Super Berries | Supreme Health

There are certain foods that provide more than just nutritional value and are believed to possess disease-fighting and healing properties. Such foods are known as ‘super foods’. Many edible berries contain antioxidants, are believed to boost the immune system, and have anti-ageing properties. Which are the best?

The Acai berry

New kid on the block, the Acai berry, has been consumed by Amazon Indians for centuries. Now recognised as one of the world’s most nutritious fruits, the Acai grows wild on Brazil’s palm trees. The fruit is believed to dramatically increase energy levels and alertness. Its protein, fat, guarana and antioxidants provide high-performance body fuel.

Following the Today Show feature in which it was described as the ‘Amazon Viagra’, and the appearance on the Oprah Winfrey show of Dr. Nicholas Perricone, who endorsed it as one of the most nutritious and powerful anti-ageing foods in the world, the Acai berry has become highly sought after. According to Greenpeace, the propagation of Acai palms could help save the rainforest.

Acai berries and antioxidants

The Acai berry has many potent nutritional constituents, and the amount of antioxidants in the berry is high. Although blueberries are known for being extremely high in antioxidants, Acai berries have twice the concentration of antioxidants. As the body ages, it suffers oxidative damage that can lead to conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. It is now recognized that the most effective way to combat oxidative damage is by consuming high levels of antioxidants in the diet.

Does the Acai berry have aphrodisiac properties?

Virility drugs are relatively expensive and come with side-effects. The combination of guarana and Acai is said to act as a powerful aphrodisiac.

Acai and weight loss

The Acai berry is also rich in vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, fiber and other plant compounds that can aid in weight loss, building muscle and increasing overall energy. Despite its chocolate-like flavor, a 50g serving has only 45 calories and 1g of fat.

Additional health benefits of the Acai berry

While the amount of antioxidants in Acai berries is important, these berries have a lot more to offer. Like olive oil, Acai berries contain heart-protecting essential fatty acids. The berries are a natural source of cholesterol-lowering phytosterols, super nutrients that are also found in margarine and yoghurt. Users of Acai berries have reported numerous positive benefits such as boosted energy levels, strengthened immune system, improved mental clarity and firmer looking and feeling skin. These benefits appear to be due to both the antioxidants and other nutrients that help circulation.

See also: The Amazing Acai Berry

The Goji berry

Goji berries, or wolfberries as they are commonly known, have been used in traditional Chinese medicine for well over 2000 years. Over the last decade in Western countries there has been growing recognition of the high nutritional value and antioxidant qualities of these berries.

Grown on vines in China, Tibet and Mongolia, Gogi berries can be eaten whole or drunk as juice. They have an intense, almost spicy taste. Goji berries are usually sold in dried form. The amount of desiccation varies: some are soft and moist like raisins, while others are hard and dry.

Medicinal applications of the Gogi berry

In the laboratory, Gogi berries have been shown to have antioxidant activity in petri dish cell culture studies. Gogi berries also contain zeaxanthin, an important dietary carotenoid selectively absorbed into the retinal macula lutea where it is thought to have antioxidant and protective light-filtering properties. A clinical trial showed that daily intake of the berries increased plasma levels of zeaxanthin.

Weight for weight, Gogi berris contain 500 times more vitamin C than oranges, and more betacarotene than carrots. Both of these nutrients are believed to fight heart disease, help defend the body against many cancers and protect the skin from sun damage. These energy-boosting berries are rich in iron, supplying 11mg per 100g of berry pulp, five times more than the same serving of steak. When dried, they are also an excellent source of B vitamins, which are essential for a healthy nervous system, and are rich in beta-sitosterol, a compound which lowers cholesterol.

Along with heart- and skin-protecting nutrients, Goji berries contain polysaccharides that are believed to fortify the immune system.

Gogi berry drug interaction

Two published case reports described elderly women who experienced increased bleeding after drinking Gogi berry tea. Further in vitro testing revealed that the tea inhibited warfarin metabolism, suggesting a possible interaction between warfarin and undefined Gogi berry phytochemicals.

