Amazon Rainforest Provides Super Antioxidant

June 13, 2011 - PRLog -- Researchers at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Human Nutritional Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston have determined that a berry found in the Amazon rainforest of northern Brazil may have potent antioxidant effects.  

The indigenous population of the rainforest has used the Acai berry, pronounced “a-sigh-eeh,” for centuries.  The Acai berry has an extremely short shelf life, meaning the nutrients degrade in less than 24 hours after harvesting.  Therefore, it was not readily available outside the Brazilian rainforest area.  

Researchers at Tufts University found that the fruit may reduce damage from high-fat meals, extend life span, and protect the brain against aging and neurologic disease.  

Researchers at Texas A&M University published a study in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry that found that Acai juice raised blood antioxidant levels by 2.3 times, and that the pulp of the Acai berry tripled antioxidant levels.  

The Acai berry became popular when the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Gracie family opened an academy in Rio de Janeiro and brought frozen pulp of the fruit to the city.  It then became popular in many juice bars in Rio and, as its popularity grew, it was brought to North America in 2000.  The berry has steadily increased in popularity as it became more well known.  

The Acai berry is a very dark purple berry that grows 30 to 50 feet above ground on thin palm trees.  Unlike the grape, more than 90 to 95 percent of the Acai seed is surrounded only by a very thin layer of skin.  After the berry has been harvested and soaked the skin is removed and made into a pulp.  The pulp may then be frozen soon after harvesting and can be freeze-dried or made into a powder.  

Dr. Dennis Lox, a physical medicine and regenerative medicine specialist in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, notes that there are now readily available supplies of various concentrations of Acai juice that are often blended with other juices and diluted.  If it is in a liquid form, says Dr. Lox, it is important to find the proper Acai that has been minimally diluted and has a higher concentration of Acai per serving.  

Dr. Lox points out that if it has been undiluted with other various juices, the concentration can be often found as high as 4000 mg of Acai per serving.

A powder form of Acai can be available in capsules, which some individuals may find more convenient.  

Dr. Lox notes that it is easy to make a smoothie or protein shake that incorporates various antioxidants, including vitamin C crystals, and a small amount of the Acai liquid into the shake that is taken once a day.  A smoothie or shake can yield a very high amount of antioxidants in a very simple form, and can even include liquid omega-3 fatty acid and fish oil.  All of these could be mixed with other fruits in the smoothie or protein shake, providing a very nutritious and healthy meal in a very easy and fast method.

If it is not convenient and mixed in one setting, according to Dr. Lox, then often individuals will forget to take certain nutrients, and a smoothie or protein shake can help ensure proper supplementation of the diet in a readily efficient manner.


http//www.DrLox.com

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Dennis M. Lox, M.D. is board certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Since 1990, he has used sports medicine techiques and cutting-edge technology to help heal musculoskeletal injuries and relieve pain.