High Nutrient Density

Eat well and you will lose weight. You can keep eating junk food and still be hungry for more. Why? The food is low nutrient dense. You haven’t fed your body the nutrients it needs to function! Acai is high in many vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals. Feed your body with these and you wont feel constant hunger. Simple.

Antioxidants

Although antioxidants are not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of weight loss, they actually play a significant role.  How? Antioxidants essentially pull toxins out of the body, which are often stored in fat cells, such as toxins from food additives. These toxins make us feel sluggish., and by removing them the body’s metabolic function and energy increases. Antioxidants are also important for supporting the body during dieting, as losing weight also temporarily increases nasty free radicals in the body before they are neutralised by antioxidants.

Low Sugar & Low GI

Acai is extremely low in sugar and has a very low GI (glycemic index) of 12!! (anything less than 55 is considered low).

As you probably already know sugar is easily turned into fat by the body! So lots of sugar is never a good thing! High GI foods cause dramatic spikes and falls in blood sugar levels causing you to regularly feel hungry. Eating low GI foods such as Riolife Acai will stop you from constant snacking and cravings for more sugary foods.

Fibre

So you have heard fiber keeps you fuller for longer, but how?

High soluble fibre foods such as acai, turn to a gel-like substance in the stomach, that has the action of ‘mopping up’ fats and reducing cholesterol! It also traps sugars from your food and allows them to be released more slowly into the body, preventing blood sugar levels from dramatic spikes. Acai also contains insoluble fibre which increases the bulkiness and mass of your meal and literally fills you up.

Essentail Fatty Acids (EFA’s)

But aren’t they fat?

Yes, but EFA’s (also known as Omega’s) are ‘good’ fats, and can actually inhibit fat storage and increase the amount of fat burnt by the body.

EFA’s do this by working in the body’s cell membranes to regulate hormone levels. They have the action of lowering insulin levels in the blood stream. High insulin means that fat can not be used as fuel, and is instead stored as fat cells. High insulin levels also inhibit the enzyme hormone sensitive lipase, responsible for fat break down.

EFA’s also benefit us by lowering ‘’bad’ LDL cholesterol and raising ‘good’ HDL cholesterol levels. This lowers over-all cholesterol levels, which goes hand in hand with weight loss.

It is possible to reduce your intake & replace some tablets & capsules with alternative high nutrition food!

Why Pills are not the Best Alternative

What you may not be aware of, is that tablets and capsules are often made with binders, fillers, disintegrants, colourants, flavours, sweeteners, preservatives, lubricants, glidants, coating agents & emulsifying Agents! Yikes! These are added for a variety of reasons, and do not necessarily need to be declared on product labels.

If that isn’t enough to put you off, capsules and tablets are not always absorbed in our digestive tracts! Occasionally hard-pressed pills do not break down and disintegrate properly, especially in a weak or compromised digestive system (which may just be the reason you are taking them in the first place).

So what are your alternatives? Liquids, Powders & best of all wholefoods!

It is best to take nutrients that are broken down into small molecules that can pass easily through our gut lining and be utilised by the body in metabolic processes. Not to mention, they are notably less expensive to make and purchase than tablets and capsules.

If you must take capsules, try to choose ‘vege caps’, made from vegetable cellulose. The capsules break open after about 20 minutes of being in contact with your stomach acid, the powder inside is then absorbed by the body, and the capsule casing is expelled. RioLife acai capsules use only vegtable cellulose and no added binders or fillers. Always ask companies what type of capsules they use!

Replacing tablets with Wholesome Foods (just as nature intended)!

Here are some common supplements and alternative food sources, liquids and powders.

B Vitamins-  Nutritional Yeast Flaks, Brewers Yeast,  Liquid B’s

Antioxidants- Pure Organic Freeze Dried Acai Berry Powder, Fresh Berries, Spirulina Powder, red and black beans.

Vitamin C- Kakadu Plum, Rosehip tea, Camu Camu powder.

Omega 3-  Fish Oil, Flaxseed oil, chia bran, mackrel and salmon.

Zinc-  Liquid Zinc Drink, Oysters.

Keep in mind most vitamin and mineral supplements come in a powdered or liquid form, Just ask!

The Importance of Sustainable Farming

A final note to keep in mind…Unfortunately, due to poor farming habits and over-farming to produce higher yields of crops, the soil is diminished of minerals and nutrients that need time to be replaced, and in turn, produce becomes less nutritious.

