How Nutritious Is Acai Berry
Jul 15
Ever wonder why acai berry is a big hit among health-conscious people anywhere in the world? This is because acai berry is so nutritious that it is now known as the number one super food!
Most attention given to acai had been due to extremely high level of antioxidants. The carbohydrates [and fiber], “good” fats, amino acids and phytosterols also play a huge role in the benefits of acai.
Antioxidants prevent cell damage and boosts immune system. It also helps to recover from the damage due to stressful activities. Sources supplements of these are Vitamins A, C and E. Acai have the highest concentration of this antioxidant called anthocyanin. This is one of the reasons why acai food is considered as the no. 1 super food.
Acai berry contains phytosterols. These are plant sterols involved in fat metabolism and acai contains a high concentration of a phytosterols called beta-sitosterol. Beta sitosterols reduce blood levels of cholesterol and therefore prevent heart disease.
In a 100 gram sample, there were 52.2 grams of carbohydrates — or just over half the weight of the sample. Of these carbohydrates, 44.2 grams were fiber. This is an enormous amount of fiber which is very important in aiding in weight loss; reducing the risk of heart disease by lowering cholesterol; reducing the risk of diabetes by lowering glucose levels; reducing the chance of colorectal cancer; preventing or relieving constipation; and lowering the risk of hemorrhoids.
The second highest components of Acai are good fat- omega [unsaturated] fatty acids. The Omega – fatty acid is essential fatty acid.Omega-9 fatty acid or oleic acid reduces instances of heart disease. Linoleic acid or Omega – 6 fatty acid can be obtained only through dietary intake. Deficiencies of Omega – 6 fatty acid could cause poor wound healing, hair loss and dry hair. The following are the breakdown of fats in acai;
The third major component of acai is amino acids. This deals with our bodys’ metabolism. It has a vital role in building blocks of protein in our body for preventing cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack, stroke, atherosclerosis or coronary heart disease by lowering blood cholesterol (fiber, beta-sitosterol); reducing blood pressure (oleic acid); reducing oxidative stress (antioxidants) and reducing the chance of developing cancers (oleic acid, anthocyanins, polyphenols).