Digestion and Stomach Conditions

Acai is best for this type of condition. It’s high source of fibre contributes to digestive tract and colon health. In addition to that, acai contains many phytosterols, compounds that come from the cell membranes of plants and provide such benefits as the reduction of blood plasma, lowering the ‘bad’ cholesterol (aka LDL), and helping in the treatment of benign prostate hypertrophy as well as other problems associated with the condition of an enlarged prostate.

Mangosteen is a high source of fibre and the xanthones will help reduce inflammation in the stomach and digestive tract but overall acai has more to offer for this condition.

Eye Disorders

Acai wins out for disorders of the eye. Acai helps with vision by providing a significant source of beta-catrotine and vitamin C. Anthocyanins may also help improve eye-sight via other mechanisms not currently understood (the positive effects, however, have been documented)

Mental Acuity

Acai comes out on top for mental acuity: a source of omega 3, 6, and 9 as well as vitamin B, acai has been proven to improve mental clarity while also capable of inducing a sound nights sleep.

Mangosteen has been shown effective in diminishing mental degradation as well as improving mental acuity.

Energy boosting and de-stressing

Acai comes out on top again in this category: it’s high content of vitamins and minerals including B-vitamins, beta-carotene, boron, calcium, chromium, copper, folate, iodine, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, potassium, selenium, vitamins C, D, E, and zinc make acai better suited for these ailments than mangosteen.

That isn’t to say mangosteen is without its merits, it contains high concentrations of xanthones, a proven energy booster.

Osteoporosis

Acai wins in this category: with a significant amount of calcium, acai is far better suited than mangosteen to address this illness. Mangosteen has no beneficial properties to address osteoporosis

asthma

A disease of the respiratory system, mangosteen’s powerful xanthones make it the supplement of choice to combat asthma. Acai will have effects similar to mangosteen but they will not be as strong.

Depression

Mangosteen wins out here. Tryptophan, an amino acid found in mangosteen, helps to directly combat depression. Acai has no known properties to address depression at this time.

Heat disease

Both mangosteen and acai work well for this ailment. Acai because it has two essential fatty acids—omega 6 and 9—that help maintain normal cholesterol levels as well as also possessing powerful antioxidants. Mangosteen helps by fortifying blood vessels via its antimicrobial properties thus decreasing the risk of heart disease.

Viral infections

Again, both mangosteen and acai work great here. Acai works to help build the immune system up so that you don’t catch a cold or flu at all while mangosteen works to speed up the healing processes in the body so that if you do catch something, it doesn’t stick around for long.

Weight loss

Again, both acai and mangosteen work well here. Acai helps by curbing appetites as it’s a low GI food while Mangosteen helps to make the foods we do eat more available to our body, which helps the body stay nourished.

This list is by no means complete, above are just a few of the ailments and issues that can be addressed with mangosteen, acai or better yet, both!

Remember, when you choose mangosteen or acai supplements you want to go with a solid form product like the kind made by Natural Home Cures. With solid form products you avoid paying for ‘filler’ juices and because pills are readily portable, you never have to worry about missing your supplements.

Acai Berry is being hailed as the latest super-food to hit the natural health market. It is a natural, organic berry that is found deep in the heart of the rainforests of Brazil where it grows on the top of Amazon Palm trees.

However, beware of the scammers. As with any new product that hits the market and creates a huge demand, it’s not long before the scammers are sharpening up their knives. There are already many complaints hitting the market about sites selling product that has little or no Acai content, rendering it useless. Of course these crooks are selling it for top dollar and are making a fortune in the process whilst the demand is till there.

The increasing interest in this amazing berry is partly due to it’s exceptionally high concentration of antioxidants. Found in the lush rainforests of Brazil, Acai berries grow on the tops of the Amazon palm tree. Acai berries are small spherical shaped berries and rich dark purple in color. They have been used by the indigenous population for centuries, but now the secret of the amazingly high concentration of antioxidants that each berry contains has hit the headlines.

Why antioxidants are so highly thought of?

Most super-foods come from fruits or vegetables and until recently the number one super-food has been the Blueberry which owes its upper-food status to the high levels of antioxidants that it contains. This has led to a spate of Blueberry based products hitting the health food market. Other so called super-foods contain Flavanoids which promote production of antioxidants in the liver.

