CHANGING LIVES AND LIFESTYLES
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Kyle Williams
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Kyle Williams
Marty Scott
Dwight Carson
MonaVie™
May 21, 2008
The Hype
Dear Friend, If you're looking into living a very long life... and... staying young and healthy... this very well could be the most important message you will ever read.
One small berry is taking on the entire world's illnesses...and winning!
The secret all lies within how cells in your body die. Did you know there are only TWO ways for a cell in your body to die?
Apoptosis - The Good Way
The process where a damaged cell signals for a white blood cell to come and destroy it thoroughly.
The Result: No leftover parts of the cell to damage other cells.
Necrosis - The Bad Way
The destructive process cells go through unassisted: Electrons fall off into other cells wrecking havoc and causing everything we know as aging, including non-genetic diseases. They become free radicals.
The Result: The body ages, develops Cancer, Heart Disease, Arthritis, Tumors, High Blood Pressure, etc...
So theoretically, if you could stop Necrosis from happening,
you would stop aging completely and live healthy forever!
The only defenses we currently have against Necrosis are Antioxidants. Antioxidants are natural compounds shown to block or 'soak up' the extra cell parts (free radicals) left over from Necrosis.
The Result: Slower aging, less illness.
There are thousands of compounds in nature that are considered to be Antioxidants, but they are always found in very small concentrations. Within the last six years, the most concentrated source of antioxidants has finally been discovered. At least for the people outside of Brazil.
The most powerful antioxidant on earth is the Acai berry (pronounced Ah-Sigh-EE). In brazil where the natives eat three servings a day of Acai, they look very young and do not have any of the problems that plague the rest of us. No cancer, no heart disease, no stroke, etc. In fact, the 60 year old woman there has practically no wrinkles on her face at all.
 Studies have shown that this little berry is one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in the world! Açaí (ah-sigh-ee) is the high-energy berry of a special Amazon palm tree. Harvested in the rainforests of Brazil, açaí tastes like a vibrant blend of berries and chocolate. Hidden within its royal purple pigment is the magic that makes it nature's perfect energy fruit. Açaí is packed full of antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids. - Oprah.com |
 So-called "superfoods" are nutrient-rich foods that can make us healthier and feel more energetic. Some say superfoods can even help us to look younger. Superfoods making headlines recently include acai berries, blueberries, cranberries, pomegranates, and omega-acid rich fish like salmon. Dr. Manny, FoxNews.com | |
 Rio juice bars, which can be found on street corners all over the city, are colorful celebrations of fruits you've probably never heard of, like acai, a purple Amazonian fruit high in antioxidants that is said to be good for both energy and sex drive. -CNN.com | ||
Bluntly put, the Acai berry triumphs any berry on earth...as far as antioxidants are concerned...
Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC)
(Big words for how powerful antioxidants are) 
Why is Freeze-Dried Acai the Best?
Within 24 hours after being picked off the plant, the Acai berries begin to loose their precious ORAC value. This is why the preparation and process is vital to you and how you consume Acai. The two best ways to preserve Acai's ORAC value is to either Freeze them or Freeze dry them.
Frozen Acai Berries - Expensive and Hard to Use
Frozen Acai Berries can be found in specialty stores and are very pricey. They must be frozen at all times and eaten each day. Trust me, I've done this and there is a much easier and less expensive way to go...
Freeze-Dried Acai - Less Expensive and Easy to Use
The easiest most effective way to take advantage of Acai is to take an easy to use dietary supplement called Prima-Acai. Prima-Acai only use freeze dried Acai to preserve its powerful characteristics, giving you all the benefits of eating the berries right off the plant. This incredible product can be taken with just 2 small capsules a day, giving you 1,000 milligrams of 100% Pure Acai Extract, up to 10 times more than seen with overpriced MLM products.
But Antioxidents are not Acai's only weapon!
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High Cholesterol: Acai contains Plant Sterols to keep Cholesterol from being digested. Diabetes: Low Glycemic index improves glucose and lipid levels. Digestion: Digestion is improved because of Acai's high fiber content Ulcers: Destroy bacterial infection with anti-bacterial properties and rebuild with Antioxidants. Asthma: Acai's high vitamin C content relieves symptoms of asthma. |
University of Florida News: |
Almost all disease can be prevented or destroyed if given enough antioxidants.
In fact: "Acai has Every Single Essential Nutrient required for humans..." "...also contains every essential and non-essential amino acid that humans require, also very rare in single food sources.
- Dr. Alexander Schauss
People live very healthy lives eating nothing but Acai berries
What exactly does Acai have larger-than-normal amounts of?
- Many different Antioxidant compounds, especially Anthocyanins.
- May different Phytonutrient compounds.
- Essential Fatty Acids (Omega 3, 6 and 9)
- Amino Acids
- Vitamins C, E and many others
- Complex Carbohydrates
- Dietary Fiber
- Trace minerals
- Even Protein!
In addition to it's beauty boosting properties, some other commonly reported benefits of Açai include:
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"Acai Nature's Perfect Food"
Health Sciences Institute- July 2003
Discover the amazing health benefits of the fruit from the Amazon’s "tree of life" the Acai - By Judy Douglas
If you get your health guidance from the mainstream media, you’d think the healthiest way to live is to guzzle red wine and drown everything in olive oil.
That’s basically what they’ve told us in recent years. First, it was the “French paradox”--the fact that the French, who generally eat lots of cheese, cream, and butter; drink lots of wine; and smoke like chimneys, are healthier than Americans. Scientists told us it was all in the wine—specifically, in the anthocyanins—the antioxidant flavinoids that gives red grapes their deep color.
Then it was the “Mediterranean diet,” the traditional way of eating in the regions of Italy and Spain, where olive oil is a staple. We learned that olive oil is a good source of essential fatty acids that are processed right out of many Americanized foods.
