Antioxidant rich food is a subject that has become a hot topic the last few years - and for good reason. We face a daily assault against our immunity which affects our appearance as well as our internal body systems and organs.

And nutrition experts have learned that Acai Berries are one of the richest sources of bioflavonoids, antioxidants proven to destroy tissue-damaging free radicals and reinforce the cells that make up blood vessel walls which results in significantly enhanced blood circulation.

Some beauty experts now tout berries among the best antioxidant rich foods and their juice and extract to be so powerful that just one eight ounce glass of pure cranberry juice (or the extract equivalent) daily will diminish cellulite dimples in as little as three weeks.

How do you keep free radicals at bay? By the use of free radical scavengers.

These free radical scavengers occur naturally in the body and neutralize free radicals. Certain enzymes serve this vital function and four important enzymes are superoxide dismutase (SOD), methione reductase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase.

The body normally produces these enzymes but it needs help for full spectrum free radical prevention and damage control. That's where a diet rich in antioxidants is vital. These antioxidants are also scavengers, gobbling up the sometimes deadly free radical particles.

Many health care practitioners see the wisdom in daily intake of plenty of Acai and other fruits and vegetables in a variety of colors. Some recommend daily: Intake of 1 quart (1.1 litre) purified water a day PLUS 1 quart (1.1 litre) fresh fruit or vegetable juice.

With juicing one can consume many more enzymes and natural antioxidants than a person normally would in a "good diet". Your body is composed of billions of microscopic cells and your every existence depends on these cells. They need live nourishment and this can be supplied very well in the form of juicing.

There are many juicers now available and you can achieve benefit from any of them. We like the newer, time-saving models that allow the user to place WHOLE fruits and vegetables in the unit and delicious, fresh juice emerges in a matter of seconds.

The more color and variety of produce, the more natural antioxidants one can consume. Carotenoids and flavonoids found in these fruits and vegetables can contribute to a very large extent to our program of antiaging. Why? Because these natural chemical compounds slow or halt oxidative processes that may prevent or deter the onset of many diseases associated with aging, including heart disease, prostate cancer, diabetes, wrinkles and sun damage and much more.

By adding concentrated berry extracts, one has even more natural antioxidant tools. Once again, eating fresh is great. However, some companies now offer concentrated extracts of berries like elderberries, Acai, blueberries, cranberries, and bilberries for 10-15 times the amount of antioxidants as can be found in the fruit alone. Acai is the best source for antioxidants out of any fruit on earth!

Researchers at the USDA Human Nutrition Center have found that blueberries rank number 1 in antioxidant activity when compared to 40 other fresh fruits and vegetables.

Anthoycyanin - the pigment that makes blueberries blue and Acai dark purple - is thought to be
responsible for this major health benefit. Blueberries also contain beta-carotene, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, ellagic acid and phenolics that can also act as antioxidants. Other health benefits one can expect form blueberries are:

Support cognitive function, concentration and memory
Maintain eye and retina health
Promote urinary tract health
Support healthy glucose metabolism

Not just for urinary tract health, cranberry extracts are provide potent antioxidants that protect and detoxify. Combining cranberry with the therapeutically beneficial elderberry and lo han fruits results in a delicious herbal supplement that helps to maintain urinary tract health, promotes cardiovascular health, cellular health and even dental health. Because of its detoxifying properties, it increases your energy levels and improves mood.

Pomegranates too have been used for thousands of years by Mediterranean peoples. And pomegranates have recently been promoted for their beautiful skin-enhancing properties. Pomegranates contain polyphenols, tannins, ellagic acid and anthocyanins. These compounds are believed to fight disease and pomegranates can also:

Support healthy blood pressure levels
Help maintain healthy blood vessels
Reduce the oxidation of LDL cholesterol
Support oral health
Support skin health

Green, black and white teas have been studied for their antioxidant powers too. Many research organizations have demonstrated that the polyphenols, detected in these teas, help to support a healthy heart and cardiovascular system and are recommended for smokers, the obese and those under stress and duress, though anyone could benefit from their consumption. A source of concentrated green tea extracts.

Some vitamins are considered antioxidants such as vitamins E and C. As are the carotenoids (such as beta-carotene); selenium; and flavonoids (anthocyanidins, polyphenols, quercetin, glutathione, alpha-lipoic acid, and coenzyme Q10. Vitamin E is the body's principal fat-soluble antioxidant vitamin and protects fatty cell components from free-radical oxidation. It works well in conjunction with selenium and vitamin C.

As an antioxidant, vitamin E protects DNA and other cell structures from damage. It also protects LDL cholesterol from oxidation which would otherwise trigger an early step in the development of cardiovascular disease. There are other antioxidants so to verify a wide spectrum of protection, eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables and consider a daily intake of a plant-based green "superfood" formula. Preferably one that contains foods from the allium family (onions, garlic, chives) and sprouts.

Sprouts from vegetables and legumes are extremely health-enhancing and often contain a concentrated form of antioxidant protection not found in the food alone. Broccoli sprouts, especially have been noted to provide more protection than just eating the cruciferous vegetables by themselves. Which is very important for immune enhancement and cancer prevention.

