Antioxidants and the Acai Berry

Antioxidants are molecules that are capable of slowing down or preventing the oxidation process of other molecules, a reaction that can product free radicals which start chain reactions and damage cells in your body.  Oxidation reactions are crucial, but can be damaging, which is why the human body contains many types of antioxidants and enzymes.  Low levels of these can cause damage to cells or even kill them.

There are many ways in which antioxidants help the body.

• Disease treatment-  Antioxidants are often used as medications to treat brain injury, as the brain is quite vulnerable to oxidative injury and free radicals.  Further investigations are being carried out with antioxidants to judge their effectiveness as treatment for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other brain diseases.
• Disease prevention- People who consume foods that are good sources of antioxidants have a lower risk of heart disease, cancers, and other diseases.
• Getting rid of free radicals- Free radicals can do much damage to the body, such as causing heart disease and blindness.  They can be consumed in a variety of ways, often through environmental pollutants such as cigarette smoke and overexposure to sunlight.  Antioxidents work to control these and keep them at manageable levels not harmful to the body.

Antioxidants are also used in a variety of other areas, such as in food preservatives and industrial uses.

This is where the acai berry comes into play.  The acai berry, only discovered relatively recently by North Americans, is quickly becoming known as the world's top superfood because it is so rich with antioxidants.  The acai berry is therefore used in a variety of products, in addition to being consumed in its raw form.  Some of these products include dietary supplements, juices, dried fruit and smoothies.  This berry is also getting much publicity from celebrities who use it to increase their energy and keep their weight down.  Although its introduction to Americans is recent, Brazilians discovered the berry and its benefits years ago, perhaps even centuries.

Without antioxidants, the acai berry would just be another fruit, with no medical benefits.  But, fortunately, the berry is full of these antioxidants which can produce significant health gains for the human body, especially when consumed frequently and added to a healthy lifestyle and diet.