antioxidant value of the acai is 2-3 times that of your blueberries. Now, you can begin to see why this small fruit has received more press coverage. There’s even a business opportunity available promoting acai berry juice. Because the acai berry is so powerful and it promises several health benefits, there are many companies out there trying to cash in on this new super food craze. And the acai is included. Go to your grocery store and try and find a product with acai juice in it. Try not to gasp out loud when you see the prices. The best products are not cheap. If you want to buy some, you should not be cheap either. You should not be looking for the lowest price you can get. If you want the best foods to eat, you’re not going to find it at the cheapest prices. And even if you did, you will not be getting the full benefits of the acai berry. The berry’s concentration levels in a lower priced product will probably by minimal just so the manufacture can label it as “Acai berry juice.” You want to look for 100% acai. This will probably run you about $1 an ounce. So for 32 ounces, you’re going to spend about $32, unless you buy it in bulk. If you want a pill form, you want to look for 100% acai berry extract. If you do not buy products with 100% acai, you might as well throw your money into another tank of gas. You’ll be wasting your money. In order to enjoy the benefits of the best superfoods to eat, you want to spend more for the best products. To live healthy and slow down the aging process, you need to incorporate superfoods like the acai berry in your diet. Learn about more superfoods at http://www.allsuperfoods.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Adam_Tijerina
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Acai has gone from staple of the Amazon to global wonder-berry
Los Angeles Times,?CA?- Sep 20, 2008 The cargo is acai (pronounced ah-sigh-EE), the unassuming fruit of a jungle palm that has gone from Amazonian staple to global wonder-berry: a much-hyped … |
Imagine being able to increase energy levels, increase your libido, feel healthier, protect against disease and look and feel younger with 3 natural foods?
Well, you can!
These 3 super foods are the perfect combination.
There not new, they have been around for centuries, but now the world is falling in love with them and you will to.
Acai Berries
From Brazil – A favourite of the beach boys and girls, it’s reputation is now spreading worldwide with my celebrities such as, David Beckham being a huge fan.
It is seen as the best anti aging food out there and is much more potent than blueberries.
It also contains double the antioxidant anthocyanins - Know to protect the brain, prevent arteries from blocking and help with arthritis.
The Amazonian Indians nicknamed the tree the berries grow on the “tree of life” and its a very apt name.
The berries contain an abundance of heart protecting fatty acids and cholesterol lowering phytosterols.
The huge amount of antioxidants also help protect your skin from the tell tale signs of aging.
The berries also contain the rare combination of both high concentrations of Vitamin C and E, which are both needed for great skin.
The berries only contain 1 gram of fat and 50 calories per 50 mg serving, so they are great for anyone on a diet.
And to top it all off the Brazilians are convinced it increases libido as well!
Acerola Cherries
From Brazil again the Acerola has a massive dose of vitamin C in it and about 150 super nutrients.
The berries were traditionally used as a supplement for overall health and to treat illnesses such as:
Anaemia, diabetes, cholesterol, liver problems and water retention.
Today, there is amove to the berries in skin creams as Vitamin C helps fight aging of the skin and the nutrients make skin more healthy and radiant
Goji Berries
The Goji berry is only be found in the most remote regions of Western Asia and their health benefits have been acknowledged for centuries by the Chinese.
Now their being recognized as wonder food in the west to and with good reason - They are one of the most nutritious foods on the planet.
They can be eaten whole or drunk as juice.
They contain weight for weight 500 times more vitamin C than oranges contain and more betacarotine than carrots - Both these vitamins help protect against cancer, fight heart disease and skin aging.
These berries also supply 5 times as much Iron as found in steak of equivalent weight. They are also rich in B Vitamins for nerves and the nutrient beta - sitosterol, which can help lower cholesterol.
But that’s not all, these berries also contain polysaccharides that are great for the immune system and protect against colds.
Berries and cherries for health
So if you want all the above, its time to eat some berries and cherries for a healthier long life.
PS: They taste good to!
Acai Berry Products and High Potency
Author: admin
 PR Web (press release) |
AcaiBerry-Products Says To Get High Potency Acai Berry Avoid …
PR Web (press release),?WA?- Sep 3, 2008 AcaiBerry-Products.com publishes acai berry information on its website and blog and operates an international online shopping store specializing in acai … |