Acai Antioxidant Study
Highlight:
In a major study on fruit and vegetable antioxidant content published in the June 9 2004 Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry Acai berries won easily in terms of the amount of antioxidant per pound. Antioxidants are disease fighting compounds that scientists believe help repair and/or prevent the stress of oxidation, a process that occurs naturally during normal cell function.

This comprehensive study used cutting-edge technology to gauge antioxidant levels in more than 100 foods, among them Acai fruits, vegetables, cereals, breads, nuts, and spices. Among the fruits studied, acai berry, cranberries, blueberries, and blackberries ranked highest. But although some fruits and vegetables have a high antioxidant content, the body may not absorb all of it because of bioavailability, which is tied to the mechanical structure of antioxidants in food.

But don't forget peaches, plums, and a little red wine. By Jeanie Lerche Davis WebMD Feature Fruits, especially berries, are chock-full of the disease-fighting antioxidants essential to your health.

Berries are the crown jewels of summer, the gems that inspire pies, parfaits, cobblers, ice cream treats, and whipped cream wonders. Best of all, berries deliver super-healthy antioxidants that help fight disease.

A landmark study shows that just one cup of berries provides all the disease-fighting antioxidants you need in a single day.

Of course, dietitians will tell you, "Don't stop there." A healthy diet needs a variety of nutrients from many food sources.

Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, and blackberries are plentiful in most corners of the U.S.
"Berries are available almost year-round now...and even though they may be more expensive some times of the year, they're still much more accessible than they used to be," says Cindy Moore, MS, RD, spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association and director of nutrition therapy at The Cleveland Clinic.

Berries and other foods figured in a major study published in the June 9, 2004, Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

This research provides the largest, most comprehensive report thus far of antioxidant
content in fruits and vegetables.

A small percentage of cells becomes damaged during oxidation and turns into free
radicals, which can start a chain reaction to harming more cells and possibly disease.

This newest study used updated technology to assess antioxidant levels in more than 100 foods, including fruits, vegetables, cereals, breads, nuts, and spices.

Cranberries, blueberries, and blackberries ranked highest among the fruits studied.

Peaches, mangos, and melons, while scoring lower than berries, still contain plenty of antioxidants as well as other nutrients.

However, there's a catch: Even though some fruits and vegetables have a high antioxidant content, the body does not absorb all of it.

The concept is called bioavailability, explains researcher Ronald Prior, PhD, a chemist and nutritionist with the USDA's Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center in Little Rock, Ark.

Acai Antioxidants and Vitamins

Vitamins and antioxidants are fast becoming widely accepted as anti-ageing nutrients and the market for anti-ageing formulations is growing at 7.6 per cent annually.

"There is overwhelming evidence that Acai decreases the risk of heart diseases,"

Free radicals are involved in both the onset and the progression of heart disease The damage to the heart muscle is due to a burst of free radicals after the flood flow resumes," says Packer who is currently director of Packer Lab and a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for Nu Skin and Pharmanex.

He has also published over 800 scientific papers and more than 100 books on antioxidants
and health as well as a book, The AntiOxidant Miracle --- his first book for non-scientists.

They have a unique role in preventing and treating conditions such as atherosclerosis, high
cholesterol levels and even some cancers. The cause of heart disease means a failure of the body's antioxidant network to do its job. Thus bolstering Vitamin E and the entire antioxidant network has a profound effect on our ability to stave off heart diseases.

This was because the south's Mediterranean diet includes high amounts of Vitamin E-rich foods such as olive oil and and an assortment of fruit and vegetables," says Packer. Antioxidants regenerate each other and work in coordination. Some antioxidants, although metabolically connected with the other antioxidants like the carotenoids (natural pigments found in fruit and vegetables) --- don't operate the same way.

It is better to take a multivitamin supplement with all the antioxidant and antioxidant enzymes.
Acaí Antioxidants

Taking the world by storm is a newly-found Amazon berry, acai. The acai’s antioxidants are what really make this berry stand apart from the rest of the fruit in the world. This amazing Brazilian berry has twice the antioxidants of blueberries, which was previously one of the best antioxidant providers. It also has 10 times the antioxidants of grapes and as much as 30 times more than some types of wine.

Per gram, the acai berry’s pulp, which is really all that is used of the berry, has an antioxidant potency of 167 while pomegranates have 106 and blueberries have 32. The high levels of acai’s antioxidants contribute to fighting premature aging, cancer and other health related issues. Much like the French attribute their low rate of cardiovascular diseases to red wine the people of South American can contribute their low rates of disease to the acai berry. The fatty acid ratio is also a contributing factor for lowering the risk of heart disease. Native Indians around the Amazon have relied on this berry for hundred of years. They even refer to the acai palm tree, which bears this fruit, the “Tree of Life” because it offers such a vast amount of berries with each plant.

In addition to acai’s antioxidants, these berries contain an almost perfect essential amino acid complex, monounsaturated fats, dietary fibers and phytosterols. Several health drink and juice products are sold over the internet. Some can even be found in health stores in the United States and Europe. The popularity of this super berry has been increasing rapidly. Since the berry itself cannot be transported from Brazil (it must be harvested, pulped, frozen, and then shipped), a convenient powder or purée form is available. Be careful which products you choose. Not all of them are 100% acai based and therefore, their nutritional value varies. Base your product choice off of your needs.