Acai Benefits
Acai, one of the latest, hot new health food discoveries from the
Amazon rainforest boasts some impressive credentials as a source of
omega-6 and
omega-9 fatty acids, vitamins A, C and E and more than 50 other
antioxidants, especially anthocyanin-the powerhouse pigment found in
red wine and blueberries.
Proponents of acai, which is actually the purplish fruit of Euterpe
oleracea, a short palm found in abundance in Brazil, claim this
superfood promotes healthy cholesterol, supports the immune system and protects the heart.
The study, conducted at the University of Florida, tested the effect of
pure acai juice-stripped of any lipids (EFAs) and cellulose material on
HL-60 human leukemia cells in vitro. Researchers also evaluated five
other extracts or "fractions" of the fruit, which contained different
mixtures of antioxidants, for their effect on leukemia cells. They
found that the extracts "reduce cell proliferation from 56% to 86%,
most likely by damaging the cells enough to cause them to
self-destruct.
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 54(4):1222-1229, 2006
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