Acai Found to Kill Cancer Cells
Wednesday, December 16th, 2009A recent University of Florida study has demonstrated the cancer fighting benefits of an extract from the acai berry. This extract has proven effective on cancer cells which have been unaffected by other therapies which have been tried. This is only the first of many planned studies on the effects of acai berries on cancer.
When testing leukaemia cells with the extract from this berry, a staggering 86% of the cells self-destructed. Although the benefits of acai berries were already known as a great source of antioxidants, this has been an astounding discovery. An assistant professor at University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Services has confirmed that 86% in not an exaggeration.
Other fruits may also contain antioxidants which can kill leukaemia cells, but all of the research done to date is only preliminary, as there are other things which need to be taken into account. The figures yielded by this first study, however show great promise.
Australia has jumped on board, promoting a diet that is derived from exotic fruits, namely acai, noni, goji, and mangosteen. Promotions here are running high for various juices made with all natural fruits. Antioxidant properties have been found in many of these native fruits.
A study in Brisbane, Australia in March of 2008 has focused on the differences between the juice type antioxidants and the olive leaves antioxidants. While the results found in the olive leaf have very promising results when it comes to containing antioxidants, the studies with the acai berry are far more conclusive.
One study in particular that is yielding very interesting results is on these fruits and cancer. Just as the United States is working very hard to find a cure for cancer, leukaemia in particular, Australia is doing so as well. The hard, cold facts are that leukaemia is the number one killer of children under the age of 20 the world over. Studies have not been conducted yet on the effects of preventing leukaemia or any other cancer.
Because only basic research has been done up to a certain point, more studies are warranted. The acai berries have anywhere from 50 to 75 compounds that have not been established yet. The main reason the berries are so hard to study is that they are very perishable.
The acai berry is roughly the same size as a blueberry and is dark purple when ripe. They contain a single seed and decompose rapidly if not frozen or used straightaway. Since this berry is native to the Amazon River basin, freezing these berries for a long trip is not always a viable option.
To be imported all the way to Australia, acai powder works best. This is produced from acai berries by dehydrating and then freeze-drying acai pulp. Far easier and cheaper to export than are the ripe berries, this powder can then be used in all sorts of nutritional supplements and foods. The powder contains all of the same nutritional and health benefits of the fresh berries.
The research is still very much in its infancy, but the hope is there that someday leukaemia will meet its match in the form of a cure. Leukaemia is a disease which strikes more children than adults - and this is spurring the world to search especially hard for a cure to this form of cancer.
If you want to get some of this delicious berry anywhere in Australia, try the new Amazon Power Acai Powder by clicking here.

