The healing and rejuvenating power of antioxidants is well known and documented. Oxidation is a naturally occurring process in the body and actually refers to the loss of an electron.  Every cell in the human body consists of a nucleus, neutrons, protons and electrons.  The number of protons, or positively charged particles, in the cell determines the number of electrons, or negatively charged particles, orbiting the atom.  The correct number of electrons is important, as it will determine the cell’s chemical behavior.  The cell will try to maintain the balance of protons and electrons by either picking up missing electrons or dispensing extras.

If the molecule finds itself missing an electron, a free radical is formed.  It will attack the nearest stable molecule in an effort to steal back the needed electron.  This starts a chain reaction, as the cell that lost an electron to replace the missing electron in the first one has now produced a free radical of its own.  This process eventually leads to the disruption of the cell as the free radicals chip away at the cell wall, causing damage that accumulates with age.  Eventually, the free radicals can affect the cellular DNA.

Antioxidants prevent this damage by stabilizing the free radicals before they cause cellular damage.  They act as donors, supplying one of their own electrons to stabilize the molecule and effectively preventing them from stealing one from another healthy molecule.  Antioxidants are able to do this because they do remain stable after losing an electron of their own.  They are able to function normally after donating an electron.

Many fruits and vegetables contain antioxidants, however the acai berry is incredibly rich in these age and disease fighting agents.  Another important factor is that there are different types of antioxidants.  Without getting into another chemistry lesson, suffice it to say that acai and other natural plant products contain a wider variety of antioxidants than supplements, which often contain only one type.  Therefore, it is better to obtain antioxidants through diet than by taking supplements.

The Acai Palm is a member of the genus Enterpe, and is native to Central and South America, from Belize south to Brazil and Peru, growing mainly in floodplains and swamps. The genus is named after the muse Euterpe of Greek mythology. Euterpe are tall, slender, attractive palms growing to 15-30 meters, with pinnate leaves up to 3 meters long. Many of the palms that were once in the genus Euterpe have been reclassified into the genus Prestoea. The species Euterpe oleracea is usually called Açaí Palm, after the Portuguese derivation of the Tupi word ïwasa'i, fruit that cries or expells water. The vernacular name is also sometimes spelled Assai Palm in English.

The fruit, a small, round, black-purple drupe about 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter, similar in appearance and size to a grape but with less pulp, is produced in branched panicles of 700 to 900 fruits. Two crops of fruit are produced per year. The fruit has a single large seed about 7–10 mm in diameter. The exocarp of the ripe fruits is a deep purple color, or green, depending on the kind of açaí and its maturity. The mesocarp is pulpy and thin, with a consistent thickness of 1 mm or less. It surrounds the voluminous and hard endocarp which contains a seed with a diminutive embryo and abundant endosperm. The seed makes up about 80% of the fruit.

This berry is being haled as the new superfood for numerous reasons. Acai berries contain very high amounts of essential fatty acid & omegas proven to lower LDL & maintain HDL cholesterol levels. They also have a remarkably high concentration of antioxidants. Acai Berry is a source of a particular class of flavonoids called anthocyanins. The ORAC value of Acai Berry is higher than any other edible berry in the world! Acai Berry is also an excellent source of dietary fiber. Acai is extremely rich in organic vegetable protein which does not generate cholesterol during its digestion and is easier processed and transported to your muscles than animal protein (such as in milk or meat). Besides its outstanding content of protein and unsaturated lipids, acai is also rich in carbohydrates which provide your body with the necessary energy while working or practicing any kind of sport. That is why acai is served in most gyms, sport clubs and beaches all over Brazil and is starting to become equally popular in the USA.