Health benefits of acai

Health benefits of acai

Have you heard about the acai berry craze? The health fad surrounding the acai berry has caught on faster than you can say Oprah. What is the acai berry and why has it become so popular?

The acai berry is grown and harvested in the Amazon Rainforests of Brazil. The acai berry has become a very economically valuable commodity for the Caboclo region which locally harvests the acai berry.

Acai harvests come twice a year, where thousands of these small, round grapelike seeds are extracted from the plant. Local farmers harvest acai berries by climbing far up into the tall palm-like trees to pick them. Acai must be quickly processed into a pulp or juice, due to the fact that it has a very short shelf life of 24 hours.

Acai can also be quickly freeze-dried into a powder form, called opti-acai. This powder can then be utilized in many different ways, and within many different types of dietary supplements.

Benefits of the acai berry are many. Most of the research which has been conducted on acai, has centered around this freeze dried version.

Acai contains a substantial amount of fiber, which may help you to feel full when you are hungry. This is one reason why acai is being marketed as a weight loss substance. Tablets, juices and instant drink powders containing acai have flooded the market.

Another important component of acai is its high antioxidant content. Antioxidants help the body fight off free radicals, which contribute to premature aging and disease.

Dr. Nicholas Perricone, a well-known and respected opinion in the field of healthy skin research, made an appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show and wholeheartedly gave a thumbs up to the effectiveness of the acai berry to improve general health and skin tone. Dr. Perricone claims the acai berry to be the "number one superfood in the world." He goes on to say that the acai berry has the "best overall nutritional value of any fruit on earth." This appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show caused a spike in the demand for dietary supplements which contain acai extract.

In determining the effectiveness of this claim, it is important to examine all of the proven nutritional evidence about the acai berry.

Nutritional Information per 100 grams of acai extract:

533.9 calories, 52.2 grams of carbohydrate, 8.1 grams of protein, 32 grams of fat,

44.2 grams of fiber, 260 mg. of calcium, 4.4 mg. of iron, and 1002 units of Vitamin A.

Noting the high calorie, carbohydrate and fat content,

one might wonder how this could be effective for dieting purposes.

Perhaps a better reason to try acai is due to its unique combination of powerful antioxidants.

Acai contains a combination of 12 flavonoid like compounds. Included in this list is a small amount of resvertarol, which has recently become a popular buzzword in the field of anti-aging studies.

Acai has shown promising results in fighting specific types of damaging free radicals. To note a specifically promising study, chemically-extracted polyphenol-rich amounts of acai were actually shown to reduce the development of experimental leukemia cells in vitro.

While acai does show many promising possibilities, many marketers of acai products have made grand claims about the effectiveness of acai as an overall health tonic.

Makers claim that acai contains ingredients which can do all of the following:

Assist the body in detoxification

Improve digestion

Increase energy levels

Improve skin appearance

Improve heart health by reducing cholesterol levels

Improve sexual performance

Acai is most commonly marked as a weight-loss product. However, studies to prove this are ongoing and it is yet to be determined if acai is truly effective in helping to shed extra pounds.

What is clear and scientifically proven is that a diet which is high in antioxidant content is recommended in the prevention of disease and in supporting overall health. Since acai has been shown to contain significant amounts of antioxidants, one might conclude that consuming acai is one effective way to help support a preventative lifestyle.

How does the antioxidant content in acai measure up against other fruits?

Some studies show that acai fruit pulp has more antioxidant content than cranberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries or strawberries. However, studies conducted by the Pom Wonderful Pomegranate Juice Company show that their pomegranate juice contains a higher concentration of essential antioxidants over acai.

Now that you know why acai is good for you, let's take a look at who is benefiting from the popularity of this newly discovered treasure.

The main market town in the middle of the Brazilian Amazon has dedicated a specific area dedicated to the sale of acai berries. Over 100 vendors sell around 200,000 kg. of acai berry per day! If this type of demand continues, natives may choose to substantially increase business by planting more acai palm trees.

