Acai Berry Buzz
Last week I was at a local mall polling women between the ages of 34-55 to find out what they knew about the acai berry and its health value. I determined most of them could recall it from either Oprah or a magazine but few could tell me its value to our body. That’s what made me want to share information about acai berries and acai berry products. And if you’ve wanted to sample anti aging products like eye wrinkle creams or dark eye circles serums, it’s particularly important.
What is acai berry?
It’s a berry fruit kin to the blueberry, cranberry and pomegranate fruit family. It’s usually about an inch long and is reddish purple, sometimes blue in color. It comes from the acai palm tree found across Central and South America but predominantly harvested in rain forests in Brazil.
What are its health benefits?
The research on acai berries is ongoing but there is a general agreement in the medical field that certain substances in them are valuable. They contain high levels of antioxidants, which is attributed to the presence of anthocyanin. Anthocyanin causes the acai berry and other fruits to look purplish or blue in color. When consumed, it raises antioxidant levels in the body and fights nearly every type of free radicals.
Free radicals are toxic substances that can enter the body and break down our immune system in several ways. Most exposure results from excessive UV ray contact, certain foods, and impurities in the air. They then damage vital cells and DNA in our body and cause certain diseases as well as accelerate the aging process.
Why is it used in cosmetics?
Our skin is our first line of defense for the rest of our body, but its also most sensitive to free radical damage. If we neglect our skin, the results will become apparent over time. This is how skin develops wrinkles, dark circles under eyes, and can even lead to skin cancer. However, acai berries offer protection from free radicals and other harmful cells by contributing high levels of antioxidants. The oil within the acai berry is especially rich in antioxidants. Studies have yet to show the precise level of effectiveness when used on the skin, but it has been proven to be a safer alternative to other tropical fruit oils.
The acai berry is garnering a lot of national exposure as a natural ingredient in many anti aging products like eye wrinkle creams, several skin care products and even weight loss products. Research is still being conducted to confirm its effectiveness in these areas, but its theorized to be a healthy combatant against certain diseases caused by oxidative stress, as well as aging.
