This
acai berry supplement is for those who do not wish to
consume the extra calories from acai juice or drink.The acai berry is found in the Amazon forest and is promoted as having very powerful antioxidant properties. The acai berry is purple colored and small and comes from a palm tree known by the Brazilians as "the tree of life." The predominant beneficial substances in the acai berry are polyphenols, flavonoids, mostly of the anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins categories.
Historical uses of the Acai berry
fruit
Acai has been a traditional food for several centuries of the native people
living in the Amazon forest. However it was only a few years ago, about the year
2000, that the acai berry was introduced to the Western market. More information
at acai juice berry.
Acai Berry Extract 500 mg,
90 capsules
This
acai berry supplement is for those who do not wish to
consume the extra calories from acai juice or drink.
Acai berry availability
Acai is sold as capsules, and can be placed in smoothies or made into bars. You
will also find acai berry made into acai juice. Acai pulp is also useful.
Acai fruit juice and acai berry juice.
Acai berry Summary
Human studies with acai fruit or acai extract are lacking, therefore no firm
statements can be made regarding the clinical uses of this plant. However,
eating acai berry or taking an acai berry supplement as part of a healthy diet
seems to be a reasonable approach. An acai berry extract supplement can be taken
once or twice a week with breakfast.
How often to take acai
juice or acai supplement
Acai is a berry from the Amazon forest which has many compounds with
antioxidant properties. One capsule can be taken a few days a week, and an
acai berry supplement seems to be safe taken with other supplements. No
side effects have been reported in the medical literature as of January
2008 with acai supplement intake.
Acai berry nutrient composition
Phytochemical and Nutrient Composition of the Freeze-Dried Amazonian Palm Berry,
Euterpe oleraceae Mart. ( Acai ).
J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Nov 1;54(22):8598-8603. Schauss AG, Wu X, Prior RL,
Ou B, Patel D, Huang D, Kababick JP.
Natural and Medicinal Products Research, AIMBR Life Sciences, 4117 South
Meridian, Puyallup, Washington 98373, Agriculture Research Service, Arkansas
Children's Nutrition Center, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1120 Marshall
Street, Little Rock, Arkansas 72202, Department of Physiology and Biophysics,
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham, Little Rock,
Arkansas 72205, Brunswick Laboratories, 6 Thatcher Lane, Wareham, Massachusetts
02571, Integrated Biomolecule Corporation, 2005 E. Innovation Park Drive,
Tucson, Arizona 85755, Food Science and Technology Program, Department of
Chemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117543, Singapore, and
Flora Research, 32158 Camino Capistrano, San Juan Capistrano, California 92675.
A standardized freeze-dried acai fruit pulp / skin powder was used for all
analyses and tests. Among many findings, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, and
other flavonoids were found to be the major phytochemicals. Two anthocyanins,
cyandin 3-glucoside and cyanidin 3-rutinoside were found to be predominant;
three others were also found as minor anthocyanins. The total content of
anthocyanins was measured as 3.1 mg/g dry weight. Polymers were found to be the
major proanthocyanidins. The concentration of total proanthocyanidins was
calculated as 13 mg/g dry weight Other flavonoids, namely, homoorientin,
orientin, isovitexin, scoparin, and taxifolin deoxyhexose, along with several
unknown flavonoids, were also detected. Resveratrol was found but at a very low
concentration. In addition, components including fatty acids, amino acids,
sterols, minerals, and other nutrients were analyzed and quantified. Total
polyunsaturated fatty acid, total monounsaturated fatty acid, and total
saturated fatty acids contributed to 11%, 60%, and 28% of total fatty acid.
Oleic acid (53%) and palmitic acid (26%) were found to be the two dominant fatty
acids. Nineteen amino acids were found; the total amino acid content was
determined to be 7% of total weight. The total sterols accounted for 0.048% by
weight of powder. The three sterols B-sitosterol, campesterol, and sigmasterol
were identified.
Acai Tree
Euterpe oleraceae is a large palm tree indigenous to the Amazon River and its
tributaries and estuaries in South America. Its fruit, known as acai, is of
great economic value to native people.
Acai study
Total oxidant scavenging capacities of Euterpe oleracea Mart. ( Acai )
fruits.
Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2005 Feb;56(1):53-64.