This is why it is best to buy organic produce where possible. Even better, source produce from small local organic farms, as their farming methods are more sustainable and yield highly nutritious fruit & vegetables, so you get what you pay for! Riolife Acai is proudly sustainable!

The brain’s natural housekeeping mechanism is called autophagy and involves the controlled degradation of cells, including the recycling of toxic proteins. This system declines naturally as we age, but new research suggests that berry extracts may enhance the process and contributes towards brain health.

Researchers at the USDA’s Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston presented their findings recently at the Society of Neuroscience annual meeting in San Diego.

Super fruits from Central and South America

Acai berries (pronounced ah-sigh-ee), have long formed part of the staple diet of Indian tribes. With the appearance of a purple grape and taste of a tropical berry, it has been shown to have powerful antioxidant properties thanks to a high level of anthocyanins, pigments that are also present in low levels in red wine.

It is presently being sold in a number of countries, including New Zealand, Australia, South America, Japan, USA, and the Middle East

New data

Led by the late James Joseph from Tufts University, the researchers investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of acai extracts in the main defense cells of the brain – the microglia – in rodents. “Microglial activation can result in the generation of cytotoxic intermediates and is associated with a variety of age-related and neurodegenerative conditions,” explained the researchers.

Results presented in San Diego indicated that extracted fractions of the acai pulp protected against the release of pro-inflammatory compounds including COX-2 and TNF-alpha.

“These results suggest that acai may contribute to ‘health span’ in aging, as it is able to combat some of the inflammatory and oxidative mediators of aging at the cellular level,” wrote the researchers.

Free radicals are molecules that have become unstable because they’ve lost an electron. Whilst their creation is a natural (and healthy) part of our bodily functioning, they accumulate in greater quantities as we get older. Unfortunately, the body’s ability to handle them declines at the same time. This accumulating imbalance is believed to contribute to many of the effects of ageing, including those observed in the skin, such as fine lines and wrinkles .

Sunlight and ultraviolet radiation are some of the most potent generators of free radical damage in the skin. Observing their effects is as simple as comparing the difference in texture of the skin on your outer forearm (which is often exposed to the sun) with the skin on your torso, which (unless you’re prone to sunbaking) is less likely to be sun damaged.

Depending on your age and the climate where you live, you’ll notice that the skin on your outer arm is likely to be thicker and coarser, and perhaps even more freckled or pigmented, dehydrated or prematurely aged.

These changes to the skin texture occur in part because free radical damage interferes with the integrity of elastin and collagen, depleting their ability to remain supple and elastic. With their ongoing decline in integrity, the skin loses its firmness and becomes wrinkled, and ageing becomes apparent.

To minimise the ageing effects of free radical damage on your skin (and elsewhere in your body), protect yourself from sunburn and UV-radiation, and don’t smoke or use recreational drugs. Avoid alcohol binges too.

Antioxidants are compounds that donate an electron of their own to restabilise free radicals, and are the body’s way of minimising free radical damage.

Antioxidants occur in many forms. The body produces some, but many are consumed in the diet. When using natural organic skincare products you’re even applying antioxidants to your skin from the outside!thocy

For glowing, healthy skin, your diet should contain abundant quantities of antioxidant-rich fruit, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds. Some foods are renowned for their exceptionally high content of antioxidant nutrients and of these, our favourite is the acai berry from Brazil.

The antioxidants in acai berries are a variety called anthocyanins and proanthocyanins. They have a deep purple colour and are also found in red wine, blueberries and similarly coloured foods, and they are believed to be responsible for these foods’ anti-ageing health benefits.

The levels of anthocyanins and proanthocyanins in acai berries are much greater than those in wine and berries. For example while a glass of red wine may contain 24-35 mg of anthocyanins per 100 millilitres, the same quantity of acai contains 320 mg .  Scientists are still evaluating all the health benefits of acai berries, but with an antioxidant content as powerful as that, there’s little doubt they’re invaluable when it comes to helping your body mop up free radicals!

To reap the free radical-fighting benefits of acai berries for your skin, add some RioLife Organic Freeze Dried Acai powder to your morning smoothie or juice, stir it into your yoghurt or sprinkle it over your breakfast cereal.

