Acai Berry: The New King of Super Antioxidants

By Travis Van Slooten

Have you heard that acai berry is now considered as one of the top super antioxidants? Yes, it's worthy of being described as being both "top" and "super" in the antioxidants department. Its antioxidant level is so high off the (ORAC) charts that the media ? from TV talk shows to newspaper ads to websites ? has been caught up in featuring this little berry from Brazil. But what really is the fuss all about? Or to put it more bluntly, what does being a super antioxidant mean? Here's a quick chemistry tutorial.

How Antioxidants and Free Radicals Interact

Free radicals exist in the air we breathe. They are results of pollution like smoke or car exhaust. They can also be produced from food preservatives and chemicals. And once they get inside the body, chemistry tell us that a free radical is a molecule that is missing an electron. When the free radical attempts to take an electron of a healthy cell, they create another free radical. They do this in order to return to their initial state. If a free radical takes an electron from a cell in a blood vessel, it can cause serious harm to our bodies. A high concentration of free radicals in the body have been known to cause grave health problems such as cancer and heart-related diseases.

This is where antioxidants can assist us. The antioxidants give up an electron to the free radical. Keep in mind though that in doing so, the antioxidant has become a free radical itself. But if there is a continuous supply of antioxidants, the body can maintain good health by juggling free radicals and antioxidants.

How Can Acai Berry Help?

Super antioxidants are rated on the ORAC or Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity charts. The ORAC is utilized to measure antioxidant concentration within the food we eat. Acai berry rates extremely high on the ORAC charts indicating a large amount of antioxidants. Quite new to the American population, acai berry is a perfect supplement to assist in the free radical/antioxidant balancing game your body performs. Due to its novelty in the supplements market, acai berry may supply you with free radicals that your body has never had.

If you get a good source of acai berry, a high quality and all natural product that is organically grown, you will get the most antioxidant bang for your buck. You can also get the supplement in numerous different forms from pills to frozen pulp, whatever suits your style. But regardless of how you take it, acai berry is still going to have the same beneficial effects. If you're looking for the newest super antioxidant to boost your healthy lifestyle, the acai berry is worth considering. - 30414

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