Acai Juice is an interesting product in more ways than one. It is derived from the berry of the Acaizeiro Tree which grows in the Amazonian rain forest, locals call it the "tree of life". Its fruit the size of a small cherry and similar in colour to a blackberry, has until recently, only been consumed in the Amazon because of the speed in which it degrades after harvest .

The Acai fruit is known to possess around 30 times more antioxidant than red wine. Furthermore, the up-and-coming super fruit contains the essential fatty acids Oleic acid (Omega 9) and Linoleic acid (Omega 6), in proportions similar to those found in olive oil. Naturally rich in dietary fibre, a 100g serving of Acai provides as much dietary fibre as three slices of wholegrain bread - it is no surprise that new mothers in the Amazon are prescribed the fruit to aid recovery after childbirth.

Firstly a lot of confusion has arisen over the products purpose and abilities thanks to some unscrupulous marketing on the behalf of numerous smaller less reputable companies selling the product.

So what is Acai Juice and what isn't it. Acai Juice is exactly that, it's a juice; a fruit juice. It is not a medicine most importantly its not a drug. It is a juice derived from the washed, pulped fruit of the berry of the Acaizeiro Tree. It's ingredients have been thought for centuries to have regenerative effects on the human body and only more recently has modern science caught on to this.

New Zealand Crown Research Institute, Hort Research, has tested Acai for its Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) - the index used to measure the antioxidant capacity of food. They found that Acai's antioxidant content is exceptionally high - 300% higher than that of blueberries.

Why are antioxidants important ?

Well the very thing we breathe, oxygen, not only rusts cars but it actually "rusts" you too. See, your blood is full of iron. And guess what? The Iron in your blood - just like the iron in your car - is broken down by oxygen. It shows up as rust on your car. This deterioration shows up in your blood as "free radicals".

No, free radicals aren't those aging 60s rock bands that are still touring. The pesky little devils roam around your blood stream, getting into your tissues, causing damage to cell walls, certain cell structures, and genetic material within the cells. Free Radicals seem to accelerate the aging process. In the worst case scenario and over a long time period, such damage can become irreversible and lead to disease (like cancer).

Good thing there is something out there that can help remove free radicals from your body. These free radical-fighting compounds are called Antioxidants play the housekeeper's role, "mopping up" free radicals before they get a chance to do harm in your body. Antioxidants protect key cell components from damage by neutralizing the free radicals. Antioxidants that occur naturally in the body or are consumed through the diet may block most of the damage.

Why is Omega 6 and Omega 9 important ?

Well these are essential nutrients which cannot be produced by your body and so have to be taken in through your diet.

Omega 6 Essential Fatty Acids are generally necessary for skin and hair growth, regulating metabolism, promoting transport of fatty acids from the liver to the tissues and maintaining reproductive performance. Researchers believe that they have an important role in reducing the risk of heart disease, cancer and stroke.

Omega 9 is a monounsaturated fatty acid thought to be essential for normal metabolism and found in large quantities in the healthy Mediterranean diet