Acai berries

How did you fall in love with Acai?
I first fell in love with Acai through my travels on the beaches of Rio De Janeiro where it is eaten religiously, local friends (carioca’s, as they call themselves) of mine said it was the best thing on the planet and after adjusting to its unique taste I simply couldn’t get enough of the stuff, eating it every day after a surf or a long day in the sun I just felt my body responding so well to this amazing fruit. You could see how the health and energy obtained from Acai blended so well with the Brazilian culture and seemed crazy that we didn’t eat this in Australia. It wasn’t until I got back to Australia in 2005 I realised all of the amazing health properties of this fruit, it’s no wonder I felt so good from eating it.
Teaming up with friends Andrew MacIver who discovered Acai in California and Jeremy Liddle who ran juice bars in Singapore we got together after traveling the world and RioLife evolved. We had seen the love for Acai in Brazil and also all over California where Oprah herself named it as the number 1 Superfood for anti-ageing back in 2004, it made complete sense to bring this great fruit into the diets of Australian’s. RioLife today is the most established Australian Acai brand in the country and merging with NuFruits in 2007 gave us great strength to the company. Nufruits specialising in all Amazonian fruits and were the primary supplier for all RioLife Acai products. As a group we now have some of the most knowledgeable Acai experts in the business and access to the best known sources of Acai, coming direct from Brazil.
Can you tell me about the traditional uses of Acai?
Acai was a staple for the local Amazonians for centuries they basically lived of Acai and fish alone. Being a very unique fruit, 90% nut, only 50% water and virtually no sugar the best way to eat it was to pulp it into a puree. It wasn’t until around 2000 that this fruit became mainstream in Brazil where it is predominantly turned into a frozen pulp, you will only see the actual berry if you go to the Amazon yourself. The traditional Brazilian style found on the beaches Rio and all over, is usually frozen pulp blended with Guarana another gift of the Amazon, Apple and banana. Which turns into a kind of sorbet texture and then pour Granola over the top. Given the heath trends and eating habits of Australians, Freeze Dried Acai powder was the best way to get all the goodness from the fruit into an easy to eat food that can be mixed with anything and still taste amazing, actually giving a bit more versatility to its use, using it in juices smoothies, cereal, yoghurts and all sorts of great meals.

What is your favourite way to consume Acai?
I love blending up a nice fresh smoothie with Fresh Apple/Mango juice, half a banana and mixed frozen berries and a BIG table spoon of RioLife Freeze Dried Acai. Sorry to sound cliché but to me that tastes like Rio. But if I am short for time like most mornings I also love it sprinkled over my cereal each morning.
How is Acai different to other “Superfoods”?
From a health benefits perspective we would have to talk about its very high antioxidants in fact Acai has one of the highest known ORACS (antioxidant levels) of any fruit. This is attributed to its anthocyanins and proanthocyanins which are renowned for their protective effects on the blood vessels. Acai berries also contain a blend of the heart-healthy omega-3, -6 and –9 fats, and plenty of fibre. There really is an amazing mix of nutritional benefits which has lead to so many reported benefits from our customers such as increased energy and vitality, glowing skin, sleeping better, increased sex drive and even weight loss!
Acai is one of the few foods on the planet that is completely untampered with by humans, it is still Wild harvested and never been farmed, Genetically modified, spray on or any of that bad stuff we like to do to our food. The berries come only from its first origins deep within the Amazon rainforest, some have tried growing in other parts of the word but simply, it is very difficult to replicate the Amazon it is a unique Resource of this planet and we are forever grateful it has given us such fruits as Acai. It really is no surprise this little berry has so much nutritional value. I really don’t know of any fruit that can give such great health to those who eat it as well as such benefits to the Rainforest it grows in and the communities that live there.
I’ve heard that RioLife is involved in sustainable farming or Acai berries. Can you tell me a little more about this?I
The Acai industry itself is sustainable, wild harvested it has put great value of the palm trees originally cut down for the vegetable in its roots. With demand on the increase Amazonians treasure the trees and the forest they grow in and see little value in chopping them down but ensuring they grow plentiful. It is also helping provide income for the people that harvest these little berries. The Acai fruit industry is regarded by Greenpeace as one of the few initiatives that are necessary to prevent the continuing destruction of the Amazon whilst simultaneously improving the quality of life for people living in the region.
Riolife is proud to say we take great care in sourcing our Acai the right way. Andre Scwob who is a local Brazilian and been living in the Amazon for the past 13 years, he is our supply and source manager who is very careful about who he buys from and how it is picked. It is of great value to have this kind of experience and knowledge as part of our team to ensure we are doing the right thing by the Amazon Forest and its people. Sadly we get reports of some US companies not doing the same in the Amazon.
How is the packaging process done to minimize loss of the antioxidants properties?
The packaging process from hand picking to a packaged freeze dried powder ready for Australia is a delicate process we ensure great care with. Being a frozen pulp and a freeze dried powder are really the only two ways to have this fruit in an easy to use edible form. Freeze drying the berry retains around 99% of all its nutrients with tests done before and after. We regularly test our Acai for its ORAC value and it is always very strong. Sealing our Acai Powder into foil bags helps retain its quality – encapsulated foil bags are they only real way to ensure no oxygen or moisture is getting to the Acai we have used plastic tubs before and it’s just not the same. It is important to protect the berry to retain its nutrients foil bags achieve this.
Your charity, Amazon Friendly receives 1% of retail sales. What is the charity all about?
Amazon Friendly was an initiative first started by Nufruits in 2004 for help support the local communities. A school was built in the Amazon for all the Acai harvests children who otherwise would not receive education. The money collected helps fund teachers’ salaries as well as supplying books and other teaching materials. There are plans to build a second school and Amazon Friendly will help support that also. There are currently 98 students attending the school they are also fed daily.

