Dark spots, wrinkles, fine lines, sagginess and discoloration are all tied to free radical damage within the skin. Consuming plenty of antioxidants also helps the body repair damaged skin cells faster and, therefore, a more youthful appearance is maintained.

Inflammation and oxidative stress are two major underlying causes of cognitive problems, including loss of memory, dementia and other age-related mental disorders.

Through a process of suppressing biological activity that degrades cellular integrity, acai pulp fractions seem to have protective effects over brain cells, which could have implications for improved cognitive and motor functions. Studies have found that fractions extracted from acai contain brain-saving nutrients, including anthocyanins such as cyanidin, delphinidin, malvidin, pelargonidin and peonidin, along with phenolics such as catechin, ferulic acid, quercetin, resveratrol , and synergic and vanillic acids.

Why is acai good for weight loss? Some experts believe that acai berry may have certain appetite-suppressing abilities, thanks to how it affect on various hormones that control blood sugar levels and feelings of hunger, fullness and satiety.

It seems to help improve metabolic functions which helps the body work better absorbing nutrients, breaking down foods, eliminating waste and regulating the release of insulin. Acai berry offers a good dose of fiber, but it seems to improve digestion in other ways beyond how most high-fiber foods do.

Acai berry cleanses have become popular because of how these berries support the liver and kidneys, which have the job of processing and removing waste and toxins from the body. By improving the metabolism in general, acai berries are capable of speeding up bowel transit time, preventing foods from fermenting in the intestines and causing bloating, gas and constipation.

Studies show that regularly drinking acai juice has positive effects on blood lipid levels and can protect the heart. Acai is surprisingly rich in monounsaturated fas like oleic acid, the type found in heart-healthy extra virgin olive oil.

The study looked at changes in reactive oxygen species and metabolic pathways in a small group of overweight adults after taking grams of acai twice daily for one month. After measuring glucose, insulin, cholesterol and triglyceride levels before and after the study, subjects on average experienced improvements in fasting glucose and insulin levels, a reduction in total cholesterol, and borderline significant reduction in LDL-cholesterol levels.

The researchers concluded that acai might help overweight adults lower their odds of experiencing heart disease and diabetes, although more studies on a larger scale are still needed. Both acai and goji berry are superfoods jam packed with nutrients. Like acai, goji berries have been used for thousands of years and trace back to the origins of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Since both have a long history alongside many advantages, why not have both goji and acai berries together? Can you eat acai berries raw? Yes, however you may have trouble finding them. One of the biggest obstacles with growing, selling and using these berries is that just like all other berries, they are very perishable and fragile when it comes to with-standing high heat.

This makes it hard for suppliers to grow and ship the berries, but also difficult for manufacturers to dry the berries into powder, or extract their nutrients to make supplements, without damaging the important phytochemicals they contain in the process.

Look for high quality products that are pure to avoid consuming fillers and other ingredients, such as high amounts of caffeine. Popular Nutrition Posts All Time This Week {position} Detox Your Liver: A 6-Step Liver Cleanse.

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Axe on Facebook 14 Dr. Axe on Twitter 22 Dr. Axe on Pintrest Share on Email Print Article Acai berries, a glossy blue-purple fruit from Brazil, are super hot right now. They're sold in juice, powder, frozen pulp and capsule form the berries are too perishable to ship whole , and are touted as the decade's most incredible diet supplement.

You may find yourself staring glassy eyed at late-night infomercials peddling acai pronounced ah-sigh-ee products, or wondering if the magazine or Web ads you see are true: Are acai berries nature's wonder drug, capable of blasting away fat not to mention sexual dysfunction and general aging?

When it comes to understanding acai berries, picture a smoothie blended with unequal parts truth and fiction. Some — but not all — of the hype is true. Knowing what's what can save you disappointment — and a whole lot of strain on your wallet.

Read on to learn about acai berry facts and myths. Claim 1: Acai berries are an appetite suppressant. Verdict: Myth Here's why: "To date, there's no scientific evidence to support this claim," says Cara Rosenbloom, Toronto-based Registered Dietitian and nutrition expert with Canadian Living magazine.

Got a friend who swears by it? Consider this the placebo effect, where she believes it's suppressing her appetite, and perhaps she does in fact eat less. But, in theory, anything can have a placebo effect. Bottom line, says Rosenbloom: "It's not an appetite suppressant — it's a berry!

