Origin
The acai palm belongs to genus “Euterpe,” which includes seven species of palms inhabitant to South America, growing in floodplains and swamps environment.
Scientific nameof Acai berry is Euterpe Oleracea. This fruit is of little size, ranging from i.0 to 1.4cm in diameter, with dark purple color resembling to red grapes. In centre of the fruit there is a large seed with little pulp around. As a super food this berry is largely used in ice cream, drinks and Brazilians use it’s directly or in extracts. After a deep search on it, this berry is also known as Dr Oz acai berry.
Benefits of Acai use
Acai is rich in antioxidant, contains the most potent forms of anthocyanins as compare to any fruit. Anthocyanins are known to prevent, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. It is known also used to treat obesity as it suppress appetite and increase the metabolic rate.
Acai is the only berry that contains ingredients of the complete food. It packs vitamin B Complex, vitamin E, C, phosphorus, amino acids, potassium, fiber, Omega-3 fatty acids into small size of fruit. Acai berry can be used to fight and regulate cholesterol levels in the body.
The acai is very concentrated in anthocyanin that is why it helps fight against cholesterolemia and free radicals. With this reason color pigment of the acai Dr Oz is similar to red grapes, though the acai contains 33 times more anthocyanins than grapes.
Acai and chemotherapy
There is no case drug-food interactions with acai has been reported till-to-date.
Some chemotherapy medicines, depends in their mode of action, on the free radicals generation to obliterate tumors, could theoretically can interact with antioxidants in acai.
In addition, some Oncologists erroneously believe that, cancer cell growth enhance with antioxidants. This belief may have arisen from the conclusion of a single study, which said that, a single light dose of vitamin C triggered the replication of both normal and cancerous cells.
On the other hand, several later studies and clinical trials proved that, constant use of antioxidants minimizes the replication or growth of cancerous cell.
Caution
According the studies conducted on the use of acai products, everyone can use these products causing no harmful effects. However, pregnant women or children should consult to their physicians before the use of product.