The antioxidant capacities of 11 commercial and non-commercial samples
of Euterpe oleracea Mart. ( acai ) fruit pulp were studied with the total
oxidant scavenging capacity assay in a modified and automated version
against three reactive oxygen species. The antioxidant capacities of all
purple acai samples were found to be excellent against peroxyl radicals,
good against peroxynitrite and poor against hydroxyl radicals compared
with common European fruit and vegetable juices recently analysed. In all
cases the correlation between sample concentration and antioxidant
capacities was non-linear. The antioxidant capacities against all three
reactive oxygen species of the fruit pulp from one white acai variety were
very low. The phenolic compounds in purple acai fruit pulp were identified
by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and the two
major anthocyanins, cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside, were
quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography-visible spectrometry.
The contributions of the anthocyanins to the overall antioxidant
capacities of the fruit were estimated to be only approximately 10%.
Obviously, compounds not yet identified are responsible for the major part
of the antioxidant capacities of the acai fruit pulp.
Euterpe Oleracea ( Acai ) as an alternative oral contrast agent in MRI of
the gastrointestinal system: preliminary results.
Magn Reson Imaging. 2004 Apr;22(3):389-93.
Using contrast agents is a common practice in medical imaging
protocols. Paramagnetic properties of certain compounds present in
contrast agents can affect magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signals. For
abdominal applications, they are usually injected, but may also be
administered orally. However, their use as a routine technique is limited,
mainly due to the lack of appropriate oral contrast agents. We herein
present the preliminary characterization and results for implementation of
Euterpe Oleracea (popularly named Acai) as a possible clinical oral
contrast agent for MRI of the gastrointestinal tract. The pulp of Acai, a
fruit from the Amazon area, presented an increase in T(1)-weighted MRI
signal, equivalent to that of gadolinium-diethyltriamine pentaacetic acid,
and a decrease in T(2)-weighted images. We looked for intrinsic properties
that could be responsible for the T(1) signal enhancement and T(2)
opacification. Atomic absorption spectra revealed the presence of Fe, Mn
and Cu ions in Acai. The presence of such ions contribute to the
susceptometric value found of chi = -4.83 x 10(-6). This finding assents
with the hypothesis that image contrast changes were due to the presence
of paramagnetic material. The first measurements in vivo demonstrate a
clear increase of contrast, in T(1)-weighted images, due to the presence
of Acai. Consistently, the opacification in a T(2)-weighted acquisition
was evident, revealing a good contrast on bowel walls of gastric tissues.
Phytochemical composition and pigment stability of
Acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.).
J Agric Food Chem. 2004 Mar 24;52(6):1539-45. Del Pozo-Insfran D,
Brenes CH, Talcott ST.
Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Florida,
P.O. Box 110370, Gainesville, Florida
Anthocyanin and polyphenolic compounds present in acai (Euterpe
oleracea Mart.) were determined and their respective contribution to the
overall antioxidant capacity established. Color stability of acai
anthocyanins against hydrogen peroxide (0 and 30 mmol/L) over a range of
temperatures (10-30 degrees C) was also determined and compared to common
anthocyanin sources. Additionally, stability in a model beverage system
was evaluated in the presence of ascorbic acid and naturally occurring
polyphenolic cofactors. Cyanidin 3-glucoside (1040 mg/L) was the
predominant anthocyanin in acai and correlated to antioxidant content,
while 16 other polyphenolics were detected from 4 to 212 mg/L. Red grape
anthocyanins were most stable in the presence of hydrogen peroxide, while
acai and pigments rich in acylated anthocyanins displayed lower color
stability in a temperature-dependent manner. In the presence of ascorbic
acid, acylated anthocyanin sources generally had increased color
stability. Acai was recognized for its functional properties for use in
food and nutraceutical products.
Acai Questions and Acai Information
Q. How is Acai Plus
product different than other acai products? It may be called Acai Juice
Plus. Do you have an acai juice review, I can't determine the best acai
juice.
A. Acai Plus or Acai Juice Plus is a brand name for an acai product. Without testing
different products together in humans, it is difficult to know which acai product is
best. Hence we don't have an acai juice review. Most companies that have acai products buy the raw
material from similar suppliers. Acai Plus has acai in addition to
pomegranate blueberry and raspberry. These are good additions. It is up to
the consumer to determine the best price for an acai product and to
determine if Acai Plus, Ola Acai, Monavie acai are worth the extra
expense. Additional acai juice products include Bossa Nova Acai juice,
Zola acai, Sambazon acai, Acai Life Dynamics, and several others.
Q. What are acai side
affects? Am trying acai berry and am constipated and bloated.
A. This is the first report we have had on potential acai berry
side effects. Perhaps it is the acai berry or it could be coincidence and
related to something else.
