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 Nutritional analysis | Antioxidants | Phytosterols | Carbohydrates | Fats | Amino acids | Other Acai nutrition facts
Remember what happens to a bitten apple? It turns brown, right? This is the result of oxidation. And the same thing happens to our body. Consuming oxygen for energy, we produce additional substances called free radicals.
Free radicals as aggressive forms of oxygen are very active segments of molecules that have an unpaired electron and looking to enter a chemical reaction with anything coming their way.
In the first place they are dangerous due to their ability to destroy cell walls and damage the DNA, which stores all of our genetic information. In simple words, free radicals are destroying everything: molecules, cells, organs and the body in general. In case of the apple it turns brown — the process of rotting and biological death takes place. In case of the human body free radicals are known to take out tens of years from the lifespan! Scientists have proven that free radicals are causing the development of such diseases as atherosclerosis, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, strokes, heart attacks, Parkinson's disease, blindness and many others.
The problem is also that the majority of free radicals in the from of different toxins are entering our body from the environment: industrial emissions, tobacco smoke, excessive alcohol, food rich with fat, sugar, preservatives, medications, etc. Many free radicals come from physical and emotional stress, as well as solar radiation. The more intense is the siege of or bodies by free radicals, the faster is the development of serious diseases — and the earlier we become old. Some scientists make a direct connection: aging is oxidation.
But is there anything that can slow down the process of oxidation? Luckily, yes! The substances that are able to stop the devastating activity of free radicals are antioxidants.
 Agricultural Research Service (ARS) with Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proven that natural products with a high content of antioxidants are able to prevent a range of diseases and slow down the process of aging. A special scale (ORAC) was also developed, which is used to determine the amounts of antioxidants in various products.
Recently, the Department of Health and Human Services has published a recommendation to all US citizens encouraging the consumption of 5000 ORAC antioxidant units per day. Scientific research undertaken by USDA have displayed: "Younger adults, as well as middle aged persons can lower the risk of developing aging diseases, including progressive brain damage, by simply adding high ORAC index products to their regular diet".
It is well known that such fruits and berries as pomegranate, bilberry, blueberry, cranberry and other have a rather high ORAC score. However, acai berries are leading this race by containing the largest amount of antioxidants among all edible fruits on Earth. In fact, this Amazon berry contains 33 times more antioxidants than red grape, 18 times more than nonie or mangostin, and 4 times more than cranberry and wild blueberry (considered to be the champion once).
Further research has shown that:
• acai contains the same amount of fiber as cow milk, and a higher content of fats and energy value;
• contains vitamin А, vitamin В1 (tiamin), vitamin В2 (riboflavin), В3 (nicotinic acid), vitamin С (ascorbic acid), vitamin Е (tocopherol), vitamin D , iron, potassium, phosphorus, calcium;
• contains Omega-6 and Omega-9 fat acids (quite useful for lowering the bad cholesterol levels in the body) and many other aminoacids;
• contains cianidine, which prevents the development of obesity and diabetes, and according to recent studies plays an important role in treating cancer.
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