The True Story of Acai and Cancer
It has been shown that the antioxidants found in the Acai berries can indeed kill cancer cells. This seems to be true for leukemia and works better when it is done in vitro. In other research it was demonstrated that the Acai berry began destroying cancer cells within 18 hours of being ingested. Another research study showed that an extract of Acai berries killed 86 percent of lung cancer cells.
Antixidant Properties of Acai Berries
The secret behind Acai’s health benefits appears to be its powerful antioxidant effect. Acai can fight free radicals because of its high level content of vitamin C. Its positive impact on other diseases related to the lungs such as asthma have also been reported.
Researchers in Brazil have published many papers noting that Acai berry may help smokers to recover from emphysema. In addition, the Acai berry has been shown to improve a person’s immune system. Having a stronger immune system helps in so many ways, including the build up that is needed to fight cancer on a daily basis, in addition to fight the simpler challenges such as colds and flu.
In a study by Schauss and co-workers, the antioxidant capacity of acai was tested against a number of sources of free radicals. Here are some findings from the study:
– Exceptional activity against superoxide using the SOD assay
– Highest activity against the peroxyl radical compared to any other food known to date
– mild activity against the peroxynitrite and hydroxyl radical using the NORAC and HORAC assays respectively
The SOD of acai was 1614 units/g, an extremely high scavenging capacity for O2*- radical, by far the highest of any fruit or vegetable tested to date.
Acai berries are deserving of greater study, especially in relation to the connection between Acai and cancer. While no food can be considered curative of cancer, the high concentration of antioxidants in Acai berries makes it a valuable, natural food member in the arsenal of nutritional tools against chronic conditions such as cancer.
Source:
http://www.best-acai.org/acai-studies/index.php
