MonaVie and Acai
This little berry is one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in
the world.
Check back soon for information on how to
obtain this natural superfood!
Acai Fruit
Acai is a dense source of particular class of flavonoids called anthocyanins
(red-blue phenols with potent antioxidant properties)
Acai (pronounced Ah-Sa-E) is an Amazon Super Berry that is known for:
Fighting cholesterol problems Gives you total energy and much, much,
more. Benefits: This new berry is 100% all natural and it is harvested
naturally from depths of the rainforests of Brazil, by the people who
have been using it for over thousands of years. Acai is the only super
berry on the market that has everything that you need, naturally from
only the berry itself. It packs Vitamin B1, B2, B3, Vitamin E, Vitamin
C, Phosphorus, Calcium, Potassium, Fiber, Proteins, good fatty acids such
as Omega 6, Omega 9 to helps you fight your cholesterol problems and many,
many more; there is just too many to list.
- -Anthocyanins are a group of phytochemicals in red wine thought to
contribute to the French paradox, i.e. France has one of the lowest
incidences of heart disease of any westernized society despite a prevalence
of smoking and a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol (5). Acai
pulp contains 10-30 times the anthocyanins of red wine per equal volume
(1).
- -The primary anthocyanin in Açai is cyanidin-3 glucoside (1). Cyanidin-3-glucoside
has been found to be 3.5 times stronger than Trolox (vitamin E analogue)
and the predominate anthocyanin found in red wine (malvadin-3-glucoside)
in an ORAC analysis (measure of antioxidant capacity) (11).
- -Anthocyanins have been found to "exhibit numerous potential therapeutic
effects including treatment of diabetic retinopathy and fibrocystic
disease of the breast in human" (11). "Other potential physiological
effects of anthocyanins include radiation-protective, chemoprotective,
vasoprotective and anti-inflammatory agents" (11).
- -The fatty acid ratio of Acai resembles that of olive oil, which is
thought to be a contributing factor to the low incidence of heart disease
in Mediterranean populations (1, 5).
- -60 percent Oleic (Omega 9) a monounsaturated, essential fatty acid,
helps lower LDL (harmful cholesterol) while maintaining HDL (beneficial
cholesterol) levels (5).
- -12 percent Linoleic (Omega 6) a polyunsaturated, essential fatty
acid, has been found to lower both LDL and HDL levels (5).
- -Fatty acids aid in the transport and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
i.e. Vitamins A, E, D, and K (3).
- -Acai contains valuable phytosterols
- -Sterols are components of plant cell membranes providing numerous
benefits to the human body, namely the reduction of blood plasma cholesterol
(7).
- -Sterols are currently being used to treat symptoms associated with
BPH (benign prostate hyperplasia) (6).
- -Preliminary evidence suggests that beta-sitosterol (the predominant
sterol in Acai) may help prevent immune weakness resulting from severe
physical stress (7).
- -Acai is a good source of fiber
- -3.5 grams of dietary fiber in one serving of Sambazon Acai.
- -Fiber promotes a healthy digestive system. Low fiber in the American
diet is thought to be a contributing factor to the high incidence of
cancer and heart disease. Soluble fibers may help lower blood cholesterol;
insoluble fibers are thought to help reduce the risk of developing certain
types of cancers (5).
- -Acai mixed with Guarana
- -Guarana has been found to increase metabolism, physical endurance,
stamina and memory in laboratory mice (8).Guarana contains theobromine,
a caffeine-like compound thought to contribute to the euphoric feeling
experienced by some people when consuming chocolate (9).
- -Guarana is noted as being effective in the treatment of headaches
and cold.Other uses include appetite suppression, pain relief, as well
as an aid to smoking cessation (9).
Works Cited
- 1. Rogez H. Acai: Preparo, Composiçao, e Melhormento da Converaçao.
Belem:EDUFPA; 2000.
- 2. Seager S, Slabaugh M. Chemistry for Today: General Organic and
Biochemistry-4th ed. California.
- 3. Wardlaw G, Insel P. Perspectives in Nutrition - 2nd ed. Saint Louis:
Masby - Year Book, Inc; 1990.
- 4. Sillberberg S. Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of matter and Change
- 2nd ed. USA: McGraw-Hill; 2000. 1086p.
- 5. Cook-Fuller C, editor. Annual Editions Nutrition 00/01 - 12th ed.
Connecticut: Dushkin/McGraw Hill; 2000.
- 6. Berges B, et al. Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinicaltrial
of beta-sitosterol in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Lancet
345: 1529-1532, 1995.
- 7. Pegel K. The importance of sitosterol and sitosterolin in human
and animal nutrition. S African J Science. 93, 263-268, 1997.
- 8. Miura T, et al. Effect of guarana on exercise in normal and epinephrine-induced
glycogenolytic mice. Biol Pharm Bull. 1998 Jun;21(6):646-8.
- 9. Henman AR. Guaraná (Paullinia cupana var. sorbilis): Ecological
and social perspectives on an economic plant of the central Amazon basin.
J Ethnopharmacol, 1982 Nov.
- 10. Duke JA. CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: CRC
Press,1985, 349
- 11. Hong W, Cao G, Prior P: Oxygan Radical Absorbance Capacity of
Anthocyanins. J. Agric. Food Chem. 45, 304-309, 1997
