ACAI Nutritional Information

ACAI Nutritional Information



Açaí pulp contains:
• A remarkable concentration of antioxidants, to help combat premature aging, with 10 times the anthocyanins (purple colored antioxidants) of red wine.

• A synergy of monounsaturated (healthy) fats, dietary fiber and phytosterols, to help promote cardiovascular system and digestive tract health.

• An almost perfect essential amino acid complex in conjunction with valuable trace minerals, vital to proper muscle contraction and regeneration.

Açaí is a dense source of particular class of flavonoids called anthocyanins (red-blue phenols with potent antioxidant properties)

• Anthocyanins are a group of phytochemicals in red wine thought to contribute to the French paradox, i.e. France has one of the lowest incidences of heart disease of any westernized society despite a prevalence of smoking and a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol (5). Açaí pulp contains 10 times the anthocyanins of red wine per equal volume (1).

• The primary anthocyanin in Açaí is cyanidin-3 glucoside (1). Cyanidin-3-glucoside has been found to be 3.5 times stronger than Trolox (vitamin E analogue) and the predominate anthocyanin found in red wine (malvadin-3-glucoside) in an ORAC analysis (measure of antioxidant capacity) (11).

• Anthocyanins have been found to “exhibit numerous potential therapeutic effects including treatment of diabetic retinopathy and fibrocystic disease of the breast in human” (11). "Other potential physiological effects of anthocyanins include radiation-protective, chemoprotective, vasoprotective and anti-inflammatory agents” (11).

Açaí is a good source of:

Essential Fatty acids -- to aid in the transport and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins i.e. Vitamins A, E, D, and K (3).

• The fatty acid ratio of açaí resembles that of olive oil, which is thought to be a contributing factor to the low incidence of heart disease in Mediterranean populations (1, 5).

• 60% Oleic (Omega 9) a monounsaturated, essential fatty acid, helps lower LDL (harmful cholesterol) while maintaining HDL (beneficial cholesterol) levels (5).

• 12% Linoleic (Omega 6) a polyunsaturated, essential fatty acid, has been found to lower both LDL and HDL levels (5).

Fiber – to promote a healthy digestive system
• Fiber helps to support a healthy digestive system. Low fiber in the American diet is thought to be a contributing factor to the high incidence of cancer and heart disease. Soluble fibers may help lower blood cholesterol; insoluble fibers are thought to help reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancers (5).

Valuable phytosterols

Sterols are components of plant cell membranes providing numerous benefits to the human body, namely the reduction of blood plasma cholesterol (7).

• Sterols are currently being used to treat symptoms associated with BPH (benign prostate hyperplasia) (6).

• Preliminary evidence suggests that beta-sitosterol (the predominant sterol in Acai) may help prevent immune weakness resulting from severe physical stress (7).



Works Cited:
1. Rogez H. Acai: Preparo, Composicao, e Melhormento da Converacao. Belem:EDUFPA; 2000.

2. Seager S, Slabaugh M. Chemistry for Today: General Organic and Biochemistry-4th ed. California.

3. Wardlaw G, Insel P. Perspectives in Nutrition – 2nd ed. Saint Louis: Masby – Year Book, Inc; 1990.

4. Sillberberg S. Chemistry: The Molecular Nature of matter and Change – 2nd ed. USA: McGraw-Hill; 2000. 1086p.

5. Cook-Fuller C, editor. Annual Editions Nutrition 00/01 – 12th ed. Connecticut: Dushkin/McGraw Hill; 2000.

6. Berges B, et al. Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinicaltrial of beta-sitosterol in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Lancet 345: 1529–1532, 1995.

7. Pegel K. The importance of sitosterol and sitosterolin in human and animal nutrition. S African J Science. 93, 263–268, 1997.

8. Miura T, et al. Effect of guarana on exercise in normal and epinephrine-induced glycogenolytic mice. Biol Pharm Bull. 1998 Jun;21(6):646-8.

9. Henman AR. Guarana (Paullinia cupana var. sorbilis): Ecological and social perspectives on an economic plant of the central Amazon basin. J Ethnopharmacol, 1982 Nov.

10 Duke JA. CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press,1985, 349

11. Hong W, Cao G, Prior P: Oxygan Radical Absorbance Capacity of Anthocyanins. J. Agric. Food Chem. 45, 304-309, 1997