Acai “purists” who claim drinking acai drinks make them healthier and ache less may have some scientific data to back up their claims. A study by Natural and Medicinal Products Research, AIMBR Life Sciences, in Puyallup, Washington linked anti-inflammatory functions and immune functions to acai pulp.
Immune Booster
The researchers found that acai pulp powder had exceptional activity against superoxide. “the highest of any food reported to date against the peroxyl radical as measured by the oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay with fluorescein as the fluorescent probe“. Why do we care about superoxides? Superoxides may contribute to the production and development of disease and possibly, to aging through the oxidative damage they exact upon cells.
Anti-inflammatory
The study also looked at the bioactivities related to anti-inflammatory of Acai as well. In other words, does Acai have the ability to lessen certain signs of inflammation, like swelling, tenderness, fever, and pain, the reasons many people take aspirin and ibuprofen. Acai was found to be a potential cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 inhibitor. The inhibition of the Cox’s can offer easing from symptoms of inflammation and pain. Wow, that acai smoothie is looking better all the time. So there you go, keep in mind that there is a lot of research still ahead for acai drinks. However, in looking at the science, those purists who call acai, the acai superfood, might not be as radical as people think.
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