Verdict: Myth Here's why: Again, there's no proof for this claim, says Rosenbloom. Check out 8 ways to blast belly fat for proven flab-busting tips.

Claim 3: Acai berries are rich in antioxidants. Verdict: Fact Here's why: "Acai berries are rich in antioxidants — which help fight the free radicals that can damage cells and lead to heart disease and cancer," says Rosenbloom.

The caveat: all berries are rich in antioxidants, including ones you can buy for a lot less than pricey acai imports! Page 1 of 2 - more on antioxidants on page 2! Plus, find out what Oprah has to say about acai berries. In fact, points out Rosenbloom, there are a number of less expensive juices on the market which are actually higher in anthocyanins, the antioxidant acai berries boast.

According to a recent University of California study, pomegranate, concord grape , blueberry and black cherry juice all had higher concentrations of antioxidants than acai berry juice — as did red wine!

Antioxidants in the body are believed to help protect against various diseases as they can neutralize oxidative damage caused by environmental stressors, such as pollution.

It should be noted that acai supplements are poorly regulated and may not contain the marketed ingredients or concentration strength. Food sources of nutrients are always the best option. The NCCIH emphasizes that there is a lack of reliable evidence confirming the safety and effectiveness of acai products.

It is best to speak to a health professional before making major changes to the diet and before taking any supplements. It is the total diet or overall eating pattern that is most important in disease prevention and achieving good health.

It is better to eat a diet with variety than to concentrate on individual foods as the key to good health. Experiments have been done using acai pulp as an oral contrast for gastrointestinal MRIs. Very large doses of acai might affect the results of MRI scans. If you are going to have an MRI test, it is important to let the doctor know if you have been eating acai berries.

Some supplement companies have made claims that acai berry supplements will help with weight loss. According to the NCCIH:. Researchers who investigated the safety profile of an acai-fortified juice in animals observed that there were no body weight changes in rats given the juice compared with controls.

Acai berries have not yet been studied extensively. The health claims surrounding acai are relatively new and more research is needed to solidify these weight-loss claims. As with any new or fad food, there could be risks that have not yet been reported.

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We look at the nutritional content of these berries, along with how they can be incorporated into a diet. The blackberry is rich in vitamin C, fiber, and antioxidants, and people can add them to their diet easily with some simple changes to their daily….

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Medical News Today. Health Conditions Health Products Discover Tools Connect. What are the health benefits of acai berries? Medically reviewed by Natalie Butler, R.

Health benefits Nutrition Diet Risks Acai ah-sigh-EE berries are a grape-like fruit native to the rainforests of South America. Health benefits. Share on Pinterest Acai berries are the fruit of a type of palm tree.

Share on Pinterest Acai berries may have properties that help protect against cancer. Share on Pinterest Acai berries are rich in fatty acids and contain more antioxidants than other popular berries. Dietary tips. Share on Pinterest One way of incorporating more acai berries into your diet is to make a smoothie bowl.

How we reviewed this article: Sources. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references.

We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles.

You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy. Share this article. Latest news Ovarian tissue freezing may help delay, and even prevent menopause.

Further, analysis of endogenous anti-oxidant protection in subjects with metabolic syndrome indicate that it is depressed[ 4 ]. And, subjects with metabolic syndrome also tend to display an increase in oxidative damage, measured as elevated lipid peroxidation and elevated protein carbonyls[ 3 ].

Oxidative stress has also been shown to enhance insulin resistance and it has been suggested that antioxidant therapy may reduce insulin resistance in diabetic patients[ 4 , 5 ]. Diets which are high in fruits and vegetables, are reported to increase plasma antioxidant capacity[ 6 ].

In addition to vitamins C, E and beta-carotene, fruits and vegetables contain phenolic compounds that contribute to their antioxidant capacity[ 7 ]. The inverse relationship between fruit and vegetable intake and the risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes has been associated with antioxidant capacity of these foods and in their phenolic content[ 8 , 9 ].

Preclinical studies have reported that polyphenolics compounds have beneficial effects on glucose absorption, insulin levels and lipid metabolism[ 10 ]. The fruit of the açaí palm Euterpe oleracea Mart. The edible fruit is round, black-purple in color, about 1-inch 25 mm in diameter and contains a single large seed.

Macerating the pulp of the fruit produces a viscous liquid which is approximately 2. Analysis of fatty acid composition reveals that monounsaturated oleic acid is the primary fat, present at Analysis of phenolics in the fruit revealed the presence of anthocyanin 3-glycosides, ferulic acid, epicatechin, p-hydroxy benzoic acid, gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, catechin, ellagic acid, vanillic acid, p-coumaric acid and gallotannins[ 12 ].

