P.O.R.N. Diets

I am coining this term as I feel some of the diets out there are so radical they need to be discussed in one place.

We here from our favorite celebrities daily and some of us live for this. We follow them on Twitter, talk about them on Bebo and MySpace or e mail each other about them especially when a new diet is talked about.

There have been some over the top radical diets in the past like the 'Air diet', not a very popular one for obvious reasons unlike the 'Chocolate' diet. Then there is the more main stream 'Atkins' diet or 'The Dash Diet' or even 'The South Beach Diet'. All have there plus and minus points and their advocates and nay sayers as well.

The trick when it comes to diets if there is a trick in selecting one would be to thoroughly research the topic. The mere fact that there literally are thousands of diets commercially available shown on television, billboards or even your local Chemist shop.

Here will be many, many articles pertaining to the topic of P.O.R.N. Diets circulating our media and your opinion on them is most welcome. Maybe you have been on one and would like to praise it or maybe warn others away from it. Whatever you may like to share, diet related, please do.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Acai Nutritional Facts - What You Need to Know Before Buying

By Travis Van Slooten

You have no doubt heard about the acai berry and its healthy properties, but what are the acai nutritional benefits that have made it so popular recently? Reading over the potential benefits of the acai berry is like reading a laundry list of different health foods and supplements. It's hard to imagine that one little berry could possibly be so incredibly beneficial. But the facts don't lie and when you break down what the acai berry contains, it's almost mind-boggling.

The Ever-Important Antioxidant

Almost everyone has had the terms antioxidants and free radical before. But not everyone is completely aware of what these are and how they are important. First, you must abandon the idea that free radicals are evil. Free radicals are naturally occurring atoms which are missing an electron from the standard pair. They are useful for many essential purposes including combating invasive bacteria. However, many of our unhealthy routines in life can increase the occurrence of free radicals in our system. This increase can lead to numerous problems such as certain cancers and mental health issues like Alzheimer's. Antioxidants provide the other electron for the pair and reduce the amount of free radicals in your system.

And this is where the acai berry is so incredible. ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) measures how well a food combats free radicals. The avocado, long known for lowering rates of prostate cancer, has an ORAC count of 19. Cranberries, touted as the king of super fruits, measures an astounding 94. But the acai berry has an ORAC count of 610. Go ahead and read that again. It's not a typo. The acai berry doesn't just push the bar, it sets an entirely new standard among super fruits.

Other Healthy Facts About the Acai Berry

The acai is not touted as a super food for nothing. True, its antioxidant content is just unbelievable but it doesn't stop there. Acai contains a component called anthocyanins, the same substance found in red wine, which is effective in fighting coronary heart disease. A decent amount of unsaturated fats can also be found in acai berry. These unsaturated or "good" fats, produce essential fatty acids like Omega-6 which are needed in the body. Acai berry is also a good source of fiber, which is an energy booster.

Is the Acai Berry Deserving of the Title of Super Fruit?

If being a super fruit means having an incredible level of antioxidants as compared to other foods, and an abundance of fiber, anthocyanins, and essential fatty acids, then yes, acai berry is nothing less than a super fruit. Fresh acai may never be available to you unless you visit the specific areas in Brazil where acai is grown but it doesn't mean that you'll miss out on all the nutrients that acai berry can offer. By getting high-quality acai supplements, you can also take advantage of the acai nutritional benefits.

About the Author:

No comments:

Post a Comment