Vitamin Information Center

Açaí berry juice and supplements have become more and more popular in terms of its antioxidant power, anti-aging properties and potential weight loss benefits. Celebrities like Oprah and Dr. Perricone cheap açaí Berry for their health, but these benefits the costs?

Açaí berries are small purple colored fruits in Central and South America. You are in the same family as other dark colored fruits like blueberries and cranberries. The coloring of the fruits is due to the antioxidants, anthocyanins and flavonoids. Fruit and vegetables with the deepest purple and blue color are the richest in antioxidants.

Antioxidants are responsible for the promotion of good health because they help to wear by harmful substances in the body called free radicals. Therefore, an antioxidant diet consumed May reduce or slow aging and the diseases caused by free radicals activity. Furthermore, açaí also many other nutrients such as omega fatty acids, and it is a good source of protein (both are rare for a fruit). It is for this reason, açaí berries are prized as one of the most nutrient-packed fruits.

Although the benefits of powerful nutrients açaí berries are not denied the ability to açaí to weight loss efforts are not yet on the scientific research. In addition, the Western world is ready for large amounts of money to purchase this super fruit. Starting prices for many supplements and juices are usually about $ 30 (for less than a 1-month supply), but many additions significantly more expensive.

The bottom line is açaí berry supplements do pack a nutrient shock, but with a hefty price. No reason to worry, if you’re not in a position, the cost of these expensive supplements. The antioxidant flavonoids and anthocyanins, can by the consumption of other dark-colored fruits like blueberries and pomegranates. All other nutrients, which in this super fruit can by eating a balanced diet of lean proteins such as impaired (wild salmon, tuna, chicken), a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and nuts.

A vitamin is a small organic molecule essential for normal metabolism and growth. Since it cannot be synthesized by the body in adequate amounts, it must be obtained in the diet. According to this definition, vitamin D isn’t even a vitamin, since very large amounts can be synthesized in the skin. However, many if not most people don’t make enough vitamin D and need to consume it in food or supplements.

Vitamin D has been in the news a lot partly because of this very problem. It turns out that the skin can synthesize vitamin D only if it is exposed to adequate amounts of sunlight. So, people who don’t get a lot of sun, such as patients in hospitals, or elderly people living in institutions, are often deficient in vitamin D. Even healthy active adults, who live in northern latitudes, such as in New England, are frequently deficient in vitamin D, as are people who live in sunny climates but habitually cover their skin. The UV rays that produce vitamin D in the skin are the very same UV rays that produce sunburn and that are blocked by sunscreen, shade, clothing and dark skin pigmentation, so even people who are active outdoors can be deficient in vitamin D.

Why do we care? Vitamin D is essential for regulating blood calcium levels and for promoting calcium absorption to maintain strong bones. It also regulates certain immune functions and can decrease the proliferation of normal and cancerous cells. This may explain why low vitamin D levels are associated with increased risks of certain kinds of cancer and other diseases, and why vitamin D supplementation has been shown to decrease the risk of some cancers in post-menopausal women.

Fortunately, it is easy to supplement vitamin D levels. The recommended daily intake of vitamin D3 is 400 IU daily, although many experts recommend intake of 800 IU daily for children and adults. There are several good dietary sources: a 3.5 ounce serving of fresh wild salmon has between 600 and 1000 IU of vitamin D3 (farm-raised salmon may only contain 100 to 250 IU in the same size serving); canned tuna contains about 230 IU in a 3.6 ounce serving (which is a little more than half a can). Fortified milk, yogurt, cheese, orange juice and breakfast cereals often contain 100 IU of vitamin D3 per serving. Over-the-counter supplements containing vitamin D3 are also widely available.

Finally, there is the option of careful, sensible sun exposure. It is difficult to calculate “adequate” sun exposure because the amount of sun needed for a person to synthesize enough vitamin D varies with season, latitude, time of day and skin pigmentation. These factors affect the amount of UV that reaches and is absorbed by the skin. Also, older skin has less capacity to synthesize vitamin D. For most people, 5 to 10 minutes of sun exposure on the arms and legs twice a week may be enough to maintain vitamin D levels. With sun exposure, moderation is key; too much UV exposure and sunburns increase the risk of skin cancer. So, it is still important to avoid excessive sun exposure and to use sunscreen daily to minimize this risk.