I’m not discounting the benefits of either of these phyto-chemicals. In fact, in a minute I’ll explain exactly why both are so important to good health. I just question the sources recommended in the headlines. There’s got to be a better way to get these valuable nutrients than guzzling wine and drowning in oil.
As it turns out, there is. I learned about it from HSI panelist Jon Barron. He told me about a single SuperFood from the Amazon, Acai, that, fresh from the tree, can provide over 30 times the amount of anthocyanins as red wine and all the beneficial fatty acids of olive oil in one delicious, all-natural package. And this is just the beginning of Acai's health benefits. It’s virtually impossible to over-do this food—which is certainly not the case with red wine or olive oil.
With Acai you get the healing power of many phytonutrients in one delicious package. There’s no disputing the health benefits of anthocyanins and essential fatty acids. Both have proven to be powerful nutritional tools in the quest for good health.
Research has shown that plant pigments like anthocyanins are potent antioxidants.
The cardiovascular benefits are the most well known; studies show that anthocyanins can help prevent blood clots, improve blood circulation, relax blood vessels, and prevent arthrosclerosis. But scientists have also uncovered a whole host of other powerful effects from anthocyanins, including antiviral and antiallergenic properties. Some research even suggests that anthocyanins can prevent cancer, by blocking carcinogenesis on a molecular level and encouraging tumor cell death.
Essential fatty acids have proven just as powerful. Oleic acid, a monounsaturated omega-9 acid, and linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated omega-6 acid, help lower LDL, and maintain healthy HDL levels. They also increase the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A, E, D, and K, which are essential to good health. Research has even suggested that oleic acid may prevent against cancer and hypertension.
Olive oil may be the best known sources of these nutrients, but it is certainly not the only one. It’s the pigment in red grapes that gives wine its anthocyanins—and that same pigment can also be found in other red and purple fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, red cabbage, and purple sweet potatoes. Oleic acid is also present in pecans and seed oils, and linoleic acid is found in peanuts.
However, Acai is one food that delivers it all—plus other healthy nutrients like fiber, phytosterols, and vitamins C and E. For centuries, it’s been a staple for people in Brazil, yet virtually unknown to anyone outside the region—until now.
Discover the health secret of generations of Amazonian Indians.
Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee), and is the fruit of a palm tree that grows in the rainforests of the Amazon—a tree Brazilians call "The Tree of Life." About 90 percent of the small, round fruit is its hard, inedible pit—but that’s OK, because it’s the outside skin that holds the treasure. That dark purple skin of the Acai Berry is what contains the anthocyanins.
The natives puree the acai skins, creating a treat that can be served warm as a sauce over fruit or grains or frozen like a sorbet. They’ve been eating acai for centuries, passing down recipes from generation to generation. (The native people have also passed down the story of how acai was discovered.) Because acai fruit itself is perishable, its popularity never spread beyond the region.
SuperFood fights heart disease, cancer, prostate enlargement, and more.
Since then, the news about acai has been steadily spreading—and the evidence of nutritional and health benefits just keep piling up. Consider this: a 100-gram serving of acai contains only 90 calories, just two grams of fat and no cholesterol. Plus, it delivers 3.5 grams of dietary fiber, something we could all use more of in our diets. Improved processing of the fresh fruit is making it possible to preserve more of the fruit’s healthful attributes. Currently, the acai puree provides more anthocyanins than red wine and acai has antioxidant concentrations that well outweigh blueberries.
Subsequent research has shown that in addition to the anthocyanins and essential fatty acids, acai also contains a healthy dose of plant sterols, another class of phyto-chemicals that have been shown to reduce cholesterol, protect the immune system, and relieve prostate enlargement. In fact, it turns out acai is in the same family as saw palmetto, a common herbal treatment for prostate enlargement. And researchers at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro have discovered that acai extract can be used to fight infection, like the parasitic infection schistosomosis which affects 10 million Brazilians each year and the common bacterial infection staphylococcus aureus.
It seems there’s no end to the acai miracle fruit’s health benefits.
39 Reasons to Drink Acai Juice Every Day
GOOD FOR THE BODY
- 1. Helps build a strong body by providing protein: Proteins are the primary component of some hormones and many body tissues, including muscles and organs. Proteins also make up the outer layers of hair, nails and skin. Acai has more proteins than an average egg.
- 2. Strengthens bones: Acai contains glucosamine, a building block of cartilage, and Celadrin, which helps cushion joints and support membranes. These compounds help generally to strengthen the body and help maintain many of the body’s tissue.
- 3. Muscle contractions and regeneration: Acai’s mix of essential amino acids and trace minerals are vital for strength and recovery after strenuous activity.
- 4. Increase energy and stamina: Acai’s nutrients, including a large amount of natural lipids, provide needed energy to tackle competitive sports and daily chores.
- 5. Stress relief: The acai berry can help regulate your stress levels and repair your body.
- 6. Improves sexual health: Acai’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties can counter infertility due to stress, pollution and factors related to free radicals.
- 7. Aids body synergy: Acai’s immune-system-strengthening qualities help protect the entire body.
- 8. A potent anti-aging food: The regenerative nutrients and strong antioxidants in acai keep cells operating optimally and may slow aging.
FOR MEN
- 9. May help prevent prostate enlargement: The antioxidant punch of acai may be a powerful weapon in the fight against benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), commonly known as an enlarged prostate.
FOR WOMEN
- 10. Helps prevent osteoporosis: Acai has a significant amount of calcium, which helps stregthen the bones, prevent fractures and can help prevent osteoporosis.
- 11. Menstrual cycles: Women who experience extreme menstrual pain can also benefit from acai juice. Calcium-rich foods help coat the lining of the stomach and uterus, and help reduce the pain from cramps and bloating.
HEART HEALTH & DIABETES
The acai berry may possess the best of both the French paradox and the Mediterranean diet when it comes to heart health because of its stellar array of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals.
