One of the emerging new “Super Foods” in the health food industry is the Açaí (ah-SIGH-ee) berry, which is found in a palm tree native to floodplains and swamps of the Amazon in Central and South America.

Because Açaí deteriorates so quickly, the food was not available for consumption beyond local growing areas. Recently, though, scientists perfected and patented a process of freeze-drying Açaí berries that resulted in the ability to not only widely consume, but also to provide a medium for further study.

Promising Research
The Açaí has shown higher antioxidant activity than any other fruit or vegetable tested to date. Açaí is rich in plant sterols, a compound found in plants that is known to compete with dietary cholesterol for absorption and therefore may lower cholesterol. As well, it contains high levels of beneficial fatty acids and fiber, both important for regulating digestion and diet.

Further research on the Açaí has shown it to inhibit enzymes involved in the acute and chronic inflammatory pathways, which may one day be used to fight inflammation-related disorders such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, psoriasis, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

It has also been shown to stimulate the white blood cell scavengers of the immune system, which could aid in the fight against cancer.

One study found that extracts from the berries triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells tested in a cell culture model. More research is underway to determine how well the compounds in Açaí are absorbed into the blood, and how they may affect blood pressure, cholesterol levels and related health indicators.

Kristy Losapio is a Registered Nurse Practitioner and distributor of MonaVie™, a nutritional beverage containing a patented freeze-dried Açaí powder blended with 18 other nutrient-dense superfruits. For more information, call (321) 724-6124.