THE GIST
- Nutritionally dense
- Loaded with antioxidants
- May improve cholesterol levels
- Possible anti-cancer properties
- Possible brain boosting effects
Free Radical Reduction
What are free radicals?
Abstract from study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7619452/
“Evidence is accumulating that most of the degenerative diseases that afflict humanity have their origin in deleterious free radical reactions. These diseases include atherosclerosis, cancer, inflammatory joint disease, asthma, diabetes, senile dementia and degenerative eye disease. The process of biological ageing might also have a free radical basis. Most free radical damage to cells involves oxygen free radicals or, more generally, activated oxygen species (AOS) which include non-radical species such as singlet oxygen and hydrogen peroxide as well as free radicals. The AOS can damage genetic material, cause lipid peroxidation in cell membranes, and inactivate membrane-bound enzymes. Humans are well endowed with antioxidant defences against AOS; these antioxidants, or free radical scavengers, include ascorbic acid (vitamin C), alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), beta-carotene, coenzyme Q10, enzymes such as catalase and superoxide dismutase, and trace elements including selenium and zinc. The eye is an organ with intense AOS activity, and it requires high levels of antioxidants to protect its unsaturated fatty acids. The human species is not genetically adapted to survive past middle age, and it appears that antioxidant supplementation of our diet is needed to ensure a more healthy elderly population.”
Why does Acai help to reduce these free radicals?
What are free radicals?
They contain LOADS of antioxidants (see our antioxidant section below). Ultimately antioxidants can safely interact with free radicals to help prevent the potentially harmful chain reaction affect specified above. The main Antioxidants like vitamin C, E, and beta-carotene are crucial in the fight against free radicals.
Excerpt from “Antioxidants and age-related diseases” section of this study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2684512/
“…The human body has a host of mechanisms such as the DNA-repair systems to deal with free radical induced damage and depending on the circumstances, environmental and genetic factors can either increase or decrease the incidence of diseases associated with old age (Figure 2). Epidemiological studies have demonstrated that diet plays a crucial role in the prevention of age-related chronic diseases…Free radicals and oxidative stress are recognized as important factors in the biology of aging and of many age-related diseases. One mechanism to slow down the aging process and the decline in the vital body functions is to modulate oxidative stress by calorie restriction, however, this is difficult to achieve. Hence, dietary components with antioxidant activity have received particular attention because of their potential role in modulating oxidative stress associated with aging and chronic conditions. Several studies have indicated potential roles for dietary antioxidants in the reduction of age-related diseases (Meydani et al 2001) [ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11795514/ ] […Therefore, the use of antioxidants by this group may lower the prevalence of diseases associated with old age; evidence supporting this is outlined below…”
![]()
High Antioxidant Presence
Conclusion excerpt from study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5297696/
“…This study shows for the first time that Euterpe oleracea roots and leaflets, which are currently by-products of the palm heart industry, could, along with the berries, be valorized as a new non-cytotoxic source of antioxidants containing hydroxycinnamic acids and flavonoids for pharmaceutical, nutraceutical or cosmetic applications.”
Excerpt from abstract from study: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4447763/
“The purpose of this pilot study was to examine whether regular consumption of an acai berry-based juice blend would affect sprint performance and improve blood antioxidant status and lipid profile in junior athletes…These findings strongly support the view of the health benefits of supplementation with the acai berry-based juice blend, mainly attributed to its high total polyphenol content and the related high in vivo antioxidant and hypocholesterolaemic activities of this supplement…”
Excerpt from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18693743/
“This study was performed as an acute four-way crossover clinical trial with acai pulp and clarified acai juice compared to applesauce and a non-antioxidant beverage as controls. Healthy volunteers (12) were dosed at 7 mL/kg of body weight after a washout phase and overnight fast, and plasma was repeatedly sampled over 12 h and urine over 24 h after consumption…Nonlinear mixed effect modeling identified dose volume as a significant predictor of relative oral bioavailability in a negative nonlinear relationship for acai pulp and juice. Plasma antioxidant capacity was significantly increased by the acai pulp and applesauce. Individual increases in plasma antioxidant capacity of up to 2.3- and 3-fold for acai juice and pulp, respectively were observed…”
Immune System Boosting Properties
Excerpt from study: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21386979/
“To characterize the immune response to Acai polysaccharides, we fractionated the crude polysaccharide preparation and tested these fractions for activity in human PBMC cultures. The largest Acai polysaccharides were the most active in vitro as indicated by activation of myeloid and γδ T cells. When delivered in vivo, Acai polysaccharide induced myeloid cell recruitment and IL-12 production. These results define innate immune responses induced by the polysaccharide component of Acai and have implications for the treatment of asthma and infectious disease…”