- 12. May help prevent causes of heart disease: The berry contains the antioxidants known as polyphenols, a principal source of heart protection. One anthocyanin, cyanidin-3-glucoside, may improve the production of nitric oxide (NO) in endothelial cells. NO allows blood vessel walls to relax and expand, resulting in less stress on the heart, decreased risk of vessel blockage and increased blood flow.
- 13. Reduces bad cholesterol: In addition to its high antioxidant content, acai is rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs). A large body of research indicates that EFAa help reduce harmful LDL cholesterol while supporting levels of the beneficial HDL cholesterol, which can lead to better blood circulation.
- 14. Sterols may lower blood pressure (BP): Sterols are components of plant cell membranes providing numerous benefits to the human body. Sterols are sometimes used to treat symptoms associated with BP.
- 15. Protects blood vessels: The anthocyanins in acai protect small and large blood vessels, including veins, arteries and capallaries.
- 16. In diabetes: Weak capillaries can lead to a condition called retinopathy, which often leads to blindness. Acai helps protect capillaries.
- 17. Diabetes relief: Acai’s low glycemic index improves glucose and lipid levels in diabetics.
- 18. Weight Control: Its low glycemic index also helps acai control appetite and delay hunger, which can help individuals trying to lose weight.
GALVANIZES THE IMMUNE SYSTEM
- 19. Acai can improve resistance to disease: By boosting the immune system, acai’s rich nutrient profile helps boost the body’s natural defenses.
- 20. Improved function of immune cells: Recent published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine indicate that acai’s beta-sitosterol prevents immune suppression and modulates lymphocyte activity.
- 21. Prevents free-radical damage to the immune system: Free radical damage (or oxidation) is one of the primary causes of immune weakness or dysfunction.
- 22. Antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal: Acai can reduce the frequency of infectious diseases.
- 23. Acts as an antimutagenic: Acai’s antioxidant properties help prevent damage to DNA, which lowers the risks posed by carcinogens and mutagens.
AID FOR THE DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
- 24. Improves digestion: Acai’s dietary fiber helps promote the health of the digestive tract, including the colon.
- 25. Overcomes acid-reflux disease (GERD): The braod array of antioxidants in acai may help protect and repair the lower esophagus damaged by GERD, and its acid-suppression effects reduce the acidity of stomach contents when reflux does occur.
- 26. Heals ulcers: The antibacterial properties of acai kill bad bacteria, fungi and parasites, inlcuding H. pylori. the ulcer causing bacteria.
- 27. Helps relieve symptoms of Crohn’s disease: Acai’s anti-inflammatory abilities may prevent the malabsorption of vital nutrients by preventing
SKIN CARE
The antioxidants in acai feed the skin and help it build and replenish itself. Acai contains more than double the daily dose of natural vitamin E, which is essential for tissue generation.
- 28. Improves skin tone: Acai’s phytosterols help reduce the erosion of the skin’s protective coating.
- 29. Defends against premature wrinkles: Because it is so high in anthocyanins and phytosterals, acai helps protect connective tissues, including collagen.
- 30. Acts as an astringent: Astringents are substances that contract, shrink or tighten body tisses, indcluding skin. Astringents can be used to stop bleeding in small cuts or to give the skin a fresh, tingling feeling.
DISEASE FIGHTER
- 31. May thwart cancer: The antioxidant protection of acai berry may lower cancer risks for several types, including breats, lung, skin and stomach cancers, by neutralizing free radicals before they can damage cells.
- 32. Reduces arthritis pain: Anti-inflammatory properties of acai may offer relief for arthritis sufferers.
- 33. Relieves symptoms of asthma: Acai’s vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties found to improve asthma symptoms.
- 34. May reduce risk of Alzheimer’s disease: A 2004 study from the Archives of Neurology found a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease with increased amounts of vitamins C and E, found in acai.
OTHER HEALTH ADVANTAGES OF ACAI
- 35. Aids vision: The beta-carotene and vitamin C in acai promote eye health, including reducing the complications of macular degeneration in diabetes.
- 36. Helps maintain healthy teeth and gums: The calcium in acai may mean a whiter smile and stronger teeth, as well as the prevention of gingivitis and other gum diseases.
- 37. Improves mental clarity: Acai’s omega-3 fats are crucial for proper mental function and alertness.
- 38. Better sleep: The B vitamins and other nutrients in acai reduce stress and help brain cells communicate by assisting with the production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.
- 39. Promotes overall wellness: Antioxidants may provide one of the best ways to prevent disease, promote overall wellness and the slow effects of aging in an environment that is growing increasing hostile. Acai has great potential as an antioxidant supplement because research shows it has a great activity and possibly more benefits than other fruits and vegetables with antioxidant properties. The little fruit from the Amazon may have the best overall antioxidnat profile to date.
