| Acai berries grow in the Amazon rainforest located in | | | | Red Wine: 26.7 +/- 3.5 micromol of TE/mL |
| Brazil. The acai berry is considered beneficial due to | | | | Concord Grape Juice: 30.5 +/- 1.4 micromol of TE/mL |
| its large amount of free-radical antioxidants. Many | | | | Acai Juice: 22.9 +/- 2.8 micromol of TE/mL |
| claims are made regarding the acai berries' ability to | | | | Cranberry juice: 21.5 +/- 3.1 micromol of TE/mL |
| improve the immune system, improve digestion, fight | | | | In a comparison of the various juices' abilities to inhibit |
| aging, protect against coronary artery disease, fight | | | | LDL oxidation (LDL is a leading part of the mechanism |
| cancer, and even cause weight loss. Numerous media | | | | that causes heart disease), pomegranate juice had |
| outlets, such as ABC news, Oprah, and CBS news, | | | | the highest values at 97.1 +/- 0.0 (for peroxides) and |
| have all promoted the benefits of this magical berry. | | | | 97.2 +/- 0.7 (malondialdehyde). Whereas the acai |
| However, many of these claims have not been | | | | berry juice had values at 29.2 +/- 15.5 (for peroxides) |
| proven scientifically in a controlled study. | | | | and 20.4 +/- 6.7 (malondialdehyde). Overall, the study |
| In fact, there is a very limited number of published | | | | found pomegrante juice to have the most potent |
| medical papers on the actual benefit of the acai | | | | antioxidant abilities followed by red wine and grape |
| berry. | | | | juice. |
| In a study published in the February 2008 issue of | | | | Not to say drinking acai juice is not beneficial, but |
| the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the | | | | more extensive studies are needed to validate all of |
| authors compared the antioxidant potency of certain | | | | the claims found in the media. At this point, these |
| fruit drinks distributed in the United States. The study | | | | claims of acai being a new "super food" by such |
| compared pomegranate juice, red wine, berry fruit | | | | individuals as Oprah and Dr. Perricone are simply not |
| juices (which includes black cherry, blueberry, concord | | | | supported. Only the juice manufactures are benefiting |
| grapes, cranberry), apple juice, bottled teas, and the | | | | (the acai berry spoils within 24 hours from being |
| acai berry juice. One measure used to compare the | | | | picked, thus, you cannot get the actual berry in food |
| juices is the Oxygen Radical Absorbing Capacity | | | | stores, only as juices at this point). |
| (ORAC) which measures the juices ability to absorb | | | | Nonetheless, all diets should be high in fruits and |
| free radicals. In this study, the highest ORACs found | | | | vegetables, regardless of which one you prefer. |
| per juice were as follows: | | | | Nonetheless, an individual should not put all of their |
| Pomegranate juice: 25.0 +/- 1.0 micromol of TE/mL | | | | hopes into just one magical berry. |