Acai Health Watch

While it is true that there haven’t been large scale clinical human trials evaluating the health benefits of “superfoods” like the acai berry, evidence is building that the acai berry naturally contains health benefits that may help with disease prevention in the future.  Some marketing messaging for acai berry products is designed to lead the reader in drawing a conclusion that may not actually be true.  Still, there is reason to be optimistic about acai and its health benefits according to Monica Giusti of Ohio State University’s Department of Food Science and Technology.

“Giusti and her colleagues have found that applying anthocyanin extracts from a variety of plants to human colon cancer cells in test tubes can significantly slow down or even completely stop the cells’ growth. Researchers think they will find the same cancer-quashing results from other foods that contain anthocyanins.

And similar evidence is mounting for the potential health benefits from anthocyanins in dark-colored fruits like blueberries and pomegranates, fruits in which growers and manufacturers have invested a lot of research money”

Research has yet to prove benefits of antioxidant-rich berry juices | Health and Fitness – cleveland.com – - cleveland.com.

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

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