Home » Acai Berry: The New King of Super Antioxidants

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You may have caught wind that the acai berry is one of the best super antioxidants currently o n the market. From television talk shows to internet advertising, the acai berry has made a big noise in the health foods market. But not everyone is fully aware of why it's made such a fuss. You may have heard that it is packed with antioxidants or that it rates among the leaders of the ORAC charts, but do you really know what all that means? If not, it's time for a little chemistry lesson.

Getting a better idea of the interplay between antioxidants and free radicals requires some chemistry basics but I'll try to make it as simple as possible. First, let's define what a free radical is. It's actually just a molecule that's missing an electron. Whether we like it or not, we absorb free radicals into the body because they can be caused by pollutants in the air, stress, and food chemicals. In small amounts, the body can tolerate free radicals. But they won't remain in small concentration because a free radical can steal electrons from other molecules, in turn, creating more free radicals. With too many of them, these free radicals can lead to grave health problems like cancer and heart diseases.

This is where antioxidants can assist us. The antioxidants give up an electron to the free radical. Keep in mind though that in doing so, the antioxidant has become a free radical itself. But if there is a continuous supply of antioxidants, the body can maintain good health by juggling free radicals and antioxidants.

Acai berry is considered one of the best super antioxidants you can find. That means it rates extremely high on the ORAC charts. ORAC is just oxygen radical absorbance capacity and is used to determine the concentration of antioxidants in a food. With such a high rating, acai berry offers a great source of antioxidants. It is also a fairly new find in the American market, so it offers another source of free radicals that you may not be getting. While you are sure to get antioxidants from other sources as well, adding an acai berry supplement to your diet helps to maintain your body's delicate juggling act.

Saving money is important, especially, during these times. Search for a high quality, organic source of acai berry to get your money's worth. And remember that acai berry comes in different forms other than the usual pills, such as frozen pulp and acai juices, so even while you load up on antioxidants, you get to enjoy this berry. It really depends on your preference. No matter how you consume it, acai berry is one of the newest super antioxidants that can be used for a healthy lifestyle.