Acai - The Acaí berry, or Acaí Fruit (ah-sigh-ee) grows on majestic palm trees in the Amazon Rainforest and looks like a purple marble or grape. Acaí has a delicious tropical berry flavor and provides exceptional nutrition. Açaí contains high levels of Antioxidants, Omega Fatty Acids (healthy fats), Iron, Amino Acids, Fiber, and many other vitamins and minerals. The people living in the Amazon region in Northern Brazil, have consumed Acaí for hundreds of years and it's healing and sustaining powers are legendary.
Acai Berry is known to harness the following properties:
Antioxidant, Antibacterial, Anti-inflammatory, Antimutagenic, Cardiovascular System.
Acaí berries contain very high amounts of essential fatty acid & omegas proven to lower LDL & HDL cholesterol levels. They are also a remarkable concentration of antioxidants to help combat premature aging. Acaí Berry is a dense source of a particular class of flavonoids called anthocyanins. The ORAC value of Acaí Berry is higher than any other edible berry in the world ! Acaí Berry is also an excellent source of dietary fiber! Acaí is extremely rich on organic vegetable protein which does not generate cholesterol during its digestion and is easier processed and transported to your muscles than animal protein (such as in milk or meat). Besides its outstanding content of protein and unsaturated lipids, acaí is also rich on carbohydrates which provide your body with the necessary energy while working or practicing any kind of sport.
According to medical research studies conducted on the Acaí Berries, and cited below, their analysis reveals:
An amazingly high concentration levels of antioxidants contributing to combating premature aging. The proanthocyanidine contents in Acaí Berries are 10 to 30 times the anthocyanins (these are the purple colored antioxidants) of red wine per volume. Although the French have a high fat diet, they have a low incidence of cardio vascular disease compared to the western countries. They contribute this factor to their consumption of red wine. Acaí Berries can help promote a healthier cardio vascular system and digestive tract, because of its synergy of monounsaturated these are the healthily) fats, dietary fiber and phytosterols. An excellent source of fiber! Fiber promotes a healthy digestive system. Research studies suggests soluble fibers may help lower blood cholesterol The insoluble fiber may help to reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancers. Essential amino acid complex along with trace minerals, which are vital for proper muscle contraction and regeneration. Aside from the energy and fluid replacement, Acaí Berries provide a nutrition profile complete with vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids (omega 6 and 9). The fatty acid ratio in Açaí resembles that of olive oil. Studies suggest this is a contributing factor to the low incidence of heart disease in Mediterranean populations. Acaí Berries contain plant sterols including beta-sitosterol. Today, sterols are being used to treat associated benign prostate dyperplasia. These plant sterols have also been shown to help control cholesterol as well as act as precursors to many important substances produced by the body.
Acai: The Amazon Acai Berry With 10 times the antioxidants of grapes and twice the antioxidants of blueberries, the Brazilian Acai berry (AH-sci-EE) is considered to have the best nutritional value of any fruit on earth.
OMEGA FATTY ACIDS (Omega 9, Omega 6, and Omega 3). These mono-saturated essential fatty acids help lower LDL (harmful cholesterol) while maintaining HDL (beneficial cholesterol). This unique ratio resembles the same combination as olive oil. Omega fatty acids combat heart disease by increasing healthy cell development. Omega fatty acids are essential for healthy nervous system development and regeneration. They help rapidly repair and rejuvenate muscles after intense exercise.
AMINO ACIDS; the Acai berry contains an almost perfect essential amino acid complex. This is vital for proper muscle contraction and regeneration, and for endurance, strength, sustained energy and muscle development. NATURAL VITAMIN E; to protect against aging.
THEOBROMINE; acts as a bronchial dilator to help open air passage ways in the lungs. This increased air capacity helps in oxygen intake, which increases endurance, strength, and athletic performance.
PHOTOSTEROLS; These complex compounds of plant cell membranes are used to treat symptoms associated with BPH, (benign prostate hyperplasia). Photosterols also help promote a healthy cardiovascular system and contributes to a healthy digestive tract.
ANTI-OXIDANTS; Acai is rich in antocyanins, an essential anti-oxidizer that helps combat premature aging. In fact, acia has 10 –30 times more anthocyanins (purple colored anti-oxidants) that a glass of red wine.
