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Anti-Aging Properties of Acai Berries

As we age, our bodies start showing common signs such as uneven skin tone, sagging skin, muscle loss, wrinkles and various health problems. It’s a normal part of growing older, but there are things we can do to slow the process. There are several natural foods that help fight the signs of aging. Among the best are acai berries from the acai palm tree in Central and South America. These reddish-purple berries are related to blueberries and cranberries and have several properties that help keep us healthy and thereby fight aging.

Here are some of the benefits you can reap through the consumption of acai berries.

Antioxidants

Acai berries have very high levels of antioxidants. Oxidation is the metabolizing of oxygen in the body, which damages cell membranes and other tissues. Oxidation is thought to contribute to cancer, heart disease and other health problems. Antioxidants protect cells from the harmful effects of oxidation. The good news is that the acai berries have more antioxidants than many of their berry relatives. Including acai berries in your diet will help fight the aging damage oxidation causes.

Fighting Inflammation

Research has shown that acai berries help fight inflammation. Tissue becomes inflamed to protect itself against things that have injured it. Inflamed tissue is red, swollen, painful and warm. Acai berries have a compound called velutin, which helps fight inflammation. Reducing inflammation keeps skin youthful.

Fiber

Acai berries, like other fruits and vegetables, are a source of fiber, which helps maintain healthy digestion and can lower cholesterol, thereby helping to ward off heart problems that often come with aging.

Healthy Oil

Acai berries have oleic acid, which is also found in olive oil. Oleic acid works with omega-3 fish oils to keep cell membranes healthy. Consuming acai berries is a tasty way to acquire heart-healthy oil.

Other Vitamins and Minerals

Acai berries contain vitamins A, E and C. They also have the B vitamins. Acai berries contain magnesium, potassium and zinc. Eating vitamin-rich foods keeps us healthy as we age, helping the body to ward off ailments common in older people.

How the Berries are Used

Native Central and South Americans have long used acai berries to boost health and treat conditions such as diarrhea, menstrual pain and skin conditions. Today they also eat acai berries simply because they are a tasty and healthful treat. In the United States and elsewhere, the berries are sold in health food stores as natural supplements in powder and tablet forms and are consumed as a fruit or juice. They are also served in smoothies and jellies.

Weight loss

Acai berries have been marketed as a product to help people lose weight fast. Recently, however, the U.S. government has cracked down on this marketing, saying it is not based on science. Scientific research into whether acai berries are a tool for rapid weight loss has determined they are not helpful in this way.

Acai berries are a good source of antioxidants and healthy oils. Although they have not been proven to help people lose weight, they are a beneficial food to include in a healthy diet. Their taste has been described as a blackberry-pomegranate mix or as a raspberry touched with chocolate. Using them in health food drinks or smoothies, drinking acai juice or enjoying the fruit itself is a good way to fight aging by adding antioxidants, fiber and other nutrients to your diet.