| is an Amazonian palm tree, and possesses small | | | | due the same electron configuration that provides |
| purple fruits that the Amazonian natives of Brazil have | | | | them with their color. Many of these chemicals are |
| used since time immemorial as food and as a remedy | | | | also use as food dyes, and have been used so since |
| for certain health conditions that are now known to be | | | | before their chemistry and antioxidant effects were |
| associated with the activity on free radicals on body | | | | known. The color comes from the same electron |
| cells. | | | | activity that makes them destroy free radicals. That is |
| The active constituents of acai are powerful | | | | why most highly colored foods contain significant |
| polyphenols and anthocyanin antioxidants that protect | | | | quantities of phytochemicals. |
| your body cells from oxidation by free radicals. In fact | | | | The deep purple color of the acai fruit led chemists to |
| the plant has been referred to as ‘the super | | | | determine its content of polyphenols, such as |
| antioxidant from Brazil’ by many medical | | | | anthocyanins, that are common in other highly colored |
| writers who have recognized its right to be termed as | | | | foods such blueberries, peppers and aubergines. High |
| such. To understand that, you first have to understand | | | | concentrations of anthocyanins such as |
| what an antioxidant is and how it works. The chemical | | | | cyandin-3-glucoside and the rutinoside analogue were |
| names of the active substances it contains will be | | | | found, together with flavonoids such as orientin, |
| meaningless without that background knowledge. | | | | deoxyhexose and scoparin. A total of twelve |
| Oxidation occurs in your body even before you are | | | | flavonoids were discovered that explains the highly |
| born. What is does in general terms is to destroy your | | | | antioxidant properties of the fruits. Laboratory and |
| body cells, and the more it progresses the more your | | | | other tests have indicated that over 80% of the |
| body is prone to cancers and cardiovascular diseases, | | | | antioxidant effect of acai is due to polyphenols other |
| and the more visible becomes the aging process. | | | | than the anthocyanins. It is likely that these are the |
| Chemically, oxidation is the loss of one or more | | | | twelve flavonoids identified to date and any others that |
| electrons by an atom or molecule. Oxidation within | | | | have still to be detected. |
| your body is highly associated with what are known | | | | However, it is not only for its antioxidant properties that |
| as free radicals. To explain these we have to consider | | | | acai is such a healthy fruit, since it contains many other |
| the chemistry of electron pairs and free radicals, | | | | nutritional components. It contains fatty acids, including |
| though this is not too technical so read on. | | | | linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid and also |
| Normally electrons exist in pairs of opposite spin: in | | | | beta-sitosterol that are believed to reduce the level of |
| simple terms each pair makes up a single negative | | | | LDL cholesterol in the blood. The fruit also contains a |
| charge. Take hydrogen: its atomic structure contains | | | | high level of amino acids, essential for the synthesis of |
| one proton and one electron. However, the hydrogen | | | | proteins and DNA. |
| atom cannot exist by itself since the most stable | | | | So what exactly does this mean for you in real |
| configuration is that electrons exist in pairs with a net | | | | terms? Antioxidants can do different things for |
| zero spin, so the hydrogen molecule consists of two | | | | different people, and the acai berry is said to have |
| hydrogen atoms with their own protons sharing an | | | | more than thirty times the antioxidant power of red |
| electron pair. This is true of all covalently bonded | | | | wine. When you consider that many doctors believe |
| molecules. | | | | one glass of red wine to provide sufficient antioxidant |
| However, certain influences, such as pollution through | | | | for the average person, you are getting a very high |
| tobacco smoke, pesticides, engine exhausts and the | | | | dose with acai berries, so what does it do for you? |
| excess UV radiation of sunlight can cause a molecule | | | | Due its effect in destroying the free radicals caused |
| to lose an electron. This creates what is known as a | | | | by pollution, acai and similar powerful sources of |
| free radical: a molecule without an electrical charge but | | | | antioxidants are becoming increasingly important to our |
| with an unpaired electron. Since the most stable | | | | diets. What was a sufficient antioxidant intake even |
| configuration for it is to have a paired electron, the | | | | twenty years ago is not longer sufficient. Acai can help |
| molecule will steal an electron from the most suitable | | | | to combat early aging by reducing the rate at which |
| candidate it finds. | | | | your body cells are destroyed by free radicals. It also |
| In practise this will be a body cell, and the cell that loses | | | | reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, and the |
| the electron gets destroyed causing aging of the skin | | | | associated high risk of strokes or heart attacks. |
| and many other undesirable effects, including cancers. | | | | Acai juice itself has an unusually high fiber content, and |
| This stealing of an electron is chemically referred to as | | | | helps maintain the health of your digestive system. An |
| oxidation. Antioxidants prevent this occurring to your | | | | associated benefit of this is that you are less liable to |
| body cells by being reactive themselves and | | | | contract colon cancer than if you did not consume it. |
| preferentially mopping up these free electrons. | | | | Due to a reduction in the rate of destruction of body |
| Polyphenols and anthocyanins are powerful | | | | cells, including brain cells, elderly people benefit through |
| antioxidants, and that is why the people of the | | | | maintenance of their brain function, and a lower |
| Amazon rainforests have used acai not only as a | | | | likelihood of degenerating cognitive ability. It helps you to |
| food, but also for their health. It is only relatively | | | | maintain concentration and memory, and can also |
| recently that, as with many of the ancient health | | | | reduce the risk of you getting cataracts. |
| remedies, the scientific basis behind its use has been | | | | Antioxidants are also known to help maintain the |
| proved. The early Brazilian natives may not have | | | | immune system, and act as anti-inflammatories, and it |
| understood biochemistry or what free radicals were, | | | | is believed that acai juice can help to reduce the |
| but they sure knew what was good for them. | | | | symptoms of arthritis. If you use acai berries as part of |
| As with many other foodstuffs containing powerful | | | | a daily diet, you should receive the benefits that it |
| antioxidants, it is likely that it was the highly colored | | | | provides, although a more measured dosage in the |
| berries that first attracted them. That does not | | | | form of a supplement will enable you to control your |
| suggest that all brightly colored foods are good for | | | | intake of acai, and if one thing is certain it is that you |
| you, but the brightly colored pigments and dyestuffs | | | | will be far healthy with a regular dose of the |
| contained within them also tend to act as antioxidants | | | | superantioxidant from Brazil than without. |