Q. Can you tell me abut MonaVie acai juice?
A. Monavie acai juice is acai juice is combination of other fruits
grown in different parts of the world. A website claims, " MonaVie will
provide you with the right kinds and right amounts of the worlds finest
fruits. By drinking one to two ounces per day, you'll begin to enjoy the
health enhancing properties of what will soon become the world s finest
phyto-nectar fruit blend. There are many acai products on the market
including Acai Plus, Ola Acai, and MonaVie acai and they each claim to
have the most benefit.
Q. I have been taking Monavie
juice for appx. 2 months. I have been experiencing head aches,
constipation and bloating. I read the question on your web page and am
interested if anyone else has had this acai berry bloating problem beside
the person on your question and answer page.
A. Thus far you are the second person who has reported to us an
acai berry juice side effect such as bloating.
Q. Is acai juice safe?
A. As long as acai juice is used in reasonable amounts, we don't
see why an acai drink would not be safe. Acai should not have side effects
unless used in excessive amounts.
Q. If calories are not a
concern, what is the health advantage or disadvantage from, the acai
capsules or acai juice concentrate, (and I will stipulate that the berries
were picked, processed and bottled properly, and good presale storage). Is
there a correlation in acai capsules and acia juice for the end results?
A. Since hardly any human studies have been conducted with acai, it
is difficult to say whether acai juice or acai capsules are preferable. It
may be a good idea to alternate their use.
Q. Does Acai berry juice or Mona Vie Acai juice thin the blood?
A. MonaVie Acai juice and MonaVie Active Acai juice are both juices
that are new to the market. MonaVie Acai juice is a blend of several fruit
juices. As far as acai fruit is concerned, it does have flavonoids which
are known to thin the blood, however no clinical human studies could be
identified evaluating the role of acai berry and coagulation. Since
MonaVie acai juice is a blend of several juices, it is difficult to say
its role in blood thinning.
Q. I've been researching acai
juice products, my first contact was a relative, through a friend that had
used an acai product, liked it, and signed up with a multi level group. I
found two of these. I'm sure your aware of them. Mostly the distributors,
like my sister in law, and her friend, are really not in it for a
business, only to buy the acia product at a lower price. So far all I've
read is the acai juice, some (with many other fruit juices) seem to be
better than powder or capsules. This is my question: Are the products with
acai, best with complimentary additional juices, or better in a more pure
form? Or does acai need some other ingrediants to be palatable? I'm not
sure such pure product is available, a pure concentrate could be very
costly. I would also join a reputable company in their multi level
organization, for my lower cost product, and tell as many health oriented
friends I know, some would go for it, others would say, another scam or
fad like the big "Green, algae" that was so popular several years ago. If
this acai berry does have some physical or helpful agent to protect or
restore some problems in our system, I'm all ears. I'm really interested,
for several reasons: My biggest concern is my Prostate cancer has
returned, this is the 3rd time. 1st time I had the radical surgery, Then 4
years later I had 7 weeks of radiation, now in 2007 my PSA is up again and
I've started Hormone therapy, I will say after 1st injection, and a PSA
test after 30 days my PSA is .01, very normal, and my Urologist is waiting
for 3 months to check PSA. So this does not mean it won't come back, so I
will try to use an Acai product, hopfully it may work, maybe not. My wife
has PMR, poly mayalgia Rheumatica, she has been on Prednisone for 5 years,
it went into remission once for about 4 months in late 2005, but we had a
very bad home selling that fell through 3 times, and the stress brought it
back, and she still is on 5 mg of prednisone, we're hoping acai might
bring her some relief?
A. Not enough research is available to determine whether acai juice
is preferable by itself or in combination with other juices, or whether it
is preferable to have the acai juice drink or an acai supplement capsule.
There's hardly any human research with acai juice or other forms of acai.
There are dozens and hundreds of healthy fruits and vegetables and
sometimes we focus on one at the expense of others.
Q.
Is it better to have acai antioxidant juice or to take an acai supplement
product?
A. Each form is healthy and has antioxidants, you could alternate
between acai juice and a supplement on different days.
Q. Does acai juice or does an acai pill help with
Impotence?
A. We have not seen any research that acai helps or harms erectile
function.
Q. I'd like to know if the acai capsules offer
everything the acai berry juice does in regards to the health benefits.
A. It is difficult to say for sure since no studies have been done
comparing acai capsules to acai juice. However, acai capsules are a
concentrate of the juice in the sense that all the water, fiber, and
sugars have been removed except for the nutrients and active plant
antioxidants. One option is to sometimes take an acai pill, other times
drink some of the acai berry juice.
Home - Tribulus Terrestris Extract home
Various ways acai berry is available
Acai extract, often 4 to 1
Acai freeze dried powder
Acai juice powder