Acai oil (Euterpe oleracea) seed oil is full of high powered nutrients, anti-oxidants and other benefits which alerted us to its potential as an impressive ingredient for our anti-aging creams, soaps and serums. Studies indicate that the phenols in Acai oil act as antioxidants – and very powerful ones at that. We also use Acai extract in our formula’s – see the discussion below about the extract of Acai. Not only does Acai have a significant antioxidant profile, but it is also an excellent emollient and an effective moisturizer that will relieve dry skin and help reduce the appearance of aging skin. It is quickly absorbed leaving your skin soft and supple. We use a high percentage of both the Acai oil and Acai extract in our Skin Renewal Intensive Facial Complex – which is why it is tan in color, not white! We also use Certified Organic Acai pulp powder in our Pomegranate & Acai Organic Shea Butter Soap.
World’s #1 Super Food?": The Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) berry, a more recent discovery from the rain forest, was proclaimed the “World’s #1 Super Food” on the Oprah Winfrey Show. Enough said, right? Well, no, not in our book. Although like everyone else, we do love Oprah, we decided to research this a little further. According to NBC Today, the Yanomami Indians harvested and used this phenomenal powerhouse as a food that “holds unique power.” They believed there was energizing power in both the fruit and its oil.
Miracle Skincare ingredient? So – in our never-ending search for beneficial, natural ingredients, we decided to take a look at this miracle fruit as a possible skin-care ingredient. Guess we weren’t the only ones interested and you will now find it listed in some of the most expensive skin care products on the market.
What is Acai oil and where does it come from?: The Acai palm tree is native to Brazil and other parts of Central and South America. The small purple berries hang in clusters from the tall palm tree and each berry contains one large seed. As with any fruit, we’ve learned that the darker, the better as far as antioxidant and phytonutrient power. The oil from the Acai is cold-pressed from the seeds of the Acai berry. Cold-pressed is the best way to obtain oils as this process retains the highest content of beneficial properties otherwise lost during a heat or solvent extraction. The oil is naturally deep golden to light brown.
Why is Acai oil so beneficial?: The Acai fruit does, in fact, contain a truly amazing nutrient profile with a combination of omega-3, omega-6 and omega 9 essential fatty acids that support cellular structure, phytosterols, vitamins such as B1, B2, B3, E, and C, minerals such as phosphorus, calcium, and potassium, and essential amino acids. And as importantly, the Acai fruit is rich in anthocyanins and phenols, which are powerful antioxidants. It is no secret that Vitamin C is essential for helping to rejuvenate and revitalize your skin. Research shows that the content of anthocyanins is reported to be an astounding 10-30 times higher than the anthocyanin content of red wine grapes.
Antioxidant values are calculated according to an ORAC value and the Acai fruit is shown to have a value higher than pomegranates or cranberries. Studies have also shown that the phenols in Acai Berry Oil may help destroy and protect against cancer cell formation. Quite truthfully, all of our products are formulated with this element in mind – to help protect against cancer cell formation, which is why we use green tea and rooibos tea in all of our creams. Our research usually starts with this fact in mind even more than the anti-aging issue – luckily they usually go hand in hand due to free radical elimination.
Acai extract: The extract we use generously in our creams, especially the Skin Intensive Facial Renewal, is produced using a blend of dried Acai pulp, vegetable glycerin and water. It is alcohol free, GMO free, preservative free and biodegradable. The extract, of course, contains all of the beneficial properties mentioned above. These antioxidants help to reduce cell death which causes the aging process, thereby keeping your skin more firm and youthful. The full-bodied extract that we use is naturally dark brown in color and if you purchase a cream that has any beneficial amounts, the cream will NOT be white, it will be cream colored to tan – which ours is.
So – you decide. Is Acai “The World’s #1 Super Food?” Well…maybe not, as we can think of others that are probably more nutrient dense. We’ll publish a blog very soon about foods and what it truly means to be nutrient dense. In the meantime though, definitely Acai is a powerful skin care ingredient and one you should look for while reading labels. And – please DO read the ingredient labels before you buy anything.
You can also check out an article by WebMD on Best Ingredients for Skin Care Products – you’ll see that we use them all!
Hopefully, healthfully helpful!
Ann
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Concluding part? Do you mean the part about being nutrient dense? If so, there is an equation that takes into consideration all the nutrients in a given food, including sugar, phytonutrients, minerals, vitamins, fats, etc. I am working on a blog about that now. Acai is full of phytonutrients, but there are issues surrounding its use, not the least of which is that there is far more being sold than being produced (Consumer Lab), so you have to be very sure your sources are good. Nutrient dense, of course, pertains to far more than that and that blog will come out before the end of the month. If your question pertained to something else, please clarify and I will attempt to give you an answer. Thanks for commenting!
I didn’t understand the concluding part of your article, could you please explain it more?
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Thanks for writing this, Ann! I always knew there was something incredibly special about the acai berry. I love it so much that if I can’t find it in a beverage, I’ll find it in capsule form. And of course in skin care! Acai might even join sea buckthorn as my favorite superfruit! And I’ve been using sea buckthorn oil for years!