No Comments Written by on August 18, 2008 – 10:24 pm

Organic Acai is a one of a kind fruit extract from the Central and South American Acai Palm’s berries. With the highest recorded ORAC, or Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity, score of any fruit or vegetable tested to date, the organic acai berry is one of the world’s healthiest super-foods. Harvested in clusters of 700 to 900 berries, the organic acai fruit is processed for prolonged shelf-life due to a notably fast deterioration rate.

The most common way the organic acai berries are processed is by freeze-drying, which keeps much of the nutrient rich pulpy liquids contained. The freeze-dried acai powder was discovered to have prolonged “slow-acting” antioxidant components, suggesting that the extract is very suitable for a more sustained and long-term antioxidant effect. Even the seeds have a similar antioxidant effect to the pulpy mass extracted from the fruit.

Organic acai extract has been shown to help remedy many illnesses and woes. The freeze-dried pulp from the acai berry has mild inhibitory effects on two different cyclooxygenase compounds, COX-1 and COX-2, which both play roles in acute and chronic inflammation. Stimulating macrophages, or white blood cells, in lower concentrations, the acai berry extract is a beneficial contributor to the health of the immune system as well. Organic acai has even been shown to reduce proliferation of leukemia cells during lab tests.

The extract from the organic acai berry is often used in drinks, yogurt, smoothies, and other health-conscious drinks and snacks. In southern Brazil, one of the main Acai Palm harvesting areas, organic acai berries are used in snack mixes with granola, usually served cold, and considered a viable source of energy. Inhabitants of the Amazon have been known to use the organic acai berry as their sole source of nutrition, while maintaining a very active lifestyle. Organic acai is a vital ingredient to anyone’s diet that is truly looking to maintain the utmost in health and energy.

- - -