More specifically, the glucosides cyanidinrutinoside and cyanidinglucose, were measured at concentrations of 1. Açai pulp is reported to have an antioxidant capacity of Anthocyanins are generally considered to be the major contributors to the antioxidant activity of the pulp.

This group of researchers compared the Total Oxidant Scavenging Capacity TOSC values for cyanidinglucoside and cyanidinrutoside to their corresponding concentrations in açaí preparations and found that the açaí preparations had significantly higher TOSC values than the calculated capacity due to constituent cyanidin glycosides.

In addition to the in vitro assays, the antioxidant potential of preparations of açaí pulp and juice has also been reported in animal and human studies. Protein oxidation was measured as a decrease in carbonyl protein and an increase in protein sulfhydryl groups.

In animals fed a hypercholesterolemic diet with or without açai pulp, there was a decrease in serum superoxide dismutase SOD activity compared to controls. SOD is an enzyme which is induced in response to oxidative stress and converts superoxide radicals into hydrogen peroxide[ 15 ].

The maximum plasma concentration C max of total anthocyanins, measured as cyanidinglucoside was reached 2. This pharmacokinetic study included healthy volunteers, who were dosed after a 72 hour dietary washout phase and an overnight fast.

The subjects consumed a diet low in antioxidants that excluded the majority of dietary polyphenolics. The antioxidant capacity was measured as the ratio of TE for each time point compared to baseline, divided by the dose volume administered to the subject.

As previously stated, reducing the production of reactive oxygen species is hypothesized to assist in the normalization of metabolic pathways that lead to the onset of diabetes, endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular disease[ 2 ].

In a test of that hypothesis, this pilot study was designed to evaluate the effects of a proprietary preparation of açai pulp in overweight subjects who are at risk for developing metabolic syndrome. Several studies have been conducted on the effects on açai preparations in vitro and in animals, but little is known about its effects on humans.

Epidemiological and experimental studies point to the potential benefits of antioxidants in ameliorating the risks of cardiovascular disease and diabetes type II, however the results from clinical studies with antioxidant vitamins have been equivocal.

The study measured endpoints before and after administration of açai pulp for one month. Measurements included levels of fasting plasma glucose, insulin, cholesterol and triglycerides. Exhaled breath nitric oxide metabolites eNO and plasma levels of high sensitivity C-reactive protein hs-CRP were measured as indicators of inflammation.

The response of blood glucose, blood pressure and eNO to a standardized meal was also determined. The preparation used in this study was Sambazon ® Açai Smoothie Pack Sambazon Inc, San Clemente, CA , a frozen product containing a puree of açai Euterpe oleracea Mart.

pulp that is designed to be made into a smoothie. The açai pulp was pasteurized and manufactured in a GMP facility in Brazil. The bulk pulp contained 6. The bulk pulp also contained 3. This activity accounted for Nutrition analysis of the g Pack performed by Silliker, Inc.

Southern CA Laboratory Cypress, CA revealed the g Pack contained The participants were instructed to place the contents of the Sambazon ® Açai Pulp into a Blender Bottle ® , adding water and up to 4 g 1 packet of sugar as desired making a "smoothie". As a measurement of compliance, the participants took a photo of each smoothie and e-mailed the photo to the research coordinators before drinking.

The dose was g twice daily, taken in the morning and evening. A diary was kept noting whether each smoothie was consumed and the corresponding photo sent.

Females of child-bearing age agreed to use approved forms of birth control. Subjects were required to have a cell phone with a camera along with the ability to transmit photos and to agree to use their cell phone for study purposes. Females who were pregnant or lactating were also excluded.

Intake of steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, multi-vitamins and anti-oxidants were prohibited during the study. This was an open label pilot study conducted with 10 overweight adult men and women who took Sambazon ® Açai pulp g twice daily for 1 month. As this was a pilot study and there was no prior human data on the effects of the Açai product from which to perform a power calculation, the sample size was set at The study was conducted at the Staywell Research clinical research site located in Northridge, CA.

and was monitored by the Medicus Research Contract Research Organization. Institutional Review Board approval was obtained from the Copernicus Group IRB Cary, NC prior to the initiation of any study related procedures.

Good Clinical Practices GCP were followed throughout the study and all subjects gave informed consent according to GCP guidelines.

