Nutritionist’s Notebook: Açai Berry
By Veronika Powell MSc, Viva! Health
Acai – or correctly açaí – berries have been labelled a superfood and added to snacks, smoothies, supplements and beauty products. But are they truly special or is it all just hype?
The acai berry is a dark purple fruit, similar in appearance to a grape. They grow in huge clusters on acai palms native to Central and South America. However, because they are fairly fragile, they need to be freeze-dried and ground into a fine powder or turned into juice or pulp straight after harvesting.
What makes acai berries so special is the high antioxidant content. Antioxidants are natural compounds that protect your cells and DNA from damage. A diet high in antioxidants helps to strengthen your immune system, slows down the ageing processes and offers protection from a range of degenerative diseases. Acai berries are high in a particular type of antioxidants – anthocyanins – which are also responsible for the dark red/ blue pigmentation of the fruit.
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Jun-17
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