Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Powerful Berries as Antioxidants and Other Health Benefits

Acai, Goji, Pomegranates, and Elder berries are among the hottest topics these days for antioxidant power as well as other health benefits. Taking a look at each of these we can evaluate the benefits and determine which if any may be right for your needs. All of these have various vitamins and minerals and each has varying concentrations. Some people may find one of these more effective than the others or you may use a combination of them. Trying the different options available is the best way to figure out which of these will have the greatest benefit for your health needs. From added energy to detoxifying your body these powerful berries can have dramatic effects on your overall health. We will explore some of those benefits here.

If you are looking for the newest wave in health and nutrition, the Acai berry is probably it. Most people do not get nearly the amount of vitamins, nutrients, or antioxidants needed each day. The Acai berry can give you most of them in a quite flavorful fruit. Most Acai varieties are purple and are about an inch diameter. There are also green varieties but the nutrition factor is the same in either color. The most popular method for consuming Acai berries is in a juice form. The ORAC assay determines the power of the antioxidants in a certain type of food. Acai was found to have a higher score than any other popular sources such as, goji berries, pomegranate, and prunes. More health benefits seem to be discovered almost daily for these powerful berries. Fatty acids, amino acids, and other important nutrients that help boost energy are among the additional benefits. Acai can replace caffeine drinks as a great energy booster without the sugar and other not so healthy ingredients.

The Goji berry is another option for health benefits from natural sources. The nutrition found in Goji can not be found in any other single food or berry. Some of the nutrients found in Goji berries have been helpful in cancer treatments. The Goji also has more carotene than carrots and acids that can promote fat loss. The Goji also has nutrients that increase energy much like the Acai. The Goji has vitamins such as B1, B2, B6, C, and E in adequate amounts to justify this as a viable source for those vitamins. For needed minerals the Goji berry is a viable source of Zinc, Calcium, Selenium, and Iron as well as others. Goji berry juice can be found easily in many local health food stores as well as websites online.

Pomegranates also provide antioxidant powers and offer health benefits like the Acai and Goji berries. Pomegranates have a rich content of vitamin C, Polyphenols, and Folic acid which make it a popular choice for anti aging products. Some research has shown that the pomegranate can even help slow down cartilage damage and osteoarthritis. Increased flow of blood to the heart is also a benefit of the pomegranate according to some studies. Like the Acai and the Goji, Pomegranates are most commonly used in juice products. Pomegranate is also quite frequently used in not consumable products like anti aging creams or lotions. It has been shown to have great power at helping the skin in dealing with the natural aging process as well as help fight some of the damage caused by the sun. Pomegranate like the elderberry actually taste quite good and is used more and more in foods.

Elderberries are rich in vitamin C and potassium. These two nutrients are important in fighting colds and maintaining a healthy immune system. Elderberries are probably best known for anthocyanins which are said to protect your body from toxins and help dealing with stress. Elderberries must be picked when ripe as they can contain poisonous toxins before they fully ripen. Elderberries are used many times in syrups, extracts, or even jams. The vitamins and minerals contained in the elderberry are also shown to help with vision, especially night vision. The elderberries have been used for centuries by various cultures and have been used in more widely In recent years as more and more research has shown it to be beneficial as a natural health supplement. Elderberries also taste great and that is why they are so commonly used in jams and syrups.

As you can see there are numerous natural options available for their antioxidant properties. There are also additional benefits to these natural berries such as increased energy, better bone health, cancer treatments, and even better vision. There are many scams out there taking advantage of people by using poor quality products or magic pills that are really nothing more than low quality, low concentration pills. Another step to choosing the right supplements and natural health foods is consulting with a doctor. This will ensure you have the most up to date information and will know you are doing the right thing for your body.

Get a FREE sample of KickinBerries drink mix that uses all the berries above!

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