The Acai Berry's Antioxidant Properties

Of all the so-called "miracle fruits" in the news in recent years, few are as popular or as well known as the acai berry. While the claim that the acai berry has healing powers that could be called miraculous is tenuous at best, it does appear that the antioxidant properties of the acai berry are beneficial for your health. Consult your doctor before you take acai berries for any health condition.

Cultivation

This fruit is produced by the acai palm tree, also known as Euterpe oleracea. The acai palm was originally grown throughout much of Central American and South America. In some cases, the trees can grow up to 100 feet tall, and the fruit grows near the top, so harvesting the berries is a time-consuming and laborious process. The acai berries are slightly smaller than typical grapes and can be eaten fresh, as pulp or as juice.

Absorption

In light of the growing popularity of acai berry for health, a 2008 study was performed by Texas AgriLife Research to determine if the human body was able to absorb the nutrients contained in the acai berry, including its antioxidants. The study found that the people who volunteered in the study were indeed able to absorb the berry's nutrients; samples of blood and urine taken 12 and 24 hours after the subjects ate the berries showed significantly elevated levels of antioxidants.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants are used by the body can fight free radicals, which are loose atoms created by the processing of oxygen. Free radicals can damage the body's cells, leading to a variety of health conditions, if they are not eliminated. According to a 2006 study in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry," the antioxidants in the acai berry were found to be "extremely powerful" in fighting certain types of free radicals.

Cancer

One of the most intriguing potential impacts of the acai berry antioxidants' free-radical-fighting abilities is the possibility of reduced cancer risk in individuals who eat it regularly. Researchers at the University of Florida found that between 35 and 86 percent of human leukemia cells were destroyed by these antioxidants when they were applied in an isolated laboratory setting.