subject: The Benefits of the Acai Berry by:Jeff Stewart [print this page] The acai berry has been talked about a lot recently. From Oprah to Rachel Ray, this fruit has gotten a lot of mention. Leaving us to wonder "what is it about this berry in particular that's so special?"
The acai berry, generally grown in central and South America, has recently gained favor as a "superfood", that is, people claim that this berry has a number of beneficial health effects. So what are these benefits? The list is great and continues to grow by the day, but the most mentioned health benefits are weight loss, improved state-of-mind, decreased cancer risk, slowing of aging, and being a potent source of antioxidants. So far, some studies have resulted in some very good initial findings, but there simply is not enough research to confirm even half the claims made as of yet, so many of the claims are based on word of mouth. The upside, however, is that the acai berry being a natural fruit, there is very little health risk in trying them out and seeing if they work for you.
The most basic health benefit of the acai berry is the antioxidants. The acai berry is believed to be one of the most anti-oxidant rich berries around. Anti-oxidants are purported to help fight cancer risks, by effectively canceling some oxidization, and help prevent aging by the same mechanisms. Naturally, people are interested in these benefits and may decide to use the acai berry for that purpose alone. Whatever the reason, there's no reason not to try the acai berry, although the jury is still out on many of it's purported benefits, there's not much to lose by giving it a go. Whether this is a superfood or a superflop remains to be seen.
About the author
Jeff Stewart runs a blog about acai juice where you can find more information about the acai berry. Check it out at http://acaijuicing.com
