Acai is common to many health related fruit juices
Acai has been included in many health beverage fruit juices lately due to its numerous vitamins and phytonutrients. The benefits of Acai as a superfruit/superfood, as well as some of the research behind it, is discussed below.
Euterpe oleracea is a species of palm tree Found in South America. The polyphenols in acai slow the proliferation of human leukemia cells. Read more
Acerola as a vitamin & antioxidant superstar
- Common names: acerola, Barbados cherry, west Indian cherry, wild crepemyrtle
- Where found: ranges from southern Texas south through Mexico and the Caribbean to Peru and Bahia in Brazil. It is also cultivated in India
- Uses: Treat or prevent scurvy. Acerola is also used for Read more
Caja is a carotenoid powerhouse
Caja is one of the 5 fruits in Eiro 5 which is the first product to bring caja to market in the United States
Caja is a small elliptical Brazilian fruit about 2 inches in length and resembles a very small mango. The pulp is juicy and sweetly acidic with a very pleasant aroma and flavor. The orange colored pulp tastes a bit like citrus with hints of mango, passion fruit, peach, and sometimes a touch of strawberry.
It contains high levels of calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron and is rich in vitamins B and C, but what is most impressive is the carotenoid content. Caja fruit may be used to produce juice, smoothies, jams, ice cream and yogurt.
Eiro Research is the first company to utilize this fruit as a nutritional supplement in the US.
100 grams of caja puree contains:
- Calories (Kcal) – 36
- Carbohydrates (g) – 6.67
- Protein (g) – 0.58
- Total Fats (g) – 0.60
- Saturated Fats (g) – 0
- Cholesterol (mg) – 0
- Fiber (g) – 1.64
- Calcium – 8.6mg
- Iron – 1.1mg
- Sodium – 1.85mg
- Magnesium – 9.59mg
- Potassium – 54.6mg
- Vitamin C – 13.94mg
- Cinzas – 0.48g
To learn more about the Eiro antioxidant nutriceutical, click here. To order, click here.
The health benefits of pomegranates are huge!
The fruit in cross section revealing the septae, rhind, and fruit.
Punica granatum (Pomegranate) is world renowned for its antioxidant, health, and nutritional benefits. It comes from a shrub or small tree that can grow to 15-25 ft tall. It is native to Southwest Asia (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey, Afghanistan) and also cultivated in Southeaset Asia, Malaysia, the East Indies, and Tropical Africa. It was introduced to Latin American & California by Spanish Explorers in the 1700’s. The name “Pomegranate” is from the Latin meaning “seeded apple.”
Nutrition: Vitamin C, B5 (pantothenic acid), Potassium, & Antioxidant polyphenols. Punicalagins comprise the largest portion of the polyphenols. Their antioxidant properties have been demonstrated in lab experiments but there is no conclusive proof of their antioxidant properties in humans. Other polyphenols in pomegranate include catechins, gallocatechins, & anthyocyanins (prodelphinidins, delphinidin, cyanidin, and pelargonidin). The ORAC score of pomegranate juice was measured to be 2860 per 100g of juice by one study.
An example of whole foods being more important for nutrition is evident by the fact that ellagic acid (an extract often taken from pomegranates) may only have bioavailability after punicalagins (their parent compound) are metabolized.
There is some evidence that pomegranate juice is effective in reducing cardiovascular disease risk factors such as decreasing LDL oxidation & Foam cell formation. These are two important steps towards atherogenesis (formation of plaques). Systolic blood pressure has been reduced by ACE inhibition after pomegranate juice ingestion as well. There may also be antiviral & antibacterial activities. Pomegranate extracts inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation in the lab but there is no evidence of effectiveness in humans.