The acai berry has been all over television and the news and has people asking, "What is acai good for?" Sometimes it gets headlines because people are touting its remarkable value as a health supplement. Other times because it has become the undeserving product of many scam artists. So why all the fuss about the little berry? What is it that has people so crazy about this new health supplement?

Antioxidants vs Free Radicals

The first thing you are likely to hear about when discussing the acai berry is antioxidants. But why all the fuss? Well, it starts with something called free radicals. Essentially, these are atoms which are missing an electron from their standard pair. Because of this, they seek out other atoms and steal their electron. This is a normal process and occurs in everyone. In fact, free radicals are essential in fighting off harmful bacteria. But they have a mean streak as well. Especially when you get too many of them. An overabundance of free radicals can lead to mutations at the cellular level. They can damage DNA itself and cause any number of health problems. Antioxidants slow down free radicals and balance out the good with the bad.

Anthocyanins and The French Paradox

How can you eat a diet of heavy in saturated fats, the worst kind, and still live in a culture with the fewest incidents of coronary heart disease? That is what scientists studying The French Paradox would like to know. They discovered that even though the average French diet is loaded with fats from cheese and pork, the French are remarkably healthier than Americans. Among the reasons was a compound called anthocyanins, a pigment found in the skin of berries such as red grapes and acai berries. The French mostly got their anthocyanins from red wine, but thanks to the acai berry, you can get your dosage without the damaging effects of alcohol.

Must You Avoid All Fats?

Not at all. In fact, fat often gets a bum rap. While the term 'good fat' may sound like an oxymoron, acai berries actually contain unsaturated fats, which can lower bad cholesterol and improve good cholesterol. Unsaturated fats contain omega fatty acids, some of which the body cannot produce by itself, which have many healthful properties.

Acai berry is believed to be so beneficial because it contains many compounds which have been known for years to be good for you. As research continues into the acai berry, the facts will tell us exactly how healthy the acai berry really is. So if you are still wondering what is acai good for, stay tuned and this amazing little fruit may surprise you.