Consumers are now in a quandary when researching the best choice in an antioxidant.

The confusion now arising is coming from the newly discovered maqui berry. Until recently, the acai berry, from the amazon rainforest was considered one of the best. Now the tables are turned, and the maqui berry takes its place as the world’s most powerful antioxidant according to studies. Here is some comparative data to help with your choice between the two berries

Both berries are phytochemicals. Pytochemicals are non-nutritive plant chemicals that have disease preventive and protective properties. Plants produce these chemicals to protect themselves, but some of these also help defend us against illness. The major property of these two berries is the antioxidant activity which comes from the class of pytochemical anthocyanin.

Why are antioxidants so important to our body? Years of research has shown they can reduce the risk of cancer and improve cardiovascular health. Antioxidants protect your body against free radicals which are unstable molecules that are created during cell function. Free radicals can then trigger cells to grow out of control; hence cancer has started in your body.

The acai berry is an excellent source of anthocyanin, just not the highest concentrated anymore. No one can argue against the value this berry provides to the human body. But as consumers, we are always looking for the best. The one which will hopefully make us live longer and be disease free throughout our lives.

The maqui berry has an ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) 4-10 times higher than that of the acai berry. This little deep purple berry from Chile has set the wellness industry on fire. The information is spreading rapidly and health conscious consumers are readily buying this "Wonder Berry". Years of ongoing testing will be required by analysts before actual medical claims can be made. But in the meantime, don’t we owe it to ourselves to take care of our bodies since this is the only one we have? And what of our children? The planet’s pollution is worsening daily so they are in definite need of protection from causes of free radical multiplication.

Last but not least, whatever berry you should choose, check out how the product is manufactured. Manufacturers are not the same and if the distraction process is not done properly, the benefits are drastically reduced. Remember the cliché, "you get what you pay for" and in this case, it’s usually true.