Acai Nutritional Information: Get the Acai Nutrition Facts Before You Buy
ByThe acai berry has become a byword when it comes to health supplements, and yet many are still unaware of exactly what the acai nutritional facts are that makes this little berry so in-demand. Looking at the long list of the healthy minerals and vitamins contained in the acai berry is like looking at the “who’s-who” in the world of nutrients. Name it, the acai has got it. Care to find out what these are? Let’s start with the acai’s most important and useful components.
The Battle of Antioxidants and Free Radicals
It’s almost a guarantee that you’ve heard the term antioxidant before. You have probably also heard them associated with their arch nemesis, the free radical. But first, you have to understand what these terms actually mean. Free radicals, a naturally occurring atom, are different from normal atoms because they lack an electron from their pair. They make up for this by stealing electrons from other atoms, creating more free radicals. In abundance, they are believed to be a driving force behind many problems from Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s to cancer and heart disease. Antioxidants combat and slow the effects of free radicals by giving the electron they desire without allowing them to steal it from healthy atoms.
And this is where the acai berry is so incredible. ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) measures how well a food combats free radicals. The avocado, long known for lowering rates of prostate cancer, has an ORAC count of 19. Cranberries, touted as the king of super fruits, measures an astounding 94. But the acai berry has an ORAC count of 610. Go ahead and read that again. It’s not a typo. The acai berry doesn’t just push the bar, it sets an entirely new standard among super fruits.
Other Healthy Facts About the Acai Berry
The acai berry could hardly be called a super fruit if its only benefits came from antioxidants. The acai nutritional facts also attribute a good amount of unsaturated fats to the tiny berry. Unsaturated fats, known as good fats, are a source of essential fatty acids like Omega-6. The body is unable to produce these acids and must get them from foods. Like many other healthy foods, the acai berry is also a good source of fiber. In addition, acai berries contain a lesser-known compound found in the skin called anthocyanins. This compound is believed to help fight coronary heart disease, a major killer among Americans.
Is the Acai Berry Deserving of the Title of Super Fruit?
If the acai berry doesn’t constitute a super fruit, what does? It contains many of the healthy properties of other fruits, in addition to astronomical levels of antioxidants. While you will likely never get to have a fresh acai berry, unless you visit Brazil, you can get all the nutrition from pure acai supplements. If you obtain a high quality supplement, you can experience the benefits of acai for yourself. The acai berry is one of the most beneficial foods you can eat, the acai nutrition facts don’t lie.





