The acai berry is an inch-long reddish, purple fruit . It comes from the acai palm tree (Euterpe oleracea) native to tropical Central and South America and has been a traditional food of the native people of the Amazon for hundreds of years. Acai derives from a word of indigenous peoples of South America meaning "fruit that cries." The fruit is used as a natural ink or dye and the wood is used in house construction (palm thatched roofs). Ethnobotanists have recorded no less than 22 different uses for all parts of the Acai tree. Due to what is being called the 'acai craze' in the United States, one proposed project in Brazil has called for the planting of five billion acai trees in the next 10 years.

How does it work?

The acai berry has been shown to contain a number of antioxidants (3) , including anthocyanins (4) which may boost the skin's ability to prevent oxidants from harming connective tissues. It also contains phytosterols which may protect epidermal collagen, and flavonoids, which may exert anti-inflammatory properties.  omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids, which are vital to proper cell contraction and regeneration; monounsaturated oleic acid, which may help the body to absorb omega-3 oil through the cell membrane more effectively; as well as phytonutrients and minerals such as potassium, iron, phosphorus and calcium. Acai berry purportedly posseses more proteins than an egg, and the vitamins B1, B2, B3, C and E. The oleic acid content of açaí has been reported to be the same as in olive oil.

What do we use it for?

In recent times, research on acai fruit has been centered on its potential antioxidant properties. Acai fruit has also shown anticancer (1) and anti-inflammatory activity (2)diseases casued by oxidative damage such as heart disease. It has also been used as immune stimulant, energy enhancer. Anthocyanins and flavonoids found in Acai fruit are powerful antioxidants that help defend the body against life's stressors. They also play a role in the body's cell protection system. Free radicals are harmful byproducts produced by the body. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants may interfere with aging and the disease process by neutralizing free radicals. By lessening the destructive power of free radicals, antioxidants may help reduce the risk of some diseases, such as heart disease and cancer. Some studies state that the antioxidant capability of the acai fruit is even greater than that of cranberry, raspberry, blackberry, strawberry, or blueberry. It has been reported that the antioxidant properties of Acai berries may also be effective at promoting weight loss although further research is still needed to confirm this.

How should we take it?

No typical dose has been set for acai berry as yet but effective doses appear to be 2000mg of whole acai berry. No contraindications are known.

Refs:

1. Pozo-Insfran, D., Percival, S. S., and Talcott, S. T. Acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) polyphenolics in their glycoside and aglycone forms induce apoptosis of HL-60 leukemia cells. J Agric.Food Chem 2-22-2006;54(4):1222-1229.

2. Schauss, A. G., Wu, X., Prior, R. L., Ou, B., Huang, D., Owens, J., Agarwal, A., Jensen, G. S., Hart, A. N., and Shanbrom, E. Antioxidant capacity and other bioactivities of the freeze-dried Amazonian palm berry, Euterpe oleraceae mart. (acai). J Agric.Food Chem 11-1-2006;54(22):8604-8610.

1. Jensen, G. S., Wu, X., Patterson, K. M., Barnes, J., Carter, S. G., Scherwitz, L., Beaman, R., Endres, J. R., and Schauss, A. G. In vitro and in vivo antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacities of an antioxidant-rich fruit and berry juice blend. Results of a pilot and randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, crossover study. J.Agric.Food Chem. 9-24-2008;56(18):8326-8333.
2. Rodrigues, R. B., Lichtenthaler, R., Zimmermann, B. F., Papagiannopoulos, M., Fabricius, H., Marx, F., Maia, J. G., and Almeida, O. Total oxidant scavenging capacity of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (acai) seeds and identification of their polyphenolic compounds. J.Agric.Food Chem. 6-14-2006;54(12):4162-4167.

Coenzyme Q10 is an essential nutrient which is produced naturally in the body and concentrated in the ‘powerhouse’ of each cell, transforming food into energy. It can help a variety of health problems from improving muscle function and reducing blood pressure to targeting the damage caused by the ageing process and boosting energy levels.
The drug group of Statins that include artoravstatin and simvastatin, reduce the synthesis of both cholesterol and co-enzyme Q10 in the body. Its mechanisms to reduce unwanted LDL cholesterol are indeed welcome. However the reduction of CoEnzyme Q10 can have a significant impact on cardiovascular function. In fact, taking a statin can halve your natural production of CoQ10 within just two weeks. Studies suggest that 20mg of Simvastatin reduced the level of plasma CoEnzyme Q10 by 42.9% over a period of 3 months(1). This reduction in vital levels of CoEnzyme Q10 can reduce its protective ability against oxidative stress in areas such as the arteries. This reduced protection can play a significant contributory role in the development of atherosclerosis.
What does this mean?
With statins being prescribed to around 2.5 million people in the UK each year this would mean that there is a growing population deficient in CoEnzyme Q10.

Its nomenclature Ubiquinone, translated literally as ‘everywhere’, gives you an indication of how important CoEnzyme Q10 really is. Its vital role in energy production means that should our stores run into ‘red’ you can experience debilitating symptoms such as a lack of energy, muscle aches and pains and, over a period of time, heart problems, including heart failure.
Although the body is able to produce its own supply of CoEnzymeQ10 blood concentrations of this nutrient peak at 20 years of age and it is not long into our life that demand starts to outweigh supply. Supply from foods ‘rich’ in CoEnzyme q10 are unable to provide the therapeutic levels that the body needs in a state of deficiency. Add to this declining levels as a result of food processing and you will be able to see why many professionals in the natural health field feel so passionately about supplementing the diet with CoEnzymeQ10, most specifically for those on statin medication.
Comprehensive European Studies demonstrate that combining CoEnzyme Q10 supplementation with statins preserved the level of CoEnzymeQ10 in the blood without affecting the cholesterol lowering efficacy of statins. Indeed one study suggested a potential additive or synergistic relationship between coenzyme Q10 and the effectiveness of statins and the progression of cardiovascular disease. (2)

So take care of your heart by adopting the future of integrated medicine where ‘orthodox’ rubs shoulders with ‘alternative’ and take CoEnzymeQ10 as seriously as we do.