Follow Emmas Blog: http://riolife.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=cb0590f3708391a11e1d4db4b&id=ca05fb194a&e=3452e8312a

Acai berry

Polysaccharide components from the acai berry, a highly nutritious fruit from the Amazon, have recently been shown to exhibit immune-boosting properties, including stimulating the activity of macrophages, immune system cells that support the body’s defences against infection by engulfing pathogens and destroying them.

Additional research is currently underway to determine whether acai berry polysaccharides have the capacity to help the body fight respiratory infections. In addition to these polysaccharides, acai berries contain an abundance of antioxidants, which may provide further support for the body’s immune defences.

Horseradish and wasabi

If you catch a cold, try dosing up on some horseradish or wasabi. The same compounds that give these foods their eye-watering heat also act as decongestants in the nasal passages, clearing out a stuffy nose or blocked sinuses. As an added bonus, they have antimicrobial properties to help your body fight infection.

Carrots, sweet potato and pumpkin

Orange-coloured fruit and vegetables tend to be rich in betacarotene, a nutrient that takes its name from the carrots it’s found in. Once ingested, betacarotene can be converted into vitamin A by your body. Vitamin A plays a key role in immunity, and is particularly important for the health of the mucous membranes of the eyes, nasal passages and lungs, which are sometimes referred to as the immune system’s “first line of defence” against infection. Betacarotene may be particularly important for older people, and may reduce their risk of acute respiratory infections by as much as 30%.

Garlic and onions

Garlic, and its similarly smelly cousins onions, shallots and chives, are renowned for their antimicrobial properties, and many people increase their consumption of these foods during the winter months. That seems to be a wise move, since a study from the UK has shown that people who take garlic supplements during winter suffer from fewer colds than people who take a placebo, and also recover from their colds more quickly and are less likely to experience recurrent infections.

Shiitake mushrooms

When you’re making soups, stir-fries or casseroles this winter, toss some shiitake mushrooms into the pot. Not only will the rich flavour add depth to your dish, but a compound they contain called lentinan will support your immunity, which may enable you to fight infection more effectively. There’s a good reason these mushrooms have a reputation in Asian countries for helping to promote a long and healthy life!

The brain’s natural housekeeping mechanism is called autophagy and involves the controlled degradation of cells, including the recycling of toxic proteins. This system declines naturally as we age, but new research suggests that berry extracts may enhance the process and contributes towards brain health.

Researchers at the USDA’s Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston presented their findings recently at the Society of Neuroscience annual meeting in San Diego.

Super fruits from Central and South America

The Acai berry (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) has long formed part of the staple diet of Indian tribes. With the appearance of a purple grape and taste of a tropical berry, it has been shown to have powerful antioxidant properties thanks to a high level of anthocyanins, pigments that are also present in red wine.

It is presently being sold in a number of countries, including New Zealand, Australia, South America, Japan, USA, and the Middle East

New data

Led by the late James Joseph from Tufts University, the researchers investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of açai extracts in the main defense cells of the brain – the microglia – in rodents. “Microglial activation can result in the generation of cytotoxic intermediates and is associated with a variety of age-related and neurodegenerative conditions,” explained the researchers.