Antioxidants are credited with aiding the prevention of such chronic diseases as; cancer, heart disease and strokes, rheumatoid arthritis, and Alzheimer’s. It is not difficult to understand then why antioxidants are so highly desired.

There’s a new kid in town

The more recent arrival of Acai on the health food scene has caused an enormous buzz of excitement. It has now taken over as the No 1 super-food crown, not only because it contains higher levels of antioxidants pound for pound than any other super-food, but it’s also rich in many other vitamins and minerals.

Aside from the rich content of antioxidants, the Acai berry also contains high levels of Anthocyanins, and these are known to protect foods from free radicals that are responsible for turning foods brown, aging and rotting. Anthocyanins actually continue to preserve the antioxidant content of food after it is eaten. Whilst red wine contains anthocyanins and is now recommended as a health supplement in small quantities, Acai contains up to 30% to 40% more.

Acai is also rich in Omega oils (Omega 3, 6, and 9), and it is fiber rich, containing 45 grams of fiber per 100 grams of berries. It also contains 19 different amino acids and proteins that promote the growth and health of body tissues. It contains three various plant sterols that promote heart health and aids digestion, and it has amounts of vitamins B1, B2, B3, C and E.

If that’s not enough, Acai also contains the essential minerals potassium, calcium, copper, magnesium and zinc.

No wonder it is considered the new No 1 super-food.

Pure Acai is best

The best Acai products on the market contain 100% Acai, nothing more, nothing less. In order to get it to the processing plants in the freshest condition possible it is now freeze dried on the spot almost as soon as it is harvested. This enables the Acai capsules to contain Acai that it very nearly as fresh as the moment it was picked.

The convenience of and purity Acai capsules

The Acai capsules as processed in the paragraph above, are the best form of Acai available on the market today. They are organic, with no additives, nor do they have any preservatives. They are 100% natural.

Acai juice, whilst still beneficial, does contain additives and preservative so it cannot be labeled “organic”. Another concern with any type of fruit being imported across the border for the purpose of manufacturing it into a juice is the process of irradiation. This process is used for killing micro-organisms that may exist on the fruit. This process has been known to reduce the potent levels of certain vitamins such as thiamine which may result in a deficiency of the vitamin. Irradiating can also bring about chemical transformations in food and food components resulting in the formation of potential mutagens, particularly hydrogen peroxide and various organic peroxides.

Finally, the capsules are much more convenient for travelling. I’m sure you’d love to experience the full benefits of this wonder fruit. You can start right now by clicking here.

Free Radicals are produced by the body due to exposure to harmful elements in the environment like:

· Smoking ( second-hand smoke included )

· Eating salt-cured, pickled and smoked foods

· Daily eating of different kinds of food with preservatives like tocino

· Artificial colorings

· Engine exhaust

· Exposure to UV radiation of sunlight

· Exposure to heavy metal products of fossil fuel combustion such as nickel, arsenic and lead

· Exposure to pesticides

Why is it harmful to the body?

Free radicals are harmful to the body because they reduce oxygen delivery which leads to rapid depletion of energy stores. Increased production of these free radicals results in more cell death.

Their chief danger comes from the damage they can do when they react with important cellular components such as DNA, or the cell membrane. Cells may function poorly and eventually die if this occurs. Cumulative damage which would eventually lead to the body`s loss of functionality, and ultimately death.

Free radical damage within cells has been linked to a range of disorders including: cancer, arthritis, heart disease and stroke, Alzheimer’s disease , diabetes, premature aging, hypertension, and sepsis.

To prevent free radical damage, the body has a defense system in the form of antioxidants.

What are antioxidants?

Antioxidants are molecules which can safely interact with free radicals and thus prevent body cell damage. They slow down the process of aging by preventing free radicals from oxidizing sensitive biological molecules or reducing the formation of free radicals.

Antioxidants are also known to help maintain the immune system which makes our body fight diseases like common colds caused by viruses. It also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent which helps alleviate symptoms of arthritis.

The body has several enzyme systems that counteract the effects of free radicals. However, the principle micronutrient (vitamin) antioxidants are vitamin E, beta-carotene, and vitamin C is not synthesized by the body so they must be supplied in the diet.

