London, UK Posted 3 years, 11 months ago
Acai Berry for Skin Care
Recently acai berries have been hailed as a super-food, high in antioxidants and fibre, receiving publicity from a number of celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey and Brad Pitt. Aside from assisting with weight loss, the berries are also believed to keep the skin looking young and fresh by fighting signs of aging with their potent antioxidant properties. The small and purplish-red berry originates in South and Central America and are a popular ingredient in many skin care products.
Antioxidant Properties
Acai berries are extremely high in vitamin c therefore have antioxidant properties, working to fight the cell-damaging free radicals which damage and age the skin. Therefore, acai berries may help to maintain young and radiant skin. A 2006 study conducted by the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that acai had by far the highest oxygen radical scavenging activity of any food measured to date, strongly supporting the acai's antioxidant properties.
Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Due to the acai's antioxidant content, the acai berry also has a natural anti-inflammatory effect, making it a useful ingredient for treating acne. It has also been suggested that acai berry can help ease pain caused by damaged nerve fibres.
Treatment for Hyperpigmentation
Hyper pigmentation is a common, usually harmless condition in which patches of skin become darker in colour than the normal surrounding skin. This darkening occurs when an excess of melanin, the brown pigment that produces normal skin colour, forms deposits in the skin. Research by Fowler et al (2010) found acai berry to be one of the most beneficial natural ingredients for the treatment of hyperpigmentation. However researchers also noted that research is needed to determine to confirm and elucidate the benefits of these ingredients in the prevention and management of skin disease.
Topical Application of Acai Berry
We often cover our face with creams made from multiple chemicals, not all of which are beneficial to the body. A number of beauty and skin care products available on the market at the moment contain acai to help your skin look and feel great.
You could also create your own acai skincare treatment. Just as you would create a strawberry or avocado facial indulgence mask, the acai berry canbe crushed and applied to the skin for ultimate oxidation. Since the acai berry has up to four times the amount of antioxidants than its rival fruits, you will be doing your skin a favour and pampering yourself with an exotic treat at the same time!
Acai berries have a number of health and beauty benefits. They can be eaten raw, or the juice can be made into smoothies/drinks, ice cream, or even jelly. However, as this berry only grows in a select geographical location (South America) and has a short shelf life, it is much more practical for those of us living within the UK to go for a supplement or freeze dried version.
Source: myvitamins
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