Results presented in San Diego indicated that extracted fractions of the açai pulp protected against the release of pro-inflammatory compounds including COX-2 and TNF-alpha.

“These results suggest that açai may contribute to ‘health span’ in aging, as it is able to combat some of the inflammatory and oxidative mediators of aging at the cellular level,” wrote the researchers.

The researchers also noted that extracts made with methanol and ethanol appeared to be the “most effective” and that this may be due to the extracts containing either the greatest amounts of açai phytochemicals, or the most potent.

The researchers noted that additional studies are planned and will “investigate the specific phytochemicals in each of the fractions to determine the most potent and effective component(s) in combating cellular inflamation”.

“Future studies will also feed aged rats açaí-supplemented diets in order to determine if açaí is able to reverse or allay age-related motor or cognitive deficits,” they added.

The studies are being performed under a Cooperative Agreement with USDA’s National Center on Aging by AIBMR Life Sciences.

Kora blog for RioLife – March 2011
by Jayne Tancred

Antioxidants for eye health

Being able to see clearly is a precious gift, and one that we often take for granted. How different would your life be if you couldn’t read, drive, or see the faces of your family and friends?

As we get older, many of us will experience failing vision. Often the remedy can be as simple as getting an updated prescription for your glasses, but serious eye problems such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are also increasingly common, and can have a significant impact on your sight.

It pays to do everything you can now to prevent these conditions affecting you later. One key step you can take is to ensure your diet includes an abundance of antioxidants.

Like many other body tissues, the eyes are highly susceptible to free radical damage, which is a contributing factor in the development of cataracts and AMD as well as some other vision problems. By eating a diet packed full of antioxidants, you’ll help inhibit free radical activity, and that in turn may help protect your eyesight.

One of the best ways to ensure you’re getting plenty of antioxidants is to include a rainbow of colours on your plate every day. When it comes to vision, there are three colours that are particularly important to look out for:

• Purple-coloured foods, such as açaí berries, which contain anthocyanins
• Yellow-gold coloured foods, such as corn and egg yolk, which contain lutein and zeaxanthin
• Orange-coloured foods, such as carrots, which contain betacarotene

Anthocyanins: have a bowl full of berries

Anthocyanins are purple in colour, and are the major antioxidants present in many berries, including mulberries, blackberries and blueberries. Açaí berries, which are native to the Amazon rainforest, are an extremely rich source of these valuable antioxidants, especially when taken in freeze-dried form. For example, a 5-gram serving of RioLife Freeze Dried Açaí has around the same antioxidant capacity as 120 blueberries.

The antioxidant properties of the anthocyanins are particularly important for the blood vessels (especially the tiny capillaries of the eyes) and may also help the eyes adapt to changing light. That’s probably why some anthocyanin-rich berries have traditionally been used as a tonic for those whose work means they need to use their eyes intensely (including fighter pilots, drivers and computer operators).

Lutein and zeaxanthin: Go for gold

Besides being present in yellow- and gold-coloured foods such as egg yolk and corn, lutein and zeaxanthin are also found in some green leafy vegetables, such as spinach. These antioxidant compounds are absorbed into the tissues of the eyes, where they act as filters against damaging light and help protect the tissues from free radical damage. It appears that over time, having a diet that’s rich in them may help protect your eyes from developing AMD and cataract.

Betacarotene: Provides vitamin A

Betacarotene is important for eye health because the body can convert it into vitamin A, which is required for healthy vision and to keep the eye lubricated and moist. This nutrient takes its name for the carrots it’s found in, so make like a rabbit, and get munching! It’s present in other orange-coloured fruit and veggies too (including pumpkin, sweet potato, and apricots) as well as in leafy green vegetables.

So how do you put all this together to ensure your diet is providing the antioxidants your eyes thrive on? For starters, kick off your day with a breakfast that’s super-charged with antioxidants and also provides all-day energy. Personally, I love a bowl of wholegrain muesli topped with a scoop of freeze-dried açaí berriesand some fresh fruit. A salad sandwich or wrap that includes some leafy green veggies and grated carrot is perfect for lunch, and how about some corn on the cob as one of the veggies you serve up for dinner? Mission accomplished!

References:

Braun L, Cohen M. Herbs and natural supplements:  an evidence-based guide, 2nd ed. Sydney:  Churchill Livingstone Elsevier, 2007.

Ma L, Lin XM. Effects of lutein and zeaxanthin on aspects of eye health. J Sci Food Agric 2010;90(1):2-12.