What are the sources of antioxidants?

The antioxidant chemicals found in many food-stuffs are frequently cited as the basis of claims for the benefits of a high intake of vegetables and fruits in the diet. One example of this is the acai.

About the fruit

The açai palm are native to tropical Central and South America, growing mainly in floodplains and swamps.

Acai palms are fast growing, and are cultivated for both their fruits and for their superior hearts of palm. The fruit is described as a small, round, black-purple drupe similar in appearance and size of grape but with less pulp. Two crops of fruit are produced each year. The fruit has a single large seed.

Global demand for the fruit has expanded rapidly in recent years due to its active components known to have antioxidant properties which protect the body from free radicals.

Properties

The acai berry contains the following flavonoids which have potent antioxidant properties:

Anthocyanins

These are mostly contained in the freeze dried pulp and skin of the fruit. It belongs to a group of phytochemicals which are known to reduce incidences of heart disease

The primary anthocyanin contained in the acai berry has been found out to be 3.5 times stronger than that found in red wine thus giving the acai berry more than 30 times the antioxidant component of red wine. Anti-inflammatory properties were also found in anthocyanins.

Proanthocyanidins

These are known to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and stabilize collagen and elastin, which are proteins in the connective tissue that support organs, joints, blood vessels, muscles.

Other Flavonoids

Twelve other flavonoids such as homoorientin, orientin, taxifolin, deoxyhexose, isovitexin, scoparin, proanthocyanidins , and resveratrol gives the fruit over 80% of its antioxidant effect. This explains the highly antioxidant properties of the fruit.

What are the other good things about acai berry?

Acai berry also contains the following which are essential for maintaining proper health and nutrition:

· Oleic acid or Omega 9, a monounsaturated essential fatty acid, which helps in lowering the level of bad cholesterol (LDL) without lowering the level of good cholesterol (HDL).

· Linoleic acid or Omega 6, a polyunsaturated essential fatty acid considerably healthy, also found to lower the level of bad cholesterol (LDL) in the body.

· Oleic, Linoleic and Palmitic acid are fatty acids which help in the transportation and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins (vitamin A, D, E, and K).

· The powdered form contains vitamin C, calcium, iron, and vitamin A, as well as aspartic acid and glutamic acid.

· Beta-sitosterol, a phytosterol, which helps in the reduction in the amount of blood plasma cholesterol in the body.

· The amino acids in the fruit are important in the synthesis of proteins.

To fully benefit from acai, you need to choose the best preparation in the market. There is the juice form and the capsule from. The trouble with acai juice is that it has to be mixed with other fruit juices to improve its taste. It leaves only a few percentage of the acai you are buying. In addition, preservatives have to be put into it to prolong its shelf life. If you want maximum benefits from acai, it is wiser to opt for the capsule form which contains 100% acai. It requires no preservatives and other stabilizers.

Digestion and Stomach Conditions

Acai is best for this type of condition. It’s high source of fibre contributes to digestive tract and colon health. In addition to that, acai contains many phytosterols, compounds that come from the cell membranes of plants and provide such benefits as the reduction of blood plasma, lowering the ‘bad’ cholesterol (aka LDL), and helping in the treatment of benign prostate hypertrophy as well as other problems associated with the condition of an enlarged prostate.

Mangosteen is a high source of fibre and the xanthones will help reduce inflammation in the stomach and digestive tract but overall acai has more to offer for this condition.

Eye Disorders

Acai wins out for disorders of the eye. Acai helps with vision by providing a significant source of beta-catrotine and vitamin C. Anthocyanins may also help improve eye-sight via other mechanisms not currently understood (the positive effects, however, have been documented)

Mental Acuity

Acai comes out on top for mental acuity: a source of omega 3, 6, and 9 as well as vitamin B, acai has been proven to improve mental clarity while also capable of inducing a sound nights sleep.

Mangosteen has been shown effective in diminishing mental degradation as well as improving mental acuity.

Energy boosting and de-stressing

Acai comes out on top again in this category: it’s high content of vitamins and minerals including B-vitamins, beta-carotene, boron, calcium, chromium, copper, folate, iodine, manganese, magnesium, molybdenum, potassium, selenium, vitamins C, D, E, and zinc make acai better suited for these ailments than mangosteen.