May 06, 2008
Berry Research Breakthroughs: Top 10 Medical Studies of 2006
2007-01-16 - Paul M. Gross, PhD After review of more than 300 research reports on berries in 2006, here are The Berry Doctor's choices of the top 10 medical science studies over the past year. Format of the presentation is to give the report title, authors' names, research institution and published reference followed by a synopsis of main research findings. To conclude each review, a “note to consumers” provides a single message having potential interest to the general public. This presentation reveals 3 significant trends in berry research: 10. Direct vasoactive and vasoprotective properties of anthocyanin-rich extracts. Bell DR, Gochenaur K. Department of Cellular and Integrative Physiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, 2101 Coliseum Blvd. East, Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499. J Appl Physiol. 2006 Apr;100(4):1164-70. Synopsis. Although nitric oxide is a reactive oxygen specie (ROS), it is, under normal conditions, an important universal transmitter in the human body, having a role in numerous physiological processes. It is particularly important for regulation of blood flow and blood pressure by dilation of small arteries whose smooth muscle layers are under control by nitric oxide as the endothelium-dependent relaxation factor. Nitric oxide, however, can be attacked by other ROS and its normal functions deterred. This study examined the effect of anthocyanin phenolics from chokeberries (Aronia melanocarpa), bilberries (Vaccinium myrtillus) and elderberries (Sambucus nigra) on protection of nitric oxide regulation of vascular tone in pig coronary (heart) artery rings in vitro (a model for human heart artery function). The berry anthocyanins themselves caused the heart arteries to relax (dilate) and also protected normal nitric oxide-mediated dilation in the presence of other ROS. Note to consumers: This study concluded that berry anthocyanins, either through the diet or as therapeutic agents, may be important for protection of blood flow in coronary artery disease. Such results indicate that colorful berries could be valuable as dietary preventative agents for general health of the heart and vascular system. 9. Neuroprotective effects of Lycium barbarum Lynn on protecting retinal ganglion cells in an ocular hypertension model of glaucoma. Chan HC, Chuen-Chung Chang R, Koon-Ching Ip A, Chiu K, Yuen WH, Zee SY, Exp Neurol. Epub 2006 Oct 11; 203(1):269-73. Synopsis. The high intraocular pressure of glaucoma is a threat to vision quality in many aging seniors. Goji (“wolfberry”), well-known for its rich antioxidant content of vitamin C and carotenoids, beta-carotene, zeaxanthin and lycopene, may be a valuable food choice for maintenance of eye health. Zeaxanthin particularly is necessary as a pigment filter and antoxidant in the retina. In rats surgically prepared to have high intraocular pressure characteristic of glaucoma, this study found treatment with an extract of goji berries preserved retinal ganglion cells in this model of glaucoma. Note to consumers: The results are evidence that components of the goji berry – likely its vitamin C and carotenoids – created a protective effect on retinal ganglion cells in this experimental model of glaucoma. Goji berries may be valuable either as a whole food in the diet or from its extracts to create a therapeutic agent against the effects of glaucoma. 8. Induction of cell death in Caco-2 human colon carcinoma cells by ellagic acid rich fractions from muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia). Mertens-Talcott SU, Lee JH, Percival SS, Talcott ST. Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Jul 26;54(15):5336-43. Synopsis. Muscadine grapes (Vitis rotundifolia) contain some of the richest pigmentation and phenolic concentrations known among berry fruits. This study examined the effect of ellagic acid and other flavonoids from muscadine grapes on parameters of colon cancer cells in vitro. Cancer cells were prevented from proliferating and had increased rates of apoptosis (higher natural self-induced death rates) resulting from exposure to ellagic acid from muscadine grapes. Note to consumers: An indigenous specie of the southeast USA, muscadine grapes are exceptional sources of ellagic acid and other phenolics that may reduce cancer cell numbers and stimulate cancer cell death. 7. Blackberry, black raspberry, blueberry, cranberry, red raspberry, and strawberry extracts inhibit growth and stimulate apoptosis of human cancer cells in vitro. Seeram NP, Adams LS, Zhang Y, Lee R, Sand D, Scheuller HS, Heber D. Center for Human Nutrition, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095. J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Dec 13;54(25):9329-9339. Synopsis. Six species of common berries – blackberry, black raspberry, blueberry, cranberry, red raspberry and strawberry – were studied for their phenolic antioxidant contents by high-performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Anthocyanins, flavonols, flavanals, tannins, ellagic acid, proanthocyanidins and other phenolics were found in high concentrations. Tested in vitro for their effects on cell numbers in four different types of cancer – breast, colon, prostate and oral cancer -- the berry phenolics proved effective for inhibiting cancer cell proliferation and stimulating apoptosis (increased rate of cell death, a desirable anti-cancer effect). Note to consumers: Phenolic antioxidants from common berries proved effective in vitro against four different kinds of cancer. 6. Blueberry polyphenols increase lifespan and thermotolerance in Caenorhabditis elegans. Wilson MA, Shukitt-Hale B, Kalt W, Ingram DK, Joseph JA, Wolkow CA. Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute on Aging, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD 21224. Aging Cell. 2006 Feb;5(1):59-68. Synopsis. As an experimental model in medical research, the roundworm nematode called C.elegans has provided a wealth of scientific information in studies of genetic composition and disease resistance, drug discovery and aging. In this interesting series of experiments using blueberry extracts on C. elegans, the authors found that blueberry phenolic proanthocyanidins increased lifespan and tolerance to heat. The effect was mediated through a genetic pathway that regulates osmotic stress. Note to consumers: blueberry proanthocyanidins have antioxidant and other regulatory effects that may improve resistance to disease and aging. 5. Anti-diabetic properties of the Canadian lowbush blueberry Vaccinium angustifolium Ait. Martineau LC, Couture A, Spoor D, Benhaddou-Andaloussi A, Harris C, Meddah B, Leduc C, Burt A, Vuong T, Mai Le P, Prentki M, Bennett SA, Arnason JT, Haddad PS. Department of Pharmacology and Membrane Protein Study Group, Universite de Montreal, P.O. Box 6128, Downtown Station, Montreal, QC, Canada H3C 3J7; Institut des Nutraceutiques et des Aliments Fonctionnels, Universite Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada. Phytomedicine. 