There have been many claims made about the "super food" benefits of acai berry from anti-cancer to weight-loss. These claims are made by savvy marketing gurus trying to sell their products or by multilevel marketing companies attempting to build their fortunes. However, these hyped up claims are not supported by evidenced based scientific research or academic studies. In other words, acai berry is not the "magic pill" or a panacea for all ills - nor does it promote weight-loss. However, acai berry does have potent antioxidant and phytonutrient qualities that merit explanation, and when taken together with other nutrients in a well-balanced diet can very well provide added health benefits.
The antioxidant value or potency of acai berry and other foods is determined by assessing their Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity known as ORAC value. The higher the ORAC value of a particular food, the greater its ability to neutralize free-radicals. Free-radicals are highly reactive compounds that cause cell damage through oxidative stress and DNA mutations, which may contribute to aging, cancer, heart disease, nervous system degeneration and chronic disease in general. Researchers believe that diets high in various spices, fruits and berries, chocolate (cocoa), and herbs, grains and nuts, beans and vegetables offer protection against free-radical damage and degenerative disease due to their antioxidant and polyphenol ( substances found in plants) compounds. The following list is an example of various foods and their ORAC values per 100 gram serving.
