Acai Health Watch

With so many packaged foods like cereals being fortified with vitamins and probiotics, it only makes sense that research find ways to nutritionalize favorites like ice cream.  This would transform regular ice cream a “functional food,” or a food that offers essential vitamins and minerals.

A study at the University of Missouri is researching ways to make ice cream both satisfying and healthy through the use of natural foods.  The acai berry and grapes are two ingredients they’re using to prototype a healthy ice cream.  We’ve enjoyed an acai berry flavored ice cream in Rio de Janeiro and it was absolutely delicious and commonplace.  Not sure how healthy it was, but we enjoy the acai berry just the same.

Turning Ice Cream into a Functional Food, Food Nutrition.

Are you sometimes skeptical when you’re reading the health benefits of acai berry juice put forth by the juicemakers themselves?  You should be!  As you know, false claims (lose 10 pounds in 10 minutes!) abound when it comes to antioxidant-rich superfoods like the acai berry, pomegranates, mangosteens, etc.

Here’s a more impartial article from WebMD that gives it to you straight on the health benefits of the acai berry.

“Some studies show that acai fruit pulp has a very high antioxidant capacity with even more antioxidant content than cranberry, raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, or blueberry. Studies are ongoing, though, and the jury is still out.

People eat acai berries to address various health conditions. But so far, acai berries have no known health benefit that’s any different than that of other similar fruits.”

Acai Berries and Berry Juice — Are There Any Health Benefits?.

FitSugar shared a great overview of five lesser-known foods that many people are talking about for their nutritional properties.   Could they supplant the acai berry as the next big thing?  We don’t think acai is going anywhere, but you may keep an eye out for some of these nutritious and tasty natural foods to supplement your diet.

The list includes acerola, a cherry-like fruit grown in warm climates throughout the world including parts of the southern United States, Mexico, India, Brazil, Southeast Asia and the Caribbean.  It has an apple-y flavor and has unheard of levels of vitamin C.

You may also be hearing about the baobob tree, found mostly in India, Africa and Australia.  The baobob fruit is high in vitamin C and calcium.  It’s leaves are enjoyed and used in soup, while its seeds are also used in cooking and seasoning.

FitSugar describes another newcomer to superfood lovers, the maqui berry:

“The maqui berry is an antioxidant wunderkind. Grown in Patagonia, it’s one of the highest ranking foods on the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) scale, a test that measures the antioxidant potency of foods.

To put that into perspective, maqui juice has an ORAC score of 40,000 and blueberry juice has an ORAC score of 3000. Antioxidants are important for ridding the body in toxins and may even help with weight control.”

Five New Superfoods | FitSugar

911 HealthShop offers these acai capsules that include both acai extract and aloe.

A super berry from Brazil, Acai is packed with vitamins, minerals, amino acids, EFAs (Essential Fattty Acids), phytosterols and anthocyanins — antioxidant factors that support healthy cholesterol, fight free radicals and in general do your heart a world of good. What’s more, the anthocyanins in Acai are about 350% more powerful than those found in red wine.

• Has ten times the antioxidant power of grapes
• Boosts energy and stamina
• Sharpens mental focus
• Helps you get a good night’s sleep
• Supports healthy cholesterol levels
• Rich in heart-healthy Omega-3 and Omega-6 EFAs

SUGGESTED USE:

Adults take two capsules twice daily with water, as a dietary supplement.

INGREDIENTS:

Acai Berry Extract 4:1 (Euterpe Oleracea) – 1200mg
Aloe Vera 100X Powder – 100mg
Other Ingredients: Gelatin, Micro Crystalline, Stearic Acid, Silicon Dioxide, Magnesium Stearate.

Catherine’s Choice Super Amazon Acai Berry by Aloes International, Inc. – 120 Capsules

Though our main topic of conversation here is the acaiberry, there are many more superfoods that can and should be enjoyed as part of a healthy diet.   If you’re looking for delicious, inexpensive foods that contain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and healthy fats, this list is a great place to start.  In addition to acai, you’ll find foods like barley, yogurt, kale and blueberries that can help prevent health problems.

“Acai: This exotic berry from the Amazon has been the subject of intense hype, but there’s a good reason why it’s so trendy. Named by famed nutritionist Dr. Nicholas Perricone as his No. 1 superfood and one of the most powerful foods in the world, acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) contains a remarkable concentration of antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids. It’s considered one of nature’s best offerings to combat premature aging thanks to its high monounsaturated oleic acid content.”

10 Superfoods That Can Rescue You From Health Problems