A recent University of Florida study has demonstrated the cancer fighting benefits of an extract from the acai berry. This extract has proven effective on cancer cells which have been unaffected by other therapies which have been tried. This is only the first of many planned studies on the effects of acai berries on cancer.
In this test, leukaemia cells were exposed to acai berry extract, with the surprising result that 86% of the cancer cells self-destructed. Acai berries were already known as one of the best sources of antioxidant compounds, but this study's findings are truly extraordinary. An assistant professor at the University of Florida (in the Institute of Food and Agricultural Services) was able to confirm for us that this figure of 86% was indeed the case.
There may be other fruit-based antioxidants and other compounds which are effective against leukaemia and other cancers, but all of the research done so far is preliminary since there are many other factors which must be accounted for in these studies. The data from the University of Florida acai study, however, shows great promise thus far.
Australia has jumped on board, promoting a diet that is derived from exotic fruits, namely acai, noni, goji, and mangosteen. Promotions here are running high for various juices made with all natural fruits. Antioxidant properties have been found in many of these native fruits.
A Brisbane, Australia study from March of this year (1998) studied the differences between antioxidant compounds found in fruits and fruit juices and those present in olive leaves. While this study concluded that olive leaves contain some antioxidant properties, the studies performed on acai berries have had far more conclusive results.
One study in particular that is yielding very interesting results is on these fruits and cancer. Just as the United States is working very hard to find a cure for cancer, leukaemia in particular, Australia is doing so as well. The hard, cold facts are that leukaemia is the number one killer of children under the age of 20 the world over. Studies have not been conducted yet on the effects of preventing leukaemia or any other cancer.
So far, all of the research is still preliminary and there is much more to be learned about the anti cancer properties of these fruits. The acai berry, for example, contains nearly 75 chemical compounds and the exact properties of many of these are as yet unknown. The acai berry is a difficult fruit to study due to its extremely short shelf life.
Acai berries are similar in size to a blueberry, when ripe are a dark purple colour, and have a seed inside. When they are picked, if they are not used immediately or frozen, they decompose. Because they come from the Amazon River floodplains the options for freezing them for a long journey are not as viable as the alternative.
To be imported all the way to Australia, acai powder works best. This is produced from acai berries by dehydrating and then freeze-drying acai pulp. Far easier and cheaper to export than are the ripe berries, this powder can then be used in all sorts of nutritional supplements and foods. The powder contains all of the same nutritional and health benefits of the fresh berries.
Although studies are only preliminary for now, the hope that one day leukaemia and other cancers will be cured is still alive. The sad fact is that leukaemia strikes more children than adults. For the children who suffer from this disease, the day that such a cure is found will be a great day indeed.
Author: Americo Tognetti is astounded by the acai berry because it provides such a boost to everyone in the Acai Fruit Powder.