The Maqui berry

The Maqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis) is very high in antioxidants with an ORAC value that exceeds those of the Acai and Goji berries. This berry like the Acai has been used for centuries by native Indians – in this case the Mapuche Indians of Patagonia in South America. The Maqui berry is used by the Indians to increase strength and stamina, and to treat a range of diseases. It can also promote weight loss.

Antioxident content of the Maqui berry

The Maqui berry is high in anthocyanin antioxidants. Maqui berries have a higher ORAC value (750-920 u mole TE/gram) than other berries or fruit. Its nearest competitor is the Acai berry.

Health benefits of the Maqui berry

Fresh Maqui berries and infusions of Maqui leaves have long been used by Mapuche Indians to treat different illnesses. The anthocyanins in Maqui berries are believed to reduce inflammation and help to protect cells from oxidative stress. Maqui berries are also used to boost strength and stamina and to treat ailments such as sore throat, diarrhea, ulcers and fever. The berries are also claimed to have anti-aging, anti-cancer, and natural COX-2 inhibiting activities.

Maqui berry and weight loss

A clinical study on the efficacy of the Maqui berry as a weight loss supplement was carried out with 500 subjects at the University of Texas in Austin. The study was concluded after a 6 month observation period. Subjects given either the Acai berry or the strict dieting/exercise regiment had lost weight. However, subjects who had taken the Maqui berry had lost almost 400% more weight that the other 2 groups, and almost all of this was fat.

Dosage of the Maqui berry

There are no official guidelines on the proper dosage of Maqui. The therapeutic daily dose of anthocyanins ranges from 200 to 1500mg. This dose may be extrapolated to Maqui berry powder. Producers of Maqui berry juice recommend one tablespoon a day. This should deliver 3000-4000 ORAC units in line with the daily recommended allowance of 3000 ORAC units.

Side effects of the Maqui berry

The Maqui berry has been consumed for centuries in South America without apparent side effects.

The Cranberry

Health benefits of cranberries

Cranberries have been recommended as an adjunctive treatment for Candida infections. Cranberry juice contains a chemical component, a high molecular weight non-dializable material (NDM) that can inhibit and even reverse the formation of plaque by Streptococcus mutans pathogens that cause tooth decay.

Cranberries in the treatment of bladder infections

For many decades cranberry juice has been believed to reduce bacterial infections of the bladder. Studies in recent years have shown that the juice can effectively treat bacterial infections in the urinary system. Research has demonstrated that an effect occurs from a component of the juice that inhibits bacterial attachment to the bladder and urethra.

Inhibiting bacteria with cranberry juice

Cranberry juice contains phytochemicals which inhibit the activity of Escherichia coli; the bacteria most often responsible for cystitis. The phytochemicals, condensed tannins or proanthocyanidins, stop the bacteria sticking to mucosal surfaces lining the bladder and gut. This process helps to clear bacteria from the urinary tract. The chemicals in cranberry juice may have this effect on other bacteria too. Drinking the juice is now being recommended as a way to reduce the risk of dental decay and stomach ulcers caused by Helicobacter pylori.

Cranberries and the treatment of peptic ulcers

Peptic ulcers are increasingly being linked to infection by Helicobacter pylori bacteria, rather than to stress and/or stomach acidity. A high-molecular-weight nondialysable constituent of cranberry juice has been demonstrated to inhibit the adhesion of H. pylori to human gastric mucus in-vitro, suggesting that this may be the mechanism whereby the berries may be beneficial in the prevention of peptic ulcers.

Cranberries and atherosclerosis

Flavonoids have been demonstrated to function as powerful antioxidants and may reduce the risk of atherosclerosis. Cranberries contain significant amounts of flavonoids and polyphenolic compounds that have been demonstrated to inhibit low density lipoprotein oxidation. Ongoing research suggests that cranberries may offer benefits in the prevention of atherosclerosis.

