What are acai berries, and what are their possible health benefits?
- Oana
- Mar 18, 2016
- 2 min read
Acai berries are widely touted as a so-called superfood, with proponents claiming that they are helpful for a variety of health concerns, including arthritis, weight loss, high cholesterol, erectile dysfunction, skin appearance, detoxification and general health.
Acai berries contain antioxidants, fiber and heart-healthy fats. They may have more antioxidant content than other commonly eaten berries, such as cranberries, blueberries and strawberries. But, research on acai berries is limited, and claims about the health benefits of acai haven't been proved
Acai berries are low in sugar, but contain excellent amounts of iron, calcium, fiber, and vitamin A.
If you're taking amounts of acai higher than you'd normally eat as food, such as in dietary supplements, be sure to check with your doctor. This is especially important for people taking medications for high cholesterol or diabetes, and for people with kidney disease, as large amounts of acai might affect the management of these conditions.
It's also important to let your doctor know that you've been eating acai berries if you're scheduled to have a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test. Very large doses of acai might affect the results of MRI scans.
Aside from assisting with weight, the berries are also believed to keep the skin looking young and fresh by fighting signs of aging with their potent antioxidant properties. The small and purplish-red berry originates in South and Central America and are a popular ingredient in many skin care products.
Acai berries are extremely high in vitamin c therefore have antioxidant properties, working to fight the cell-damaging free radicals which damage and age the skin. Therefore, acai berries may help to maintain young and radiant skin. A 2006 study conducted by the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that acai had by far the highest oxygen radical scavenging activity of any food measured to date, strongly supporting the acai's antioxidant properties.
Treatment for hyper pigmentation
Hyper pigmentation is a common, usually harmless condition in which patches of skin become darker in colour than the normal surrounding skin. This darkening occurs when an excess of melanin, the brown pigment that produces normal skin colour, forms deposits in the skin. Research by Fowler et al (2010) found acai berry to be one of the most beneficial natural ingredients for the treatment of hyper pigmentation. However researchers also noted that research is needed to determine to confirm and elucidate the benefits of these ingredients in the prevention and management of skin disease.
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