Column: Wissenshunger
Marketed well
Kai Kupferschmidt is molecular biomedical and writes about nutrition and science. This time: a berry from Brazil.
The decade in which we find ourselves, has been variously explained to the Brazilian decade. Economic recovery, the World Cup, Olympic Games. Brazil rises to the big players. That's the forecast in a nutshell.
In terms of food Brazil has long been a world power. Already, the country produces more coffee, sugar and orange juice than any other country on earth. 2012 Brazil could also overtake the U.S. as the largest soybean producer. Also in terms of chicken and beef in Brazil is the world's first and second place. And there are some foods that come ever before in Brazil.
The export of these is the acai berry.
The little black-purple fruits grow to hundreds of the thin branches of palm