Side effects of cranberries

In 2004 the MHRA, the UK agency dealing with drug safety, advised patients taking warfarin not to drink cranberry juice after adverse effects (such as increased incidence of bruising) were reported. These effects were possibly due the presence of salicylic acid. This acid is native to polyphenol-rich plants such as the cranberry. However, in the period 2006-2008, several reviews of case reports and pilot studies did not detect this interaction in subjects taking warfarin and consuming 250 mL cranberry juice daily. Drinking cranberry juice in large amounts can cause diarrhea and stomach upset.

Cranberry dosages

Pure cranberry juice has a naturally sour taste. As a consequence, the juice is commonly marketed as a mixture of cranberry juice (at least 25% by volume), sweeteners, and vitamin C. The recommended dosing for urinary tract infection (UTI) prophylaxis is based on more recent positive clinical studies that used one tablet of concentrated cranberry extract (300 to 400 mg) twice daily, or 8 oz of pure unsweetened cranberry juice three times daily. The recommended dose of cranberry juice (not cocktail) as a preventative of UTI is 12 to 32 fluid ounces (360 to 960 ml). The optimal preparation and doses are unknown.

Nutrients and antioxidant content of cranberries

The principal active components of cranberries are phytochemicals , carbohydrates, organic acids, vitamin C, triterpenoids, catechins and lectins. The cranberry fruit is high in antioxidants. With an ORAC score of 1750 units per 100 g, the cranberry ranks near the top of 277 commonly consumed foods in the United States.

The Acerola berry

Another super food, the Acerola berry contains more than 150 nutrients and super nutrients. These berries are the fruit of the Acerola tree, which grows up to 10 feet in height.

Acerola Berries are a thin skinned, bright red in color, and cherry-like in appearance. They thrive in the tropical regions of the Americas. Many people in the Caribbean islands and Florida grow their own Acerola, which can be eaten like grapes.

Both the berries and powder are delicious and nutritious. The berries are very rich in vitamin C; one single berry contains 80 milligram of vitamin C -133% of the daily recommended dose. The berries are also rich in vitamin A, iron and calcium.

Health benefits of Acerola berries

Acerola berries are used in the Caribbean and in South American as an alternative medicine for strengthening the immune system, fighting infections, and helping heal open wounds.

Acerola berries have antioxidant and free radical scavenger properties. It has been suggested that they also act as an effective antiviral agent. The vitamin C in Acerola helps the body make collagen, a tough, fibrous protein that is key to the formation of connective tissue and skin, and that also plays a role in wound healing. Vitamin C also protects the body from free radicals.

Because the body does not manufacture or store vitamin C and bioflavonoids, they must be replenished on a regular basis. Since these two compounds work together to promote circulation, stimulate bile production and boost the immune system, they act as the body’s first line of defence against illness. They also help fight off colds and flu. The berry is also very useful in balancing the pH levels in gastrointestinal tract, which ultimately promotes improved digestion.

Acerola extracts are now appearing in skincare products. The vitamin C content is thought to fight cellular ageing and the mineral content helps revive tired, stressed skin.

See also: The Powerful Acerola Berry

The Blueberry

Researchers have discovered many health benefits from eating blueberries. They are one of the richest sources of antioxidants of the fruits and vegetables that have been studied. Probably the most nutrient-laden part of the blueberry is its skin. The dye released from the pigments in the skin of the blueberry, called anthocyanin, is the source of powerful antioxidants that can be used by the body to fight off everything from cancer to heart disease.

Health benefits of the Blueberry

Scientists have demonstrated that the antioxidants contained in Blueberries can help to slow the ageing process and reduce the risk of cancer. Blueberries also contain resveratrol, another potential anti-cancer agent.

The anthocyanins in the Blueberry appear to afford protection to neurons in the brain. The anthocyanins give Blueberries their color and are believed to be the key component of their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Blueberries, along with other colorful fruits and vegetables, test high in their ability to suppress free radicals. These free radicals, which can damage cell membranes and DNA through a process known as oxidative stress, are blamed for many of the dysfunctions and diseases associated with aging.

Blueberries have been shown to be beneficial in reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke by reducing the build up of so-called ‘bad’ cholesterol, helping to reverse short term memory loss, relieving arthritis inflammation, infection and strengthening the immune system and promoting urinary tract health.