This

is excellent news when considering the importance of saving the Amazon Rainforests of Brazil. Instead of cutting down trees, there is talk of planting more? This is a promising scenario. It has been reported that one particular Amazon Rainforest project is considering the planting of 5 BILLION acai trees in the next ten years.

The fad-like popularity of the acai berry is certainly blessing the economy of the Brazilian market.

Who else benefits from this trend?

As many people around the world are always looking for the latest, greatest and easiest way to lose weight, companies who manufacture products which contain acai are certainly experiencing financial benefits as well.

Is this financial abundance shared with the consumer? Not quite. Pills and potions containing acai are not exactly cheap. Even a small container of acai juice purchased at your local grocery store will not be cheap. Looking online for acai juice at brazilbotanicals.com, a 32-oz. container of acai juice costs a pricey $18.95.

Nevertheless, because the hype surrounding the acai berry is at such high levels, people will still pay this price. Is acai worth the money? You decide. What is clear about acai is that the continued harvesting of it will be a blessing to the people of Brazil, and to their local rainforest conservation efforts. This may be reason enough to try acai for yourself!

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Fat Burning Foods

Weight Loss Diet
Fat Burning Foods

Each one of the following foods is clinically proven to promote weight loss. These foods go a step beyond simply adding no fat to your system – they possess special
properties that add zip to your system and help your body melt away unhealthy pounds. These incredible foods can suppress your appetite for junk food and keep your body running smoothly with clean fuel and efficient energy.

You can include these foods in any sensible weight-loss plan. They give your body the extra metabolic kick that it needs to shave off weight quickly.

A sensible weight loss plan calls for no fewer that 1,200 calories per day. But Dr. Charles Klein recommends consuming more that that, if you can believe it –1,500 to 1,800 calories per day. He says you will still lose weight quite effectively at that intake level without endangering your health

Hunger is satisfied more completely by filling the stomach. Ounce for ounce, the foods listed below accomplish that better than any others. At the same time,
they’re rich in nutrients and possess special fat-melting talents.

1. Apples

These marvels of nature deserve their reputation for keeping the doctor away when you eat one a day. And now, it seems, they can help you melt the fat away, too.

First of all, they elevate your blood glucose (sugar) levels in a safe, gentle manner and keep them up longer than most foods. The practical effect of this is to leave you feeling satisfied longer, say researchers.

Secondly, they’re one of the richest sources of soluble fiber in the supermarket. This type of fiber prevents hunger pangs by guarding against dangerous swings or drops in your blood sugar level, says Dr. James Anderson of the University of Kentucky’s School of Medicine.

An average size apple provides only 81 calories and has no sodium, saturated fat or cholesterol. You’ll also get the added health benefits of lowering the level of cholesterol already in your blood as well as lowering your blood pressure.

2. Coffee

Easy does it is the password here. We’ve all heard about potential dangers of caffeine – including anxiety and insomnia – so moderation is the key.

The caffeine in coffee can speed up the metabolism. In nutritional circles, it’s known as a metabolic enhancer, according to Dr. Judith Stern of the University of California at Davis.

This makes sense, since caffeine is a stimulant. Studies show it can help you burn more calories than normal, perhaps up to 10 percent more. For safety’s sake, it’s best to limit your intake to a single cup in the morning and one in the afternoon. Add only skim milk to tit and try doing without sugar – many people learn to love it that way.

3. Grapefruit

There’s good reason for this traditional diet food to be a regular part of your diet. It helps dissolve fat and cholesterol, according to Dr. James Cerd of the University of Florida. An average sized grapefruit has 74 calories, delivers a whopping 15 grams of pectin (the special fiber linked to lowering cholesterol and fat), is high in vitamin C and potassium and is free of fat and sodium.

It’s rich in natural galacturonic acid, which adds to its potency as a fat and
cholesterol
fighter. The additional benefit here is assistance in the battle againstatherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and the development of heart disease. Try sprinkling it with cinnamon rather than sugar to take away some of the tart taste.