That isn’t to say mangosteen is without its merits, it contains high concentrations of xanthones, a proven energy booster.

Osteoporosis

Acai wins in this category: with a significant amount of calcium, acai is far better suited than mangosteen to address this illness. Mangosteen has no beneficial properties to address osteoporosis

asthma

A disease of the respiratory system, mangosteen’s powerful xanthones make it the supplement of choice to combat asthma. Acai will have effects similar to mangosteen but they will not be as strong.

Depression

Mangosteen wins out here. Tryptophan, an amino acid found in mangosteen, helps to directly combat depression. Acai has no known properties to address depression at this time.

Heat disease

Both mangosteen and acai work well for this ailment. Acai because it has two essential fatty acids—omega 6 and 9—that help maintain normal cholesterol levels as well as also possessing powerful antioxidants. Mangosteen helps by fortifying blood vessels via its antimicrobial properties thus decreasing the risk of heart disease.

Viral infections

Again, both mangosteen and acai work great here. Acai works to help build the immune system up so that you don’t catch a cold or flu at all while mangosteen works to speed up the healing processes in the body so that if you do catch something, it doesn’t stick around for long.

Weight loss

Again, both acai and mangosteen work well here. Acai helps by curbing appetites as it’s a low GI food while Mangosteen helps to make the foods we do eat more available to our body, which helps the body stay nourished.

This list is by no means complete, above are just a few of the ailments and issues that can be addressed with mangosteen, acai or better yet, both!

Remember, when you choose mangosteen or acai supplements you want to go with a solid form product like the kind made by Natural Home Cures. With solid form products you avoid paying for ‘filler’ juices and because pills are readily portable, you never have to worry about missing your supplements.

The two popular health products work hand in hand and can be taken together. However, they have unique characteristics that work differently when used in treating various diseases.

Where is the most suitable place for cultivation?

The açai palm is native to and is only grown in tropical Central and South America, growing mainly in floodplains and swamps.

Mangosteen thrived for quite a long time in countries in Southeast Asia like Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Philippines. Today, due to technological advances in agriculture, it is also grown in countries like Australia, Brazil, and the Caribbean islands. The fruit is abundant during the months of July to September.

What do they look like?

The acai fruit is described as a small, round, black-purple drupe similar in appearance and size of grape but with less pulp. The fruit has a single large seed.

The mangosteen fruit is purple-colored, with a soft and easy to open shell when ripened, containing an edible, white, soft like a marshmallow, flesh known as an aril. The circle of wedge-shaped arils contains 4–8 segments, the larger ones containing seeds.

Both fruits are known to have high nutrient content with high antioxidant properties.

What are antioxidants?

Antioxidants are substances that interact with free radicals and thus prevent body cell damage. They slow down the process of aging by preventing free radicals from oxidizing sensitive biological molecules or reducing the formation of free radicals.

Antioxidants are also known to help maintain the immune system which makes our body fight diseases like common colds caused by viruses; it also acts as an anti-inflammatory agent that helps alleviate symptoms of arthritis; and many other age related disorders including opthalmopathy.

In food and other chemical substances, antioxidants are measured by the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC). The higher the ORAC score, the higher the level of antioxidant contained in the foodstuffs, therefore beneficial for the body in eliminating free radicals.

What are the antioxidants present in acai and mangosteen?

Antioxidants in acai

1. Anthocyanins: belong to a group of phytochemicals which are known to reduce incidence of heart diseases

· Majority is contained in the freeze dried pulp and skin

· Helps in improving mental clarity and prevention of heart diseases

· Acai contains more than 30 times the amount of antioxidant contained in red wine

2. Proanthocyanadins: reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases

· stabilizes collagen and elastin, proteins in the connective tissue that support organs, joints, blood vessels, muscles

3. Twelve other flavonoids including homoorientin, orientin, taxifolin, deoxyhexose, isovitexin, scoparin, proanthocyanidins , and resveratrol gives 80% of the fruit`s antioxidant property.