The clinical study began in October first subject in and lasted until December last subject completed. The subjects in the study came to the research clinic for a total of 4 visits V1-V4. The maximum treatment duration was 4 weeks.

There was a window of ± 2 days for V2, V3 and V4. The subjects were given a handout listing foods containing nitrates for example bacon and hot dogs and asked to avoid these foods for the duration of the study.

V1 was a screening visit during which the subjects were screened for inclusion and exclusion criteria, gave informed consent and medical history, received a physical examination, had a review of current medications, demographic assessment, urine collection pregnancy test for females of child bearing age and were dispensed standardized frozen foods which were the only foods to be consumed during the 24 hours prior to the next visit.

V2 was the baseline visit for which the subjects arrived fasting since mid-night the night before , having avoided exercise and alcohol for 24 hours and caffeine since 8 pm the night before.

Baseline determinations were made of blood glucose capillary , insulin, cholesterol total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides , exhaled breath nitric oxide metabolites eNO and high sensitivity C-reactive protein hs-CRP.

Blood glucose was measured using finger prick samples Bayer Ascensia Contour Glucometer. Insulin was monitored using a chemilumiscent method on a DPC Immulyte Analyzer. Lipid levels and hs-CRP were determined using an Olympus AU Autoanalyzer.

eNO was measured using a devise developed by Insight eNO System previously Apieron Inc, Menlo Park, CA, now Aerocrine AB, Sweden. The devise measures eNO via an optical biosensor that undergoes a change in its optical absorbance when binding with nitric oxide[ 18 ].

Following the visit's baseline determinations, the subjects consumed a standardized meal 57 g carbohydrate, 50 g fat, 18 g protein, nitrate-free; Stouffer's Fettuccini Alfredo, Nestlé USA, Wilkes-Barre, PA.

eNO was determined 1 hour and 2 hours after the meal. Blood pressure and blood glucose capillary levels were determined 30, 60, 90 and minutes after the meal. After all tests were complete, the study products were dispensed as well as diaries Daily dosing diary and 3-day food recall diary.

V3 was scheduled 2 weeks following visit 2. During this visit, compliance was assessed by collecting product packaging dispensed at the previous visit. The diaries administered at the last visit were collected and new diaries were dispensed. Also dispensed were standardized frozen foods to be consumed during the 24 hours prior to next visit V4.

During V4 the measurements conducted during V2 were repeated. Compliance was again assessed and diaries administered at the last visit were collected. Excel Microsoft Corp, Redmond WA was used for data entry, validation, restructuring, calculating changes in variables over time, reorganizing and reformatting results, and preparing the graph.

Statistical analyses descriptive statistics and Student t tests were performed using SPSS Base System ver. The percent changes in capillary blood glucose levels from time zero to minutes after the meal were determined for each individual.

The averages of the individual percent changes were calculated and plotted as minutes from time zero baseline. The area under the curve AUC was calculated using the Trapezoidal Rule. The demographics of the ten participants in the study is given in Table 1.

Their body measurements did not change significantly over the month of the study. Three-day food recall diaries were collected at baseline and after 4 weeks of treatment. Based on the assessment of macronutrient content fat, protein, carbohydrates and total caloric intake, the diet of the subjects did not change over the course of the study.

The subjects took g açai pulp twice daily for one month. The subjects mean baseline fasting glucose level was After one month administration of the açai pulp, the mean fasting glucose level decreased significantly to The mean plasma fasting insulin levels for the group decreased from 8.

Table 2. Levels of high density lipoprotein HDL -cholesterol did not change significantly following intake of açai. The ratio of total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol, obtained by dividing the HDL cholesterol level into the total cholesterol, was reduced from 3.

There was no significant change over time in levels of very low density lipoprotein VLDL cholesterol or triglycerides Table 2. The mean baseline measurement for highly sensitive C-reactive protein hs-CRP was 2. The effects of consumption of a standardized meal 57 g carbohydrate, 50 g fat, 18 g protein, nitrate-free on plasma glucose, mean exhaled nitric oxide eNO and blood pressure were determined before baseline and after 30 days of consumption of açai pulp.

The averages of individual percent changes in capillary blood glucose levels from time zero to minutes after the meal are plotted in Figure 1. At the baseline visit, the postprandial glucose levels peaked at 60 minutes, with an increase of After 30 days of consumption of açaí, the percent change from baseline at 60 minutes was only 4.