4. Mustard

Try the hot, spicy kind you find in Asian import stores, specialty shops and exotic groceries. Dr. Jaya Henry of Oxford Polytechnic Institute in England, found that the amount of hot mustard normally called for in Mexican, Indian and Asian recipes, about one teaspoon, temporarily speeds up the metabolism, just as caffeine and the drug ephedrine do.

“But mustard is natural and totally safe,” Henry says. “It can be used every day, and it really works. I was shocked to discover it can speed up the metabolism by as much as 20 to 25 percent for several hours.” This can result in the body burning an extra 45 calories for every 700 consumed, Dr. Henry says.

5. Soups

Soup is good for you! Maybe not the canned varieties from the store – but old-fashioned, homemade soup promotes weight loss. A study by Dr. John Foreyt of Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas, found that dieters who ate a bowl of soup before lunch and dinner lost more weight than dieters who didn’t. In fact, the more soup they ate, the more weight they lost. And soup eaters tend to keep the weight off longer.

Naturally, the type of soup you eat makes a difference. Cream soups or those made of beef or pork are not your best bets. But here’s a great recipe:

Slice three large onions, three carrots, four stalks of celery, one zucchini and one yellow squash. Place in a kettle. Add three cans crushed tomatoes, two packets low-sodium chicken bouillon, three cans water and one cup white wine (optional). Add tarragon, basil, oregano, thyme and garlic powder. Boil, then simmer for an hour. Serves six.

6. Spinach

Popeye really knew what he was talking about, according to Dr. Richard Shekelle, an epidemiologist at the University of Texas. Spinach has the ability to lower cholesterol, rev up the metabolism and burn away fat. Rich in iron, beta carotene and vitamins C and E, it supplies most of the nutrients you need.

7. Tofu

You just can’t say enough about this health food from Asia. Also called soybean curd, it’s basically tasteless, so any spice or flavoring you add blends with it nicely. A 2½ ” square has 86 calories and nine grams of protein. (Experts suggest an intake of about 40 grams per day.) Tofu contains calcium and iron, almost no sodium and not a bit of saturated fat. It makes your metabolism run on high and even lowers cholesterol. With different varieties available, the firmer tofus are goof for stir-frying or adding to soups and sauces while the softer ones are good for mashing, chopping and adding to salads.

Differences Between Men and Women

Differences Between Men and Women

WHEN it comes to the physical make-up of men versus women, many differences are obvious. Men, on average, are 10–15% larger than women, weigh 20% more, and are 30% stronger (especially when considering upper body strength).
Testosterone is one of the major hormones active in men’s bodies. Testosterone stimulates muscle enlargement and bone growth and also raises the level of red blood cells in a man’s blood stream. Men also produce more HGH (human growth
hormone).

What you may not know, however, is that all of these factors combine to make oxygen much more available to a man’s cells than a woman’s cells. That means a man could be working at 50% of his capacity during physical activity, but a woman would need to work at 70% of her capacity to keep up. It’s not as easy for her cells to absorb oxygen.

This is due partly because women have a smaller percentage of lean tissue (muscle, organs, etc.) and a much higher percentage of body fat. Though this is detrimental in a short sprint, a higher percentage of fat means that women can power their cells longer from their body’s reserves without stopping to eat or drink in order to refuel. This may translate into greater endurance. Studies comparing men and women in running, swimming, and speed skating have shown that the differences in time versus distance decreased between men and
women as the length of the event progressed.

Hundreds of studies have showed some interesting differences between men and women in nearly every area. Looking through the research, you would discover all kinds of facts such as how much more likely women are to wear a seatbelt than men (two times more likely), to how often they are the sexual initiators in
a monogamous relationship (65% of the time).

As interesting as those facts may be, let’s concentrate on the differences between men and women that affect women’s physical fitness. These differences are primarily found in the functioning of a woman’s hormones and the construction and function of her fat cells. These two factors influence everything from the way a woman’s metabolism functions to how likely she is to suffer from stubborn fat and other health-related diseases such as osteoporosis.