The Acai Berry
A recently completed University of Florida study has added to the buzz surrounding the Brazilian acai berry. The study is one of the first to research the many claims attributed to the acai fruit. The acai berry is strange in the way that only 10% of the berry is actually edible, the main reason for this is it has a large stone which takes up most of the berry. It is a dark purple berry slightly smaller than a grape, acai is more usually mixed in ice cream, meal bars and also energy drinks. The acai berry requires rapid processing after its late harvest. Pronunciation of this fruit is “ah-sigh-ee”, acai, or euterpe oleracea (arecaceae) has been seen to excell in heathly attributes and greatly aids metabolism. The acai berry grows in the rain forests of the amazon in South America and is considered by some as being more than just an organic fruit. These rain forests remain untouched by any sort of manufacturing, everything in this region is grown the way it was intended by nature.

It is highly promoted by Dr. Nicholas Perricone, a health guru and best-selling author.It wasn’t until the turn of the millenium when the acai berry was dicovered to be in North America and it hails from the palmberry tree. Acai is usually consumed as a puree or in a smoothee or milk shake, this drink is served on the Brazilian beaches and tropical resorts, it tastes mostly similar to wine; wine with a hint of chocolate. Experts are divided on just what effect antioxidants have on cancer cells in the human body, because of the many other lifestyle factors that have to be factored into the equation. Antioxidants are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Free radical damage is theorized to be one of the main causes of cancer. A sufficient amount of antioxidants are thought by many to short-circuit this process by interacting with and stabilizing the free radicals and in doing so, stop the damage that they do to healthy cells. In the Florida study, six different chemical extracts were made from acai berry pulp, and each extract was prepared in seven concentrations. At least 4 of the extracts killed a great many cancer cells when applied for 24 hours or more. Anywhere from 35 percent to 86 percent of the cancer cells were destroyed, depending on the particular extract and concentration. According to Stephen Talcott, an assistant professor with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, the study showed extracts from acai berries triggered a self-destruct response (apoptosis) in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells tested.