Acai: The famous purple berry from the Amazon (Ah-sigh-ee)
The Amazon Jungle contains the widest variety of the lushest vegetation on the planet. Even today, researchers and scientists have yet to discover and document every species of the vast amount of flora that thrives in the region. With each new find, the scientific and medical communities of the world become more and more aware of the special therapeutic and medicinal properties held by certain plants and fruits. Among the more recent finds of the past few decades, it is the fruit of the palm Euterpe oleracea, more commonly known as acai berry, that has excited the most interest. The acai (pronounced as ah-sigh-ee) berry has long been considered the most important part of the diet of the native population, comprising up to 42% of the weight of their daily food intake. It is usually ground up and mixed with various ingredients before being consumed mere hours after the berries are picked. Its special properties have remained largely unknown to the rest of the world because the active components found in the juices of the acai berry remain active for only 24 hours after being harvested. By using revolutionary method of freeze-drying the freshly picked fruit, it is able to deliver top quality acai powder that maintains the berry’s full nutritional values and benefits as well as its natural flavor.
Acai berries are rich in antioxidants, essential fatty acids, protein, dietary fiber, calcium, and several essential vitamins, making it one of nature’s best superfoods. In Brazil, it is well known for its energy and strength boosting capabilities, making it popular among athletes, bodybuilders, and people who party the night away. It has also gained a reputation both as an aphrodisiac and as a fertility enhancer, and is often sold as such on the beaches of Brazil. As a result of these documented effects, most Brazilians regard it is a popular flavor of ice cream, and it is often used as an ingredient in sherbets and smoothies.
In recent times, acai has found growing popularity as a diet food, with many acai based diets being promoted on TV, in magazines and on the internet. Entire multi-level marketing programs have been built around acai-based products, often claiming ‘miraculous’ results within ridiculously short time frames. While acai may indeed be used as an integral part of a weight loss program, its abilities are often overly exaggerated. Most of the so-called acai diet products often contain very little of the actual acai berry extracts, which are often diluted with artificial ingredients and flavors. Some of these products also ignore the acai berry’s many other health benefits, such as its high antioxidant content and cancer-fighting abilities. This has caused acai to receive negative publicity, with many deceived consumers being left feeling ripped off. As part of our commitment to promoting healthy lifestyle choices, the 100% undiluted pure acai powder so potent one can experience the true benefits of this remarkable fruit.
Acai contains large amounts of anthocyanins, which are plant pigments that are responsible for acai’s dark purplish black skin. It is also found in red wines, and scientists believe them to be able to lower the risk of heart attacks. A higher anthocyanin value also signals higher antioxidant content. Antioxidants are substances which prevent cellular damage from by neutralizing free radicals, which are a byproduct of oxidation at the molecular level. By preventing cellular damage, antioxidants prevent the development of cancer and slow down the effects of aging. Studies have shown acai to rate very highly on the Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity or ORAC scale. Acai berry juice also contains over 10 times more anthocyanins than red wine, making it more effective in protecting the body from all types of damage. A single serving of acai provides over double the amount of the recommended daily consumption of antioxidants.
The acai berry is also a good source of oleic acid and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Both types of omega fatty acids are essential in the growth and development of the body’s tissues, and play a role in protecting the body’s cardiovascular system. Oleic acid helps the body absorb these omega-3 fatty acids more efficiently, which has the effect of keeping our cell’s membranes more pliable and absorbent. This in turn makes the body’s hormones and neurotransmitters function more effectively.
Goji Berries
The Far East has long been the source of some of the world’s most potent and nutritious functional foods, many of which have been in use for thousands of years by doctors and herbalists. In today’s world where more and more attention is being paid to healthy living, these plants, herbs, and fruits have been experiencing a large influx of renewed interest. Among these new found natural food wonders, the goji berry has gained some exceptional notice.
Goji berries are harvested from evergreen shrubs that can only be found in the temperate and subtropical regions of China, Mongolia and the Himalayas in Tibet. The fruits bear the scientific name lycium barbarum, and also go by the name wolf berries. The plant is a member of the nightshade family. The fruits themselves are small, shriveled, red berries which look remarkably like red raisins.
Goji berries have had a long and illustrious history. Their use has been recorded as far back as 6,000 years all across China, Tibet and India. It was one of the key components of ancient medicine, and was used as a remedy for a large number of illnesses and conditions. Goji berries were said to have the ability to prevent liver damage and improve a person’s eyesight. It was also prescribed as an aphrodisiac, able to boost sexual function and fertility. It was also given to people who wished to strengthen the muscles of their legs, and was recognized for its ability to boost immune function, improve circulation, and promote longevity.
Modern science has unlocked the reasons behind the goji berry’s many health and medicinal benefits. For one thing, the fruit is rich in antioxidants, particularly in carotenoids such as beta-carotene and zeaxanthin. Zeaxanthin is a substance that helps protect our eyes’ retinas by absorbing blue light and acting as an antioxidant that prevents cell damage. Recent studies have found that an increased intake of zeathanthin rich foods may help decrease the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which is the leading cause of blindness and vision impairment in people over the age of 65.
