Acai Berry Research: Acai May Ward Off Leukemia
You may know açai as the "superfood" berry that has received airtime on Oprah. The açai berry packs a health-promoting antioxidant punch. And now, researchers have discovered that it has superhero powers.
A recent açai research study found that açai berries triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86% of leukemia cells tested in vitro (test tube). To come to this conclusion, researchers prepared six different extracts from açai fruit pulp, then prepared each extact at seven levels of concentration. Depending on the extract and its level of concentration, anywhere from about 56% to 86% of the leukemia cells died after 24 hours of exposure to the extract. (Del Pozo-Insfran D, Percival SS, Talcott ST. J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Feb 22;54(4):1222-9.)
The Anti-Aging Bottom Line: Since these results occurred in a laboratory setting more research needs to be done to determine whether they can be replicated in humans. In the meantime, know that açai research indicates that this deep purple berry offers a rich source of polyphenols — phytochemicals that have antioxidant properties. So taking an açai extract may help reverse the effects of free radicals in your body.
Many weight loss programs use a combination of foods, exercises and lifestyle changes to help you lose weight. Some require you to make drastic lifestyle and food habit changes that you can not sustain for a long time. The Acai Berry Diet focuses on a single kind of fruit, the acai berry, giving you much flexibility, control and enjoyment as you diet.