The glucose area under the curve AUC measurement for the baseline visit was Thus, consumption of açai pulp for 30 days significantly reduced the post-prandial increases in glucose levels following the standardized meal.

There were no significant changes in blood pressure or in eNO. Mean baseline blood pressures were ± 7 mmHg systolic and 72 ± 9 mmHg diastolic at baseline. The mean exhaled nitric oxide eNO level at baseline was Post-prandial levels of plasma glucose were measured before and up to minutes after consumption of a standardized meal.

The determination of the percent change in glucose from baseline was made at the start of the study baseline curve and after administration of Sambuzon açai for 30 days day curve. The trend lines for the baseline and 30 day measurements are depicted as two straight lines. Açai pulp was safely consumed.

There were no adverse events or changes in vital signs body temperature, pulse or respiratory rate. The subjects in this study had a mean BMI of Consumption of Sambazon ® Açai by this population, reduced plasma levels of fasting glucose, insulin and total cholesterol.

Consumption of Sambazon ® Açai also reduced the post-prandial increase in plasma glucose following a meal. In this study, the reductions in fasting glucose and total cholesterol compared to baseline were 5. These reductions are greater than those deemed necessary for a change in risk status.

The potential effects of other anthocyanin-rich preparations on glucose levels in subjects with ether diabetes type 2 or metabolic syndrome have been tested clinically. The possible effects of anthocyanins on diabetes as well as possible mechanisms of action have been explored in animal models.

In this study, stimulation of AMP-activated protein kinase was measured in white adipose tissue, skeletal muscle and the liver. This effect was accompanied by an upregulation of glucose transporter 4 in adipose tissue and muscle, and a suppression of glucose production and lipid content in the liver[ 24 ].

The authors reported that cyanidin 3-glucoside upregulated glucose transporter 4 and down regulated retinol binding protein 4 expression[ 26 ]. In the present study, total and LDL cholesterol were reduced as well as the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol.

A reduction in total and LDL-cholesterol coupled with an increase in HDL-cholesterol is considered to be a step towards prevention of cardiovascular disease.

The results of this study are in line with those reported in a rat study in which açai pulp reduced total and non-HDL cholesterol in treated animals compared to controls. Treatment with açai did not affect blood pressure in this study.

An effect on blood pressure was suggested by an in vitro study conducted using an extract of açai fruit injections of 10 to mg extract added to rat mesenteric vascular bed previously contracted with norepinephrine.

The study demonstrated that açai had an endothelium-dependent vasodilator effect due to effects on production of nitric oxide[ 27 ]. C-reactive protein CRP is one of the acute phase proteins that increases during systemic inflammation and measuring CRP levels in the blood is useful as an indicator of cardiovascular disease risk.

An effect of anthocyanins on CRP in has not been established in previous clinical studies. In accordance with previous results, this study did not demonstrate any significant change in levels of hs-CRP following administration of açai.

Exhaled nitric oxide eNO is an indicator of airway inflammation. There was no indication of airway inflammation in subjects in this study at baseline and no increase in eNO following the standardized meal. However that finding was not repeated in this study.

Açai pulp was safely consumed in this study at a dose of g twice daily for one month. Experiments with mice found that doses of 3. once or daily for 14 consecutive days, did not cause any genotoxic effects[ 29 ]. This was an open label, uncontrolled, pilot study designed to explore the potential effects of Sambazon ® Açai on risk factors for diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

The limitations of this study are a lack of a blinding, a placebo control and the small sample population. This was an exploratory study, and as the results are positive, further studies placebo-controlled studies with a larger study population are warranted.

In this uncontrolled pilot study, consuming g per day of Sambazon ® Açai for 1 month reduced fasting levels of plasma glucose, insulin, and total cholesterol compared to baseline levels in a cohort of 10 overweight adults. Administration of Açai for 30 days also attenuated the post-prandial glucose response AUC following a standardized meal compared to the pre-treatment response.

Sambazon ® Açai was administered safely, without adverse events. The results of this study suggest that conducting a larger placebo-controlled trial to determine the effects of acai on risk factors for chronic disease is warranted.

Alberti KG, Eckel RH, Grundy SM, Zimmet PZ, Cleeman JI, Donato KA, et al: Harmonizing the metabolic syndrome: a joint interim statement of the International Diabetes Federation Task Force on Epidemiology and Prevention; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; American Heart Association; World Heart Federation; International Atherosclerosis Society; and International Association for the Study of Obesity.

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