2006 Nov;13(9-10):612-23. Synopsis. Extracts of blueberry fruit plus other plant components (leaves, roots, stems) improved glucose transport and the insulin response of muscle and pancreas cells in vitro while protecting these cells against glucose toxicity commonly seen in diabetes. Pancreatic beta cells were increased in number by treatment with blueberry extracts. Note to consumers: blueberry fruit and other plant components contain phenolic antioxidants with properties that favorably improve the response of muscle and pancreas cells to diabetic stimuli, and so have promise as anti-diabetic agents. 4. Antiviral effects on bacteriophages and rotavirus by cranberry juice. Lipson SM, Sethi L, Cohen P, Gordon RE, Tan IP, Burdowski A, Stotzky G. Phytomedicine. 2006 Nov 28; [Epub ahead of print] Synopsis. In a study comparing the antiviral effects of juices from cranberries, oranges and grapefruit, the authors found cranberry juice to be 100% effective against monkey viruses called rotavirus SA-11 and bacteriophage T4. Cranberry juice was more effective against these viruses than orange or grapefruit juice. Note to consumers: commercial cranberry juice has significant antiviral effects under the conditions of these experiments. 3. Up-regulation of tumor suppressor carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 1 in human colon cancer Caco-2 cells following repetitive exposure to dietary levels of a polyphenol-rich chokeberry juice. Bermudez-Soto MJ, Larrosa M, Garcia-Cantalejo JM, Espin JC, J Nutr Biochem. 2006 Jul 21; [Epub ahead of print] Synopsis. Chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) is well-known for its intense sourness, a reflection of strong phenolic acids serving the fruit as antioxidant pigments. In this study of chokeberry juice containing mixed phenolics, several regulatory mechanisms of colon cancer cell function were affected. Chokeberry juice inhibited genes involved in cancer cell growth, reduced cell proliferation and upregulated suppressor genes involved in growth of adenomas and carcinomas. Note to consumers: Chokeberry juice, normally so bitterly sour that it cannot be taken as a native juice, provided strong anti-cancer effects in vitro. This experiment indicates that phenolic-rich plants like dark berries have promising potential as anti-cancer agents. The study also suggests that modification of chokeberry juice to make it palatable, or use of its extracts, could have significant potential as an anti-cancer tool. 2. Antioxidant capacity and other bioactivities of the freeze-dried amazonian palm berry, Euterpe oleraceae mart. (açaí). Schauss AG, Wu X, Prior RL, Ou B, Huang D, Owens J, Agarwal A, Jensen J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Nov 1;54(22):8604-10. Synopsis. One of nature's most color-intense fruits, açaí is attracting interest for its future use in functional foods where it could supply rich concentration of phenolic antioxidants and value as a deep violet colorant. In studies to characterize the antioxidant strength of açaí, these authors measured freeze-dried açaí powder against several assays of antioxidant capacity, finding the highest scores yet measured for a fruit against the superoxide radical and for total antioxidant strength. Anthocyanins were only partly responsible for this effect, as other, yet unidentified phenolics were present. Using human neutrophil cells as a model, the authors also showed that açaí phenolics remain intact and effective in low doses in exerting their antioxidant effect. This finding indicates that small amounts of açaí added to foods or beverages could provide significant antioxidant protection. Note to consumers: açaí fruit from the South American tropics has the strongest antioxidant properties yet observed and has high promise for entering first-world markets as a functional food ingredient and colorant. As its effects are evident at low doses, it may become an ingredient of numerous foods, drugs and other consumer products where antioxidant protection is needed. 1. Transitioning from preclinical to clinical chemopreventive assessments of lyophilized black raspberries: interim results show berries modulate markers of oxidative stress in Barrett's esophagus patients. Kresty LA, Frankel WL, Hammond CD, Baird ME, Mele JM, Stoner GD, Fromkes JJ. Nutr Cancer. 2006;54(1):148-56. Synopsis. Over the past five years, research from this group at Ohio State University has been establishing experimental evidence for how phenolics from black raspberries in the diet have preventative effects against several types of cancer (oral, esophageal or throat, breast, colon). The research has progressed sufficiently now to be carried to the next landmark stage – a preliminary investigation of anti-cancer activity in patients with Barrett's esophageal cancer. The research is significant as it directly examines the role of dietary berries on anti-cancer activity in patients with an aggressive cancer. Note to consumers: preliminary laboratory evidence is significant showing that black raspberries in the diet provides anti-cancer activity against oral, esophageal, breast and colon cancers. Research on humans begun in Autumn 2006 is examining potential benefits of dietary black raspberries on Barrett's esophageal cancer. This is the first human clinical trial of dietary berries as a preventative dietary agent against cancer. About the Author. Paul M. Gross, Ph.D., received his doctorate in physiology from the University of Glasgow, Scotland and was a post-doctoral fellow in neuroscience at the Laboratory of Cerebral Metabolism, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda , MD. Switzerland
Paul M. Gross, PhD
1. sophisticated biological models are being applied to demonstrate properties of berry constituents, particularly antioxidant phytochemicals (evident in papers 6,9,10);
2. there is increasing focus on identifying potential health benefits of berries against major diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, viral infections and particularly cancer (papers 1,3-5,7,8); and
3. exotic, nutrient- and antioxidant-dense berries (sometimes called “superfruits”), such as açaí, are increasingly under systematic investigation to more completely define their properties (paper 2)
So KF. Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
P. O. Box 110494, Gainesville, FL 32610-0494.
Biology Department, St. Francis College, 180 Remsen Street, Brooklyn Heights, NY 11201.
Tomas-Barberan FA, Garcia-Conesa MT. Grupo de Investigacion en Calidad, Seguridad y Bioactividad de Alimentos Vegetales; Ciencia y Tecnologia de los Alimentos, CEBAS-CSIC, 30100 Murcia, Spain.
GS, Hart AN, Shanbrom E. Natural and Medicinal Products Research, AIMBR Life Sciences, 4117 South Meridian, Puyallup, WA 98373.
Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio
State University College of Medicine and Public Health, Columbus 43210, USA.
Açai Study Ranks 2nd among "Top 10 Medical Studies of 2006"
[NPIcenter] — January 16, 2007 — After a review of more than 300 research reports on berries in 2006, The Berry Doctor ranked a study on the açai berry in its freeze-dried form (the same form used in MonaVie brand products) 2nd among the Top 10 Medical Studies of 2006. The study, conducted by Drs. Schauss (recipient of the Linus Pauling Lecture Award), Wu (leading antioxidant specialist at the USDA), Prior (inventor of the ORAC assay), et al., is titled "Antioxidant capacity and other bioactivities of the freeze-dried Amazonian palm berry, Euterpe oleraceae mart. (açai)" and was published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Nov 1;54(22):8604-10).
