What Does Oprah say about Acai?

The acai berry has a delicious taste similar to chocolate and is now

considered one of nature's perfect foods owing to its rich antioxidant

content and unique health benefits.

Almost any website or company references a recent Oprah Winfrey show

where Dr. Perricone said that this little berry is the most nutritious

and powerful foods in the world.
What makes it so healthy? The Acai Berry is high in Antioxidants,

Omega fatty acids, Anthocyanins ORAC values . Antioxidants return

damaged cells called free radicals back to normal cells. Omega fatty

acids EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids may reduce the risk of coronary

heart disease. Anthocyanins can act as a sunscreen for plants and in

fruits the bright color attracts animals which feast on the fruits and

in the process disperse the seeds. However, the aspect of Anthocyanins

that is of most interest in regard to the Acai fruit is their

antioxidant properties, the antioxidant properties of anthocyanins are

maintained even after they are eaten by another organism. This is why

fruits with bright pigmentation tend to have the great ORAC values -

they are loaded with anthocyanins! Yes, you guessed it - Acai berries

have a tremendous concentration of anthocyanins.
What about ORAC Values?

ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. ORAC measures the

ability of just about any substance to subdue oxygen free radicals in

the test tube. In short, ORAC is a lab assay that can measure the

antioxidant activity of any substance and give it a number. The higher

the ORAC number - the stronger the antioxidant properties of the

substance.
National Institute on Aging developed the ORAC method and the US

Department of Agriculture and Brunswick Labs have been instrumental in

perfecting the ORAC assay procedure and testing various foods to

determine ORAC levels. Fruits and vegetables tend to have the highest

ORAC values. Per 100 grams - Apples score a 218, Bananas a 221,

blueberries 2,400.
ORAC is a proven analysis that determines the level of antioxidant

contained in a product. This evaluative data is extremely helpful in

finding the real truth behind advertising claims that many health-based

products use to convince people to buy their product. Monavie juice

boasts that they have the highest scores in ORAC results when in fact,

Monavie only managed to get a total ORAC score of 31,099. What about

fresh Acai? Acai has an amazing 5,500 ORAC score. More amazing, freeze

dried Sambazon Acai actually has an ORAC value of over 50,000 per 100

grams.
If you want foods with greater antioxidant properties, you look for

foods with high ORAC levels. The USDA recommends we consume 3,000 to

5,000 ORAC units daily. In truth, 80% of the population is consuming

less than 1,000 ORAC units a day. The USDA recommended "5-a-day" fruit

and vegetable servings will give you an ORAC score of about 1,750 units.


For many generations Brazilians have been using acai berries to treat

health conditions such as digestive problems and skin disorders. Over

the past few years some significant research and study has been

undertaken on acai berries in institutions outside Brazil. For example

University research in the USA has shown that testing on acai berry

extracts have unlocked interesting results after tests were conducted on

leukemia cells.
The bottom line is that the Acai berry is an incredible food, whose

complete benefits may yet be discovered. The best way to enjoy these

benefits is through the purchase of pure organic acai. Check out

monavie-ingredients and learn even more about this

fruit and it's benefits.

Roger Sibaja has enjoyed the wonderful Acai berry since 2007 and felt absolutely great. learn more at www.monavie-ingredients.blogspot.com