Goji berries have become known as the ‘longevity fruit’ and for very good reason. It contains large amounts of antioxidants, the substances in our bodies that fight off free radicals and prevent cell damage. This gradual cell damage is responsible for visible signs of aging and the development of both genetic and age related diseases, such as cancer and dementia. The berry’s unique combination of polysaccharides influence our body’s pituitary gland to produce more human growth hormone or HGH, which further slows down the body’s natural aging process.
The benefits of goji berries do not stop there. The fruits have been shown to have promising anti-cancer applications. A 1994 Chinese study discovered that people suffering from cancer were able to respond better to their treatment when goji berries were introduced into their diets. There have also been some supporting studies that indicate that the goji berry’s high levels of antioxidants, working in unison with its unique extracts, may have other health benefits beyond slowing the growth of cancer cells. It may also be beneficial to diabetics for its ability to reduce blood glucose, and its cholesterol lowering properties promote the health of both cardiovascular and circulatory systems. Its ability to maintain alertness and mental acuity have also earned it a reputation as a powerful brain food.
In recent times, the goji berry’s growing popularity has caused many health products claiming to be made with goji berries to appear. Most of these products are juices and teas, often marketed to exaggerate the berry’s many health benefits. These products usually come from unscrupulous companies hoping to cash in on the growing health foods market, and in fact contain very little of the goji berry’s extracts. The best way to ensure that you are getting the real thing is to purchase the berries themselves and to use it in any dish or beverage you wish for a healthier and more rewarding experience.
Goji berries have a mild tangy taste that is slightly sweet and sour. Because they both look and have the same texture as raisins, they can be easily used as a substitute ingredient for them. Pies, trail mixes, and salads can receive an extra healthy dose of nutrition. It can also be pressed or blended into a refreshing drink, brewed to make a healthy batch of tea, or even mixed with grapes to make a very special wine vintage. The berries may also be eaten on their own as a healthy and convenient snack.
Golden Berries
If you’re the health conscious type of person, then chances are that you take a multivitamin every morning in order to supplement the nutrition your get from your food. Most multivitamins come in tablet form, made up of chemicals and compounds put together in a lab and manufactured in a factory. This means that they’re entirely artificial, and could potentially pose the same risks as ingesting any chemical product. If you want to avoid this risk, why not go all natural? Why not take an all-natural and organic multivitamin that is not only safer, but more potent as well? This natural multivitamin is none other than the goldenberry, which is considered one of nature’s superfoods because of its many health benefits.
Goldenberries are full of the vitamins you need to get the most out of your day. Harvested from the physalis peruviana plant, these tiny fruits resemble golden raisins, and have a sweet and tart taste. So they not only contain more nutrition than any supplement, but also taste better as well. Here’s a roundup of what you get from just a handful of goldenberries:
Vitamin C – A powerful antioxidant and a proven booster of our immune functions, Vitamin C helps us fight off disease and prevent cell damage, which is the leading cause of disease and aging. Vitamn C deficiency leads to a condition called scurvy, which leads to the breakdown of the collagen tissues in our skin and gums.
Vitamin A – While Vitamin A is best known for improving our eyesight by helping produce the light absorbing molecule retinol, it also serves a whole host of other essential body functions, such as promoting bone metabolism, enhancing embryonic development, maintaining skin and cellular health, and playing a key role in the transcription of our genetic material. It’s also a key ingredient in the formation of new blood cells, and is an antioxidant in its own right.
B Vitamins – These include Vitamins B1 (thiamin), B2 (riboflavin), B6, and B12. This vitamin group serves a whole myriad of important bodily functions and processes, ranging from more efficient energy management to enhancing the function of the nervous system. B-Vitamins are also key anti-aging agents, being able to promote faster and more frequent cell division, especially those of red blood cells, making B-Vitamins absolutely essential in the fight against anemia. One advantage of getting your B-Vitamins from a natural food source is that some of its components are only effective when ingested in this way. For example, B-Vitamins that have been taken from food have been shown to help reduce the risk of one of the most lethal forms of cancer – pancreatic cancer. There is also scientific evidence to suggest that the brain atrophy that leads to the onset and development of Alzheimer’s disease can be slowed down significantly by B-Vitamins.
Vitamin P – Relatively new on the vitamin scene, Vitamin P is a collective term used to describe bioflavonoids, which are plant pigments, enzymes, and molecules that have special properties. Initial studies show that they help strengthen and protect the very walls and linings of major blood vessels, arteries, and veins. They also help prevent mutations in our DNA from forming by neutralizing the mutagens and carcinogens in our body, which in turn stops the development of cancerous cells and tumors. It even prevents diarrhea right at the source – the intestinal track. By keeping the fluids in our stomach in check, Vitamin P can stop diarrhea before it begins.
Since goldenberries are a food item, you can also have some fun with them as you eat them, something that isn’t possible with a multivitamin tablet. They lend themselves quite well to being used as a topping for breakfast foods such as oatmeal and cereal, or on desserts such as cakes, muffins, or even in a healthy cup of yogurt. A handful of raw goldenberries is all you need to get the daily dose of vitamins you need.
Our goldenberries are 100% certified organic, all natural, and kosher as well, so that everybody regardless of age, culture, and beliefs can enjoy this nutritious treat without worry. The best quality superfoods at the best possible value.