Here's an excerpt from the article: "açai fruit from the South American tropics has the strongest antioxidant properties yet observed and has high promise for entering first-world markets as a functional food ingredient...." Click here to view this article and the Top 10 Medical Studies of 2006.
MonaVie™: Changing Lives and Lifestyles
English
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Acai and cancer cells: University of Florida study
Adding to the buzz surrounding the brazilian acai berry, is a just completed university of florida study documenting it's effect on cancer cells.
In the University of Florida study, six different chemical extracts were made from acai berry pulp, and each extract was prepared in seven concentrations.
At least four of the extracts killed large numbers of cancer cells when applied for twenty four hours or more. Anywhere from 35 percent to 86 percent of the cancer cells were destroyed, depending on the extract and concentration.
According to assistant professor Stephen Talcott, the impetus for the test was, "A lot of claims are being made, but most of them haven’t been tested scientifically. We are just beginning to understand the complexity of the acai berry and its health-promoting effects."
HERE IS THE STUDY
Brazilian berry destroys cancer cells in lab, UF study shows
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — A Brazilian berry popular in health food contains antioxidants that destroyed cultured human cancer cells in a recent University of Florida study, one of the first to investigate the fruit’s purported benefits.
Published today in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the study showed extracts from acai (ah-SAH’-ee) berries triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells tested, said Stephen Talcott, an assistant professor with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.
“Acai berries are already considered one of the richest fruit sources of antioxidants,” Talcott said. “This study was an important step toward learning what people may gain from using beverages, dietary supplements or other products made with the berries.”
He cautioned that the study, funded by UF sources, was not intended to show whether compounds found in acai berries could prevent leukemia in people.
“This was only a cell-culture model and we don’t want to give anyone false hope,” Talcott said. “We are encouraged by the findings, however. Compounds that show good activity against cancer cells in a model system are most likely to have beneficial effects in our bodies.”
Other fruits, including grapes, guavas and mangoes, contain antioxidants shown to kill cancer cells in similar studies, he said. Experts are uncertain how much effect antioxidants have on cancer cells in the human body, because factors such as nutrient absorption, metabolism and the influence of other biochemical processes may influence the antioxidants’ chemical activity.
Another UF study, slated to conclude in 2006, will investigate the effects of acai’s antioxidants on healthy human subjects, Talcott said. The study will determine how well the compounds are absorbed into the blood, and how they may affect blood pressure, cholesterol levels and related health indicators. So far, only fundamental research has been done on acai berries, which contain at least 50 to 75 as-yet unidentified compounds.
“One reason so little is known about acai berries is that they’re perishable and are traditionally used immediately after picking,” he said. “Products made with processed acai berries have only been available for about five years, so researchers in many parts of the world have had little or no opportunity to study them.”
Talcott said UF is one of the first institutions outside Brazil with personnel studying acai berries. Besides Talcott, UF’s acai research team includes Susan Percival, a professor with the food science and human nutrition department, David Del Pozo-Insfran, a doctoral student with the department and Susanne Mertens-Talcott, a postdoctoral associate with the pharmaceutics department of UF’s College of Pharmacy.
Acai berries are produced by a palm tree known scientifically as Euterpe oleracea, common in floodplain areas of the Amazon River, Talcott said. When ripe, the berries are dark purple and about the size of a blueberry. They contain a thin layer of edible pulp surrounding a large seed.
Historically, Brazilians have used acai berries to treat digestive disorders and skin conditions, he said. Current marketing efforts by retail merchants and Internet businesses suggest acai products can help consumers lose weight, lower cholesterol and gain energy.
“A lot of claims are being made, but most of them haven’t been tested scientifically,” Talcott said. “We are just beginning to understand the complexity of the acai berry and its health-promoting effects.”
In the current UF study, six different chemical extracts were made from acai fruit pulp, and each extract was prepared in seven concentrations.
Four of the extracts were shown to kill significant numbers of leukemia cells when applied for 24 hours. Depending on the extract and concentration, anywhere from about 35 percent to 86 percent of the cells died.
The UF study demonstrates that research on foods not commonly consumed in the United States is important, because it may lead to unexpected discoveries, said Joshua Bomser, an assistant professor of molecular nutrition and functional foods at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
But familiar produce items have plenty of health-giving qualities, he said.
“Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with decreased risk for many diseases, including heart disease and cancer,” said Bomser, who researches the effects of diet on chronic diseases. “Getting at least five servings a day of these items is still a good recommendation for promoting optimal health.”
Credits
- Writer
- Tom Nordlie, tnordlie@ifas.ufl.edu, (352) 392-0400, ext. 276
- Source
- Stephen Talcott, sttalcott@ifas.ufl.edu, (352) 392-1991, ext. 218
- Source
- Joshua Bomser, jbomser@hec.ohio-state.edu, (614) 247-6622
Miracle Berry Improves Sex
'It gives energy and strength - and it's great for sex'
Alex Bellos travels to the Amazonian source of acai, Brazil's favourite tipple for improving everything
Rio de Janeiro is the city that worships health and beauty and where the healthy and the beautiful drink acai. Pronounced ah-sah-yee, acai is more of a lifestyle option than a foodstuff; a magic fruit potion that fuels the hedonistic energy of Brazilian beach life. Shortly after I moved to Rio, I was told about the acais berry's amazing nutritional properties: Brazilians believe it gives you strength, energy and is great for sex. A friend told me that when he was having difficulty in fathering a child, the first thing his doctor recommended was 'drink lots of acai'. And it worked!'
