Acai Berry | Acai Fruit | Acai Antioxidants | News

We hear it all the time: Take your vitamins! So we buy a bottle of vitamins at the store according to brand name, price, or packaging appeal. But many of us don’t know what vitamins our bodies need or what each vitamin does. Here is a list of the vitamins that are important to your mind and body, as well as a list of things they do for your health.

• Vitamin A: Prevents or reduces night blindness, cancer, heart disease, stroke, high cholesterol, colds, flu, organ infections, skin wrinkles, age spots, acne, osteoarthritis, cataracts, and more. Vitamin A is an antioxidant that is also known as “Beta Carotene.”
• Vitamin B:
   o   B1: Also known as “Thiamin,” B1 aids in circulation, digestion, energy production, improved muscle tone, brain function, alertness, and more. It is an antioxidant that prevents depression and fatigue.
   o   B2: Also know as “Riboflavin,” B2 promotes healthy hair, skin, and nails. It eliminates dandruff and chapped lips. It also aids in red blood cell formation and the metabolism of carbs, fats and proteins.
   o   B3: Also known as “Niacin,” B3 supports a healthy cardiovascular system, fights stress, blood sugar problems, depression, headaches and bad breath.
   o   Pantothenic Acid: Fights stress, infections, fatigue, toxins and pollutants, arthritis, menopausal symptoms and high cholesterol.
   o   Biotin: Supports cell growth, healthy nerve tissue, healthy skin and hair, and fights baldness, hair graying, muscle pain and blood sugar problems.
   o   B6: Also known as “Pyridoxine,” B6 supports the central nervous system and the brain. It also prevents and reduces heart disease. It supports the immune system and prevents cancer, premenstrual symptoms, muscle cramps, high cholesterol and blindness.
   o   B12: It’s especially important that people who are vegan or vegetarian get plenty of B12, also known as “Cobalamin.” B12 increases energy, prevents anemia, and supports a healthy immune system, nerve function, digestion, memory and balance.
   o   Folate: Also known as “Folic Acid,” Folate protects against heart attacks, birth defects, internal parasites, food poisoning and illnesses.
• Vitamin C: Also known as “Ascorbic Acid,” Vitamin C supports healthy hair, skin, gums, bones and teeth, fights illnesses, cancers, cardiovascular problems, heart disease, high cholesterol, stress and toxins.
• Vitamin D: Supports a healthy immune system, fights osteoporosis, diabetes, colon cancer and hypocalcaemia.
• Vitamin E: Prevents cancer, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s and aging. Acts as a powerful antioxidant that promotes healing and protects against cell damage.
• Vitamin K: Supports a healthy cardiovascular system, strong bones, cell growth and healthy organs.

Scientists use a test called the Oxygen Radical Absorbence Capacity (ORAC) assay to determine the antioxidant activity of a food. A high ORAC value indicates the food possesses a high potency of antioxidant activity.

ORAC is the most reliable and accurate way to quantify a food’s peroxyl radical scavenging capacity. Peroxyl radicals can cause tissues or organs to become impaired or inflamed.

The ORAC assay discovered that freeze-dried açai has the highest antioxidant activity against peroxyl radicals of any food ever reported. In fact, açai’s antioxidant activity is 500%–1,000% higher than any fruit or vegetable, based on USDA data. This data indicates that açai has the potential to significantly increase the immune system’s first line of defense against oxidative stress.