Another Benefit of the Acai Berry – Protect Your Bones!
Published:July 18th, 2010
A study has been conducted and published in the Arthritis Research and Therapy in Australia that has generated a significant development in the long list of health benefits derived from the acai berry – protecting the bone structure from changes related to knee osteoarthritis. Acai berry, being high in antioxidants and Vitamin C, may indeed lower the risks of developing osteoarthritis.
The results generated from this study conducted by
Australian researchers were as follows:
• higher dietary consumption of fruit means lower risk of bone changes and malfunction 10 years later.
• higher dietary levels of vitamin C translated lower risk of bone changes 10 years later.
• higher consumption of carotenoids such as zeaxanthin and lutein in green vegetables means lower exposure to cartilage defects.
About 239 middle aged men and women were sampled for this purpose as all of them started as healthy individuals experiencing no pain or any bone complaint. Some were noted to take Vitamin C supplements while others indulge on fruits. Ten years later, the same participants were contacted to undergo MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans to take a sample of their bone tissues for further analysis.
What the Researchers Conclude
Antioxidants play an important role in protecting the body cells from all the damage and inflammation done by oxidative damage. Though there are other explanations from the findings of this study, a conclusive evidence was therefore generated where in people who have healthy diets rich in antioxidants (such as that of the acai berry) were protected from cellular damage, including a protective effect in osteoarthritis ten years later.