I took my first sip at one of the juice bars that line the blocks by the beach. The berry juice is served half-frozen and its thick gloopiness means that you slurp it up with a spoon. This seems to accentuate its carnal, brutish aspect. As does the fact that the people who drink it are invariably nearly naked, in Speedo trunks or bikinis.
The way it looks is integral to its appeal. It is made from dark violet berries about the size of a raspberry; a deep, dense colour that seems weighted down by its nutritional secrets. It reflects no light and has the texture of mud. I wasn't immediately sure about the taste, which was very sweet and medicinal. But by the end of the cup I was hooked. It is fruity with a chocolatey kick.
The nutritional breakdown of acai is prodigious. It has high levels of iron, calcium, carbohydrates, fibre and antioxidants. And energy. A small 100g cup has almost 300 calories. Combined with the mystique of its Amazonian origins, acai's contents have made it the beverage of choice for Rio's sporty elite.
Açaí is indigenous to the flood plains of the Amazon estuary. The acai palm regenerates with ease and in areas where human development has destroyed natural vegetation the first tree that grows in its place is acai. (Açaí palms cover an area equivalent to half the size of Switzerland.) In this region, its abundance and role as primary nutritional resource cannot be over-estimated: it is literally the fruit that has saved many poor families from starvation.
'Açaí is the main food staple of river communities in the Amazon estuary,' says the agronomist Oscar Nogueira. It is drunk for every meal - in much the same way as bread or rice is eaten in other cultures.
Having become an acai fan in Rio I was keen to visit Belém, the main city in the Amazon estuary and world centre of acai. If ever a city was so strongly defined by a single fruit, it's Belém. There is a local saying: 'Who arrives here and stops, drinks acai and stays.' In Belém more of the fruit is drunk than milk. An estimated 200,000 litres of the purple liquid is consumed per day among a population of 1.3 million.
Açaí is highly perishable and the only way it gets to Rio is in frozen packages. In Belém, the fruit is always consumed fresh. Since it goes off within 24 hours, in order to service the population with fresh acai on a daily basis an enormous infrastructure has grown in Belém that employs an estimated 30,000 people.
The cycle starts in the rainforest. The acai palm has a long thin trunk up to 25m high and a clutch of branches at the top from which hang ribbon-like leaves. Hundreds of acai fruits dangle from branches in clusters that look like nests of bluebottles.
The fruit picking is done by hand. In the afternoons, river-dwellers scramble up the trees, cut off the branches and climb back down again exactly as they have done for hundreds of years. In the evening, boats containing baskets of acai leave the rainforest heading for Belém's market, where they arrive in the middle of the night.
The acai market is a dockside next to the city market. By the early hours small boats have started arriving with baskets of the fruit which quickly fill the quay. By 3am men like Armando Ribeiro arrive.
Armando owns the Casa do Açaí, one of Belém's 3,000 acai points, where the fruit is pulped,into juice. Armando buys several baskets of the best açai and takes it back to his premises, a small patio in a backstreet. When I arrive, shortly after 11am, Armando has been pulping the fruit for an hour. Customer demand for acai is at lunchtime, and they prepare it fresh. He pours the fruit into the pulping machine and keeps on re-pouring the discharge until the blend is perfect. He sells three versions; thick (£1), medium (60p) and dilute (40p).
In Belém, you are never more than a block away from an acai point. Wherever you look, your eye always finds a red acai sign. I find a bar and order a bowl. It is served like soup. The taste is almost unrecognisable from what I have become used to in Rio. The exotic sharpness and zesty kick is not there. The sensation is of a simple, neutered, bitter freshness. Açái is not a versatile fruit since it can only be stored frozen and cannot be cooked, so for the most part, it continues to be drunk just as the indians have drunk it for centuries.
For acai to catch on outside the Amazon, it needed a pioneer. That man was Carlos Gracie, the great-grandson of Scottish immigrants from Dumfries, who was born in Belém in 1902. In his early teens, a chance meeting with a Japanese immigrant led to his obsession with the martial art jiujitsu. In 1922 the Gracies moved to Rio and Carlos opened Brazil's first jiujitsu academy.
When a shop near his Copacabana home specialising in obscure foods started to import frozen acai, he began to incorporate it into his diet and also to encourage all his jujitsu students to drink it. The jujitsu boys were pin-ups with the best bodies: everyone wanted to know what 'miracle' potion they were drinking. Soon Rio's surfers became fans, and gradually the drink crossed over to become part of beach culture. By the early 1990s, no juice bar could exist without selling it.
The boom in acai over the last decade has had more effects than changing the eating habits of Rio's body-obsessed men (and women). Scientists have discovered that acai is rich in anthocyanins, the group of chemicals in red wine that are believed to lower the risk of heart disease. Swig per swig, acai contains over 10 times more of them than red wine. It is also rich in essential fatty acids, calcium and vitamins. Açaí's recent success is also changing the nature of agriculture in the Amazon estuary. Agronomists have been successful in developing ways of cultivating acai sustainably with high yield. In the last five years acai production has tripled and brought work to poor rural areas. Belém, now has more than 60 factories that export. 'Açaí is the most promising product we have here for development,' says de Jesus.
Açaí was an Amazonian secret that conquered Brazil. Whenever friends visit Rio they fall in love with the taste. I have lost count of the number of excited conversations about how we could export it around the world. I discovered recently that I've been beaten to it. A company in California now imports it to the US and next month Selfridges will introduce it to British palates. It may not be the same as sipping it fresh in Rio, but make no mistake, one day acai will conquer the globe.
What is the Acai berry Fruit?
Acai's scientific name is Euterpe Oleracea. This fruit is little, round and with a dark purple color that resembles a grape, but yet smaller and even darker. Acai has a large seed and not much pulp. This berry is broadly used in ice cream, energy drinks, energy bars with granola, and in Brazil its pulp is consumed directly or in juices.
