Prevention is better than cure. Modern medicine
researchers are now concentrating on chemicals or nutritional based products to
prevent the modern day killers like Cancer, auto immune disorders, Diabetes,
Obesity etc. In this way of research, they have found some of the fruits have a
rich combination of anti oxidants and chemicals which are very effective in
preventing the pathogenesis or at least arrest the progress of the diseases or
prevent the complications of so called ‘Modern day disorders or Life style
disorders’
Acai berry is one among the herbal nutritional food
supplements accepted by both traditional and modern researchers for the
efficacy for prevention of life style disorders and helping the human body to
reduce the spreading of the actual disease. Even though this subject still
under the debate many doctors advises Acai berry based products as diet
supplement it does not cause any side effects or drug interactive side effects.
What is Acai berry?
Acai berry is palm fruit native to central and South
America, Brazil and Peru. This is cultivated across world now for commercial
uses. It is slender palm tree grows up to 15-30 meters. Fruits of Acai tree are
a small round purple shaped one, looks almost like grape.
In 2004, Acai berry became famous as a weight loss
recipe. Even today most of the weight loss pills have Acai extracts as one of
the primary ingredient. As on date there is no clinical study, shown positive
effects on prevention and claimed reversing effects of Diabetes and other
chronic illnesses.
What Acai experts say about the efficacy?
Cancer is a cellular malfunction. Acai berry works at
the cellular level to treat and cure cancer. It helps prevent proliferation of
cancer cell by preventing cell mitosis. The sooner a cancer is detected, the
greater are its chances of remission.
Acai Berry helps fight the cancer in the following
ways:
(A) By its anti carcinogenic agent - Acai Berry juice
contains 150 neutraceutical chemicals. Among them five have been shown to fight
cancer.
a. Polysaccharides
- Polysaccharides are found abundant in Acai Berry. Polysaccharides block the
adhesion of mutated cells to other cells, thus stopping metastasis. Blocking
the adhesion of mutated cells to new cell depends on the density of the
polysaccharides sulphate groups, their molecular weight, and their carbohydrate
structure.
b. Anthraquinones- Damnacanthal, an anthraquinone,
inhibits the growth of malignant cells. Alizarin, another anthraquinone, blocks
the blood circulation to the malignant tumors, thus preventing its growth. Anthraquinone
reduces the cytochrome c (a hem-protein whose main function is electron
transport using the hem prosthetic group. It act as a cancer causing agent in
the body) inside the body without causing the formation of any new free radicals.
(Source – from the research study conducted by group of scientist in Japan
1990)
c. Epigollocatechin gallate (EGCg)- EGCg is a
polyphenolic flavonoid antioxidant found in abundant in Acai Berry. EGCg
prevent the growth of malignant cells and so induce apoptosis. The enzyme NOX
is active in the cancer cell all the time. In a normal cell, the NOX is
activated only during the cell division in response to growth hormone signal.
The EGCg interferes with the tumor associated activity of NOX. (Source – from
the research study on Acai juice)
d. Terpenes compound - Terpenes help in preventing the
proliferation of malignant cells and induce apoptosis. Limonene, a cyclic
terpene, has been found to prevent carcinoma of mammary, liver, and lungs, and
also found effective in treating leukemia. Beta carotene, another terpene,
helps to stimulate thymus gland to secrete more T- cells that destroy the
carcinoma cells. Ursolic acid, a
pentacyclic triterpenoid, has anti-carcinogenic effect, both externally and
internally. It is known to prevent the growth of cancerous cell and to induce
apoptosis. (Source- research conducted by the National Cancer Institute,
Finland)
e. Proxeronine - Dr.Heinicke’s theory suggests that xeronine
(conversion from proxeronine by the enzyme proxeroninase) combines with various
bio chemicals and building blocks i.e. hormones, proteins, enzymes, serotonins,
vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants at intracellular level. The Golgi
apparatus and reticulo-endothelium then assemble the necessary compounds into a
specific ‘package’. This ‘package’ is sent from healthy cells to deranged cells
to help in regeneration or rebuilding the damaged cells.
f. By modulating the immune process of the body - Acai
helps to modulate the production, activity, and effectiveness of some immune
system agents. These are
a. Nitric oxide - Nitric oxide, produced by activated
macrophages, plays a role in the host protection against pathogen as well as
malignant tumor. Acai juice increases the body’s biosynthesis of nitric oxide.
b. Interleukin- Acai modulates the production,
activity, and effectiveness of interleukin-2 that enhances the production of
B-cell antibodies and also the cyto-toxicity character of Natural Killer (NK) cells.
c. Interferon-y:
Acai modulates the production and activity of interferon-y that helps in the
activation of macrophages and the over all process of cell mediated immunity.
(Source- Dr. Hirajumi report)
Tumor necrosis
factor (TNF): Tumor necrosis factor from various macrophages destroys the
malignant cells. Acai modulates the production and activity of TNF from the
macrophages.
Lipopolysachrides (LPS) The LPS in serum stimulate the
body’s immune process to eliminate any pathogens. Acai Berry Juice helps
modulate the production of LPS in serum thus increasing the immune process of
the body.
Natural killer
cells (NK cells) – Acai Berry helps modulate the production of NK cells that
destroys the malignant cells.
Thus it is claimed to be effective for preventing
Cancer and all kinds of Auto immune disorders.
Approved scientific researches so far
The following are the successfully and approved
researches conducted so far in Acai Berry
a.
Chemically extracted poly phenolic-rich
fractions from Acai Berry were reported to reduce the proliferation of HL-60
(experimental leukemia) cells in vitro
b.
In a study of rats fed a high cholesterol
diet, supplemental feeding with dry Acai pulp reduced blood levels of total and
non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and superoxide dismutase activity
Conclusion
Acai berry has several health benefits such improving
mental clarity, promotes sound sleep, supplies the body with vital vitamins,
cleanse and detoxifies the body of toxins that are infectious, builds the
immune system, enhances sexual desire and performance, help in fighting
cancerous cell, reduces the aging process, it alleviates the complications of diabetes,
helps it normalizing and regulating the cholesterol levels, helps in proper
functioning of the heart, reduces inflammation, increases circulation as well
as improves vision.
Acai berry has
omega fat unlike saturated fats that is common with fast foods, it also
contains amino acid, protein, Vitamin A, B1 and E and electrolytes that is why
it is becoming a miracle drink today. As, more consumers are finding out the
benefits of Acai berry today so also are researchers amazed at the health
benefits of the this small fruits. Also Acai berry fruits have been found to
have no side effects, therefore taking Acai berry just should not cause any
health concern, since researcher have not been able to come up with any side
effect caused by the fruits, it is very safe to use, though further research is
being carried out on this wonder fruit of nature.
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