Other nutrient content of acai

· Omega 9 or oleic acid, a monounsaturated fatty acid which helps in lowering level of bad cholesterol (LDL) without affecting the level of good cholesterol (HDL)

· Omega 6 or linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid, which also helps lower the level of bad cholesterol in the body

· Beta-sitosterol, helps loer the level of blood plasma cholesterol

· Amino acids like aspartic and glutamic acid, helps in protein and DNA synthesis

Antioxidants in mangosteen

· Xanthones: more than 40 kinds are identified contained in the mangosteen

· Known to boost the immune system, an anti-inflammatory agent, antibacterial effect, prevents cell aging

· Sterols: helps reduce the amount of blood plasma cholesterol, thereby protecting the cardiovascular system

· Polyphenols: combat oxidative stress that causes both mental aging and cardiovascular diseases.

· Catechins: an anti-oxidant 9 times more than that contained in green tea

· Pycnogenol: an antioxidant 20 times greater than Vitamin C and 50 times greater than Vitamin E.

The Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) Content

In as much as the ORAC as the one of the basis for comparison between the two fruits, there has been a wide range of scores making it unreliable to determine the overall anti-oxidative property of either of the two fruits.

Diseases That Acai and Mangosteen are Beneficial To:

I. Diseases More Responsive to Acai:

1. Stomach conditions

· Acai is a rich source of fiber good for the digestive system.

2. Eye Disorders

· Acai aids vision through the high amounts of beta-carotene and vitamin C in it.

3. Lack of Mental alertness

· The protein, omega 3, 6, 9 and vitamin B in acai improve mental clarity and induces better sleep

4. Stress

· Acai has a higher content than mangosteen in terms of  vitamins and minerals including B-vitamins, Beta-carotene, Boron, Calcium, Chromium, Copper, Folate, Iodine, Manganese, Magnesium, Molybdenum, Potassium, Selenium, Vitamins C, D, E, and Zinc which all help in replenishing energy in the body.

5. Osteoporosis and Calcium Deficiency

· The significant amount of calcium in acai addresses this concern

6. Prostate Enlargement

· The phytosterols in acai are currently being used in the treatment of prostate enlargement

II. Diseases More Responsive to Mangosteen:

1. Asthma

· The anti-inflammatory and anti-allergic properties of mangosteen make it a potent treatment for asthma

2. Depression

· The amino acid trypthophan in mangosteen, is related to serotonin, which is responsible for our sleeping patterns, moods, and appetite

3. Pain and Inflammation

· Mangosteen fights inflammation thorugh the inhibition of COX-2 enzymes

III. Diseases Equally Responsive to Acai and Mangosteen:

· Heart Diseases

· Skin Disorders

· Viral Infection

· Obesity

Juice or Pill Form?

For both acai and mangosteen, you have the option of choosing between the juice form and the pill form. If you are after the fine tasting blend of fruits, you can always opt for the juice form. However, if it is the medicinal properties that matter to you, the pill form is your better option.

The juice form uses other fruits to improve its taste. Its shorter shelf life needs the addition of preservatives to prevent it from going rancid.

The pill form doesn’t need preservatives and other ingredients. It contains 100% acai.

The juice form uses the whole fruit, which needs to be irradiated if it has to come from another country. It rids off the fruit from pests and microorganisms. The capsule form only uses the husk of the fruit, where the beneficial properties are highly concentrated. It is freeze-dried and doesn’t have to undergo irradiation for transport.

The processes involved in the manufacturing of the juice form, including pasteurization and reconstitution, destroy the inherent health benefits present in the fruits. It defeats your purpose of taking the supplement to help you with your medical problems. In fact, the added preservatives and irradiation process only puts your health at risk.

Special precautions

The acai berry and mangosteen are found to contain high amounts of potassium so people with chronic renal disease have to be careful when eating these.

People taking warfarin and other “blood thinners” should also seek professional medical advice before taking any supplements of acai berry and mangosteen. Acai berry contains vitamin K which is essential in the coagulation process. It may make the blood thinners ineffective in its function. Mangosteen on the other hand, has shown blood thinning effects in laboratory tests, which may potentially double the anticoagulant affects of blood thinners.

If you choose to take any of these supplemental medications and food, it is always best to consult a medical professional, especially if you are on maintenance medications.