Mangosteen - The mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana) is a tropical evergreen tree, believed to have originated in the Sunda Islands and the Moluccas. The tree grows from 7 to 25 meters tall. The edible fruit is deep reddish purple when ripe. In Asia, the mangosteen fruit is known as the "Queen of Fruits".
The outer shell of the fruit (pericarp) is rather hard, typically 4-6 cm in diameter, resembling a spherical, black cartoon bomb. Cutting through the shell, one finds a very pale, fleshy fruit 3-5 cm in diameter. Depending on the size and ripeness, there may or may not be pits in the segments of the fruit. The number of fruit pods is directly related to the number of petals on the bottom of the shell. Commonly, on average a mangosteen has 5 fruits (round up figure).
The shell of mangosteens looks tough and hard, but they are soft and easy to open. Care must be taken when opening the fruit as the red husk outside produces a purplish, inky juice that stains fabric, which can be almost impossible to remove (the reason why they are banned from some hotels in countries where they are available). To open a mangosteen, the shell is usually broken apart, not cut. Holding the fruit in both hands, press it gently (thumbs on one side, the other fingers on the other) until the shell cracks. It is then very easy to pull the halves apart along the crack and remove the fruit without staining.
Health benefits - For hundreds of years, the people of Southeast Asia have used the mangosteen, especially the rind, to ward off and treat infections, reduce pain or control fever, and treat various other ailments.
Mangosteen - Garcinia mangostana L. - One of the most praised of tropical fruits, and certainly the most esteemed fruit in the family Guttiferae, the mangosteen, Garcinia mangostana L., is almost universally known or heard of by this name. There are numerous variations in nomenclature: among Spanish-speaking people, it is called mangostan; to the French, it is mangostanier, mangoustanier, mangouste or mangostier; in Portuguese, it is mangostao, mangosta or mangusta; in Dutch, it is manggis or manggistan; in Vietnamese, mang cut; in Malaya, it may be referred to in any of these languages or by the local terms, mesetor, semetah, or sementah; in the Philippines, it is mangis or mangostan. Throughout the Malay Archipelago, there are many different spellings of names similar to most of the above.
Medicinal Uses: Dried fruits are shipped from Singapore to Calcutta and to China for medicinal use. The sliced and dried rind is powdered and administered to overcome dysentery. Made into an ointment, it is applied on eczema and other skin disorders. The rind decoction is taken to relieve diarrhea and cystitis, gonorrhea and gleet and is applied externally as an astringent lotion. A portion of the rind is steeped in water overnight and the infusion given as a remedy for chronic diarrhea in adults and children. Filipinos employ a decoction of the leaves and bark as a febrifuge and to treat thrush, diarrhea, dysentery and urinary disorders. In Malaya, an infusion of the leaves, combined with unripe banana and a little benzoin is applied to the wound of circumcision. A root decoction is taken to regulate menstruation. A bark extract called "amibiasine", has been marketed for the treatment of amoebic dysentery.
The rind of partially ripe fruits yields a polyhydroxy-xanthone derivative termed mangostin, also ß-mangostin. That of fully ripe fruits contains the xanthones, gartanin, 8-disoxygartanin, and normangostin. A derivative of mangostin, mangostin-e, 6-di-O-glucoside, is a central nervous system depressant and causes a rise in blood pressure.
Goji - Fresh Ning Xia Lycium has the highest content of beta-carotene among all foods on earth. Beta-carotene can be transformed into vitamin A under the influence of human liver enzymes. Therefor, vitamin A ultimately plays a major influence in Lycium's actions. Lycium's function on the eyes is related to this factor. Lycium's vitamin B1 and B2 contents are significant and the vitamin C content of freeze-dried Lycium has been measured to be 73 mg / 100 grams.
The fruit also contains vitamin C, beta-sitosterol (an anti-inflammatory agent), linoleic acid (a fatty acid), sesquiterpenoids (cyperone, solavetivone), tetraterpenoids (zeaxanthin, physalin), and betaine (0.1%).
Lycium contains 18 kinds of amino acids, of which 8 are indispensable amino acids for the human body (such as isoleucine and tryptophan). 50% of Lycium's amino acids are free amino acid. Lycium contains numerous trace elements, of which the main ones are zinc, iron and copper. Mature fruits contain about 11 mg. of iron per 100 grams. Ning Xia Lycium contains 45% glucose, 7% fructose and 5.5% glucose.
