Beta-Sitosterol and Acai

Beta-Sitosterol is a plant sterol (also known as a phytosterol) that is found in many vegetables, fruits, nuts, and plants.  It is credited for many health benefits, including reducing stress, reducing cholesterol, boosting the immune system, reducing cardiovascular disease, and even reducing symptoms related to prostrate cancer.  It is also currently being studied as a role in cancer treatment and prevention.

However, we as a society don’t consume nearly enough of it, and it’s quite difficult to try to do so.

Acai berry research has shown that this berry contains a high concentration of phytosterols, most of which (up to 70-90%) are beta-sitosterol.

Beta-sitosterol has been proven to react with cholesterol already existing in the blood and attacking its potency or density; basically getting rid of it and keeping cholesterol from accumulating. Cholesterol is the main villain behind most heart diseases, high cholesterol, and other related cardiac issues.

Therefore, it’s natural to assume that daily consumption of acai berry products might be beneficial to your overall health, especially your cardiac health. While the berry research is still trying to determine the proven affects of this berry, it’s hard to ignore the potential health benefits. 

But before you go running out to your grocery store to stock up on these berries, you need to know this; you won’t find any. This berry is extremely perishable, and only lasts for about 24 hours from the time it is picked. Therefore, unless you live in or are visiting the Amazon rainforest, you’ll likely never see this berry.

The rest of the world has to settle for getting their berry benefits in other ways. The three most popular types of acai berry products are:

• Juice,
• Berry supplements, and
• Powder (which you can mix to create your own juice or healthy fruit smoothies). 

However, you must be careful when choosing which products to buy. Since this industry is still relatively new, it is not yet regulated. Therefore, just about anyone can slap together a product, and even if it only contains 1% acai, call it an “acai product”. Of course, in order to reap the full health benefits of acai, you need a product that contains as much of the fruit benefits as possible.

That’s not to say that only 100% juice will work. Monavie acai berry juices, for example, also contain the juice of 18 other healthy fruit juices to create a balanced, healthy juice.Many people claim to have experienced great benefits from Monavie products.

However, if you prefer to go with pure acai juice, then it’s a good idea to make sure you buy only organic acai. Since this berry is supposed to be high in antioxidants, it only makes sense to buy a product that you know has no known additives or preservatives. Sambazon acai products are all certified organic, and offer a variety of products including smoothies, juices, supplements, and even a berry sorbet.

Whichever products you choose, make sure they are true acai products. Only then can you benefit from the beta-sitosterol and other healthful benefits found in this potent little wonder berry.

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More Reading:
Smoothies
Berry Facts
MonaVie Berry Juice
Side Effects