These seemingly dry and lifeless acai fruit lying in the baskets after harvest are really good for you. Don’t believe me? I didn’t too, till I heard about the antioxidants in acai berries. Antioxidants are, as you know, nutrients in your food which prevent or at least slow down the oxidization process in your body.
How does this happen? Our body cells use oxygen and release a by product which is called a free radical. This is supposed to harm the body by speeding up the aging process of organs. What antioxidants are good at is to neutralize these free radicals. So the intake of foods which provide your body with natural antioxidants is a highly desired fact.
What are the antioxidants in the Acai Berry?
The antioxidants level in Acai is supposed to be really high. The various nutrients which act as antioxidants in the human body include amongst others Vitamin C. The acai berry is very rich in this nutrient. The acai is also rich in phytochemicals which also perform as great antioxidants. The anthocyanins and flavonoid like compunds in the raw acai berry also work well against the natural oxidization processes in the body.
This is why it is best to consume the fresh acai pulp or unfiltered acai juice. Drinking which makes it easier for the body to get the maximum benefit out of the antioxidants in acai berry.In fact even the acai seed extracts are supposed to fight peroxyl radicals well just like the acai pulp. They have an even higher antioxidant capacity to combat against peroxynitrite and hydroxyl radicals present in the body.
How do these antioxidants in Acai Berry affect the body?
The body also manufactures its own antioxidants. These are superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione peroxidase. However oxidation processes in the body speed up if you get sun burns or smoke a lot. (Another reason to kick the butt.) This means that you need to ensure the intake of more antioxidant rich nutrients in your diet.
Getting fruits and vegetables that are rich in antioxidants is a great way to do so. Unfortunately the opportunity to eat freshly cooked meals with fresh vegetables and fruits included is rare on a regular work day for most of us. So it makes sense to provide the body with antioxidants in the form of supplements. This way you can at least gain some of the many benefits associated with the antioxidants in acai berry easily.
