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 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!

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.

One of the reasons for this is its high antioxidant content. You have probably heard over and over that there is consistent evidence in research that diets rich in fruit and vegetables and other plant foods are associated with better health. Sound familiar? Probably. So why is that?

This association is partly given to the high content of antioxidants in fruits and vegetables, which protect our bodies against chronic disease by decreasing free radical oxidative damage. Our bodies are in constant attack by free radicals, which are a common by-product of normal metabolism. Think of free radicals as individuals with too much energy and no where to put it. So they are extremely active and attack everything in their path. In our bodies, this translates to the damage of our cells and genetic material. In the long term, this may cause permanent damage that is irreversible (such as cancer). In our day to day lives, we are further exposed to high amounts of free radicals through increased physical activity, stress, pollutants, chemicals and toxins. Antioxidants which are obtained through our diet act like scavengers, which seek and “relax” the free radicals.

Once the free radicals are “relaxed”, they do no further damage. So what kinds of antioxidants are in RioLife Acai berries? The Acai berry is rich in anthocyanins, compounds that provide colour to the fruits and serve as natural antioxidants. Those are the same compounds found in red wine.
However, RioLife Acai berry puree has 10-30 times more. RioLife’s certified organic Freeze dried Acai contains 70-210 times more! The richer the pigment colour of the fruit, the more antioxidants it generally contains. One way to help you achieve a high antioxidant diet is to make sure your plate is very colourful. Ensure that you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables at your main meals, and snack on a RioLife Acai smoothie or other fruits and vegetables instead of lollies or chocolate.

The Acai berry’s royal purple pigment not only makes the fruit appealing to eat, but studies have shown that berry anthocyanins are beneficial in reducing age-associated oxidative stress (or the free radical damage). If berries can combat premature aging with 25 to 40 times less antioxidants than Acai, then just imagine what RioLife organic freeze dried Acai can do!

The US food industry is now labeling the antioxidants in food with ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity). Data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggests a serving of fresh fruit and vegetables has between 890 and 2,500 ORAC units.

Just one 5g serving of RioLIfe organic freeze dried Açaí will provide you with around 4,695 ORAC units!

Independent author: Flavia Fayet from http://www.nutriesca.com.au

Puchase RioLife Acai Berry online now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yOfhHPvxgnA

You can also view other videos here: http://www.youtube.com/riolifeacaiberries

The Acai berry is not your regular fruit. One of the reasons for this is its high antioxidant content. You have probable heard over and over that there is consistent evidence in research that diets rich in fruit and vegetables and other plant foods are associated with lower mortality rates and lower death rates from cardiovascular disease and some types of cancer. Sound familiar? Probably. So why is that?

This association is partly given to the high content of antioxidants in fruits and vegetables, which protect our bodies against chronic disease by decreasing free radical oxidative damage. Our bodies are in constant attack by free radicals, which are a common by-product of normal metabolism. Think of free radicals as individuals with too much energy and no where to put it. So they are extremely active and attack everything in their path in our bodies, this translates to the damage of our cells and genetic material. In the long term, this may translate to permanent damage that is irreversible (such as cancer). In our day to day lives, we are further exposed to high amounts of free radicals through increased physical activity, stress, pollutants, chemicals and toxins. Antioxidants which are obtained through our diet act like scavengers, which seek and “relax” the free radicals. Once the free radicals are “relaxed”, they do no further damage.

So what kinds of antioxidants are in Acai?

Acai is rich in anthocyanins, compounds that provide colour to the fruits and serve as natural antioxidants. Those are the same compounds found in red wine. However, Acai pulp has 10-30 times more. Pure Dried Acai contains more, 70-210 times more! The richer the pigment colour of the fruit, the more antioxidants it generally has. One way to help you achieve a high antioxidant diet is to make sure your plate is very colourful. Ensure that you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables at your main meals, and snack on an Acai smoothie or other fruits and vegetables instead of lollies or chocolate.

Acai’s royal purple pigment not only makes the fruit appealing to eat, but studies have shown that berry anthocyanins are beneficial in reducing age-associated oxidative stress (or the free radical damage). If berries can combat premature aging with 25 to 40 times less antioxidants than Acai, then just imagine what Pure Dried Acai can do!

The US food industry is now labeling the antioxidants in food with ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity). Data from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) suggests a serving of fresh fruit and vegetables has between 890 and 2,500 ORAC units. Just one 5g serving of RioLIfe organic freeze dried Acai will provide you with around 4,695 ORAC units!

Independent author: Flavia Fayet from http://www.nutriesca.com.au/ – info@nutriesca.com.au
Flavia Fayet has completed her Masters of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Sydney, and is currently working on her PHD. She is a respected Dietician and lecturer at Sydney University.
Copyright (c) Nutriesca 2006

Today you will become familiar with all the nutritional benefits of Açaí and in the following 7 installments, to be delivered with RioLife’s monthly newsletter, you will learn in-depth what each of Açaí’s nutrients are, why they are nutritious and how those nutrients can be easily incorporated into your daily routine.

If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact our nutritionist and dietitian Flavia Fayet at info@nutriesca.com.au

Read on and enjoy!

RioLife Acai not only is a fruit and tastes great, but it provides many nutrients that have been proven to be essential in a healthy diet and linked to a decreased risk of mortality and morbidity.

So what does RioLife Açaí have to offer?

1. Antioxidants
2. A great start to your day
3. Gut-healthy fibre
4. Heart friendly nutrients
5. Sustained energy
6. Vitamins & minerals
7. Athlete fuel

In the next installment we will cover 1. Antioxidants.

Independent author: Flavia Fayet from www.nutriesca.com.au – info@nutriesca.com.au
Flavia Fayet has completed her Masters of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of Sydney, and is currently working on her PHD. She is a respected Dietician and lecturer at Sydney University.
Copyright (c) Nutriesca 2006