Fruit Drinks: The Fast and Delicious Road to Better Health

If you are a typical, health-conscious individual, you probably already know that the food that you eat is one of the biggest factors that has an impact your personal health. For example, even though you do need protein to build muscles and generate enzymes, too much meat will probably make your cholesterol and fat levels too high. And, of course, too much fat or sugar in your diet will not only increase your waistline, but raise your risk for things like diabetes, obesity and coronary heart disease as well. On the other hand, eating things like fruits, vegetables, and grains will give you fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that will not only help you look better, but feel better as well.

Even if you do eat healthy food though, it can still be hard to get all the nutrients that you need out of your daily meals. As a result, the health industry has produced a wide array of dietary supplements that are supposed to make up for nutrient deficiencies and promote better health. Unfortunately, many of these dietary supplements are as unappetizing as cough syrup or processed cardboard though. That's why antioxidant-rich fruit drinks have become such a popular way for consumers to get the nutrients and accompanying health benefits that they are looking for. After all, in addition to being naturally sweet, fruit drinks are packed full of all the vitamins, minerals, and fiber that consumers need for better health. And, depending on which kinds of drinks you buy, a little bit of product goes a long way in meeting your nutritional needs.

Aside from the flavor and their nutrients, fruit drinks are often touted for their rich supply of antioxidants. But why should consumers care so much about antioxidants? Well, to understand their importance, you must first understand what an antioxidant is and what it does for your body.

What is an Antioxidant?

An antioxidant is classified as any molecule that can slow or prevent the oxidation of other molecules. And, since the oxidation process often creates free radicals that can damage cells, antioxidants can help fight the free radicals that contribute to aging, cancer, and other common health ailments.

How are Antioxidants Measured?

Although antioxidant concentration is a very difficult thing to measure, an ORAC score has become the standard method for measuring the antioxidant capacity of various foods. ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity and is measured by how well the antioxidants in certain foods can protect fluorescent molecules from free-radical generators.

What are Some of the Most Antioxidant-Rich Foods on the Market?

Some antioxidants are made naturally by your body, but others can only be obtained through the food that you eat. And, since vitamin E and vitamin C are a few of the most common antioxidants that humans obtain from their diet, it shouldn't be surprising that fruits and vegetables are generally a pretty good source of antioxidants.

Different kinds of fruits and vegetables have different ORAC levels though which means that some foods are a better source of antioxidants than others. For example, blueberries, cranberries, blackberries, raspberries, and strawberries are all good sources of antioxidants, but blueberries have the highest ORAC score of the five fruits and strawberries have the lowest. Still, berries seem to be a particularly good source of antioxidants and they lend themselves easily to delicious foods like fruit drinks, sauces, salads, and ice cream.

The Acai Berry

Another kind of berry that has an earned an ORAC score even higher than blueberries is the Acai berry. Pronounced a-sigh-EE, this dark purple, round, one-inch berry is native to South American regions like the Amazon and Brazil and contains an amazing amount of nutrition for its tiny size. For example, in addition to its abundant supply of antioxidants, the acai berry contains 19 amino acids, tons of protein, fiber, omega fatty acids, minerals like calcium and iron, and vitamins A, C, E, B1, B2, and B3.

As more research has emerged on this popular little berry, consumers have started calling it one of the most amazing super foods on the market. In fact, even though there is still a lot of debate over the true health benefits associated with acai berries, manufacturers claim that the fruit can help with everything from weight loss and mood elevation to building a healthy digestive system and combating aging. Some studies even show that acai berries may help prevent heart and neurological diseases as well. And, on top of all the possible benefits that consumers get when they drink acai berry juice, consumers enjoy the tropical, chocolaty acai flavor that has made the berries so popular in their native country.

Unfortunately, because of the high concentration of healthy fats that are found in acai berries, they do not store or ship very well once they have been picked. As a result, you will probably have to travel to South America during one of the two harvests every year to sample fresh pieces of this amazing fruit.

If a short trip to South America doesn't fit into your budget or your agenda though, there are still ways to get the health benefits and flavor of acai berry juice. For example, freeze drying the berries shortly after harvesting has proved an effective way to preserve many of the nutrients and health benefits that consumers seek. Then you can add this powder to beverages, yogurt, granola and other foods. So, it is possible to buy delicious acai berry juice and other supplements that can give your health a boost.

Whether you get your antioxidants and other nutrients from acai berry juice or more accessible foods like spices, beans, blueberries, and apples, there are a lot of ways to concoct a yummy fruit drink that is filling, healthy, and delicious. Or, if you don't have the time or skill to make your own fruit juices, there are plenty of viable options in health food stores and local grocery store. Just make sure they contain one or more foods to that contain a rich supply of nutrients like acai berries. There are so many different options to choose from that you shouldn't have any trouble finding foods that are both healthy and delicious. In fact, the more diversified you can make your diet; the more likely it will be that you get all the nutrients that your body needs to be strong, beautiful and healthy.