Where exactly is the Acai fruit berry found at?
The Acai fruit berry is located in the Amazon rain forest of Brazil.
What benefits could I expect to experience by consuming Acai?
Here is a brief list of the reported benefits from regularly taking 100% pure Acai
Reminder: results may vary from person to person, yet real benefits may be experienced within 1-2 weeks of continuous use.
- More energy/stamina
- Enhanced digestion
- Improved Mental Focus
- Sleeping more soundly
- All the nutrients originate from one berry.
- Acai contains more proteins than an average egg.
- Acai contains a high dosage of lipids which provides you the needed energy to help you get through the day.
- Acai berry is an all in "one-stop" Multi-Vitamin Product.
- Acai contains important minerals like iron, phosphorus, potassium, and calcium.
- Acai has all natural Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E.
- Better sexual function
- Acai has demonstrated to have up to 33 times the Antocyanine than red wine grapes.
- Acai has a high level of fibers that is good for elderly and for people who have problems with digestive organs.
- Acai has two essential fatty acids known as Omega 6 (Linoleic acid) and Omega 9 (Oleic acid). Research shows that these fatty acids maintain normal cholesterol levels.
- Research has shown that these Anti-Oxidants help regulate normal cholesterol levels.
- Acai's Anti-Oxidant factors play a large role in maintenance of vascular cardiac system, which is important for better blood circulation.
- Acai is considered one of the richest nutritive fruits from the Amazon or the world for that fact.
- An almost perfect essential amino acid complex in conjunction with valuable trace minerals, vital to proper muscle contractions and regeneration.
- More bio-active then liquid freeze dried versions of Acai
- Very low Sugar content for a fruit
- Cleansing and Detoxing your body
- Boost your Immune System
Whole Foods Magazine: The Hidden Secrets of Acai
Written By: Jeffrey Bliss
Polyphenols, Phytochemicals, Anthocyanins, what are they and what are the benefits of such compounds?
Phytochemicals characterize, or sum up the whole picture of the beneficial compounds found in fruits, vegetables, and certain teas. They are the protective living matter in which plants are able to thrive in some uncertain environments such as climate and insect infestations. When consumed by humans, these compounds act as antioxidants so vital to good health and longevity. Many studies suggest that the use of antioxidants may help in the fight against anti-aging, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and so many other age related degenerative diseases including ophthalmology.
Anthocyanins are some of the more potent forms of antioxidants. We have all heard of the "French Paradox", how the people of France with their high fat diets and not uncommon unhealthy lifestyles are still below the percentage of related deaths from cardiovascular disease than many of the populations which exist today.
One reason may be that they consume large amounts of red wine. Wine, made from grapes have very high levels of the antioxidant anthocyanins. The polyphenols (anthocyanins) in red wine, are believed to mitigate the effects of a fatty diet and smoking. Anthocyanin, a polyphenol which is proven to reverse, halt, and improve the conditions of many age related diseases inflicted on the general population. Anthocyanins (flavonoids) found in various fruits have a unique chemical structure that makes them 6 to 8 times more potent than vitamin C.
One particular fruit, known as Acai (ah-Sa-E) contains the most highly concentrated forms of anthocyanins known thus far through intense research. The anthocyanin content in the Acai is proven to be 3.5 times the amount of that present in a glass of red wine, volume to volume when tested in an ORAL analysis ( measure of capacity).
Anthocyanins and their protective properties: Inflammation and Collagen: Anthocyanins neutralize enzymes that destroy connective tissue. Their antioxidant capacity prevents oxidants from damaging connective tissues and repair damaged proteins in the blood-vessel walls.
The Nervous System: By preventing tyrosine nitration, the anthocyanin properties in Acai may help protect against neurological diseases.
The primary anthocyanins in Acai known as Cyanidin-3-glucoside have been found to help in the reversal of age related neurological deficits.
Large and Small Blood-Vessels: Anthocyanins ability to counter oxidants make them a powerhouse in the fight against arteriosclerosis. Even in trace amounts, anthocyanins effectively protect against LDL oxidation. Anthocyanins protect the integrity of the endothelial cells that line blood vessel walls and help to maintain micro capillary integrity.
Diabetes: One of the serious diabetic complications is retinopathy, which in most cases can cause blindness. This condition occurs when the body attempts to repair leaking, damaged capillaries, but does so by over producing abnormal proteins. The protection of anthocyanins may help prevent these capillaries from leaking and to help prevent abnormal protein proliferation.
Eyesight: Anthocyanins may also help improve eyesight by numerous mechanisms. In the Second World War, British fighter pilots were found to have improved night vision. These findings were thought to be contributed by the large amounts of bilberry in the pilot's diet. The effects of the improved night vision were not long lasting after the initial consumption of bilberry lasting just hours after initial consumption. With this new found advantage, the pilots would consume the bilberry fruits just prior to the mission.
Sources: Pigmentated fruits are known to carry the highest amounts of anthocyanins. Fruits that can be eaten with skin on, offer the highest value of anthocyanins. These fruits would consist of cherries, grapes, raspberries, blueberries, bilberry, and Acai to name a few.
Whole Foods Magazine The Hidden Secrets . Written By: Jeffrey Bliss
The antioxidant content in acai leaves rival fruits struggling to play catch up:
50 times greater than mangoes.
Three time greater than blueberries.
Two times greater than pomegranates.
10 to 33 times greater than red wine grapes.
May 2008
Pages
Recommended Health Books
Deepak Chopra: Perfect Health: The Complete Mind/Body Guide, Revised and Updated Edition
Michael F. Roizen: You: Staying Young: The Owner's Manual for Extending Your Warranty (You)
Joel Fuhrman: Eat to Live: The Revolutionary Formula for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss
Mehmet C. Oz: You: On A Diet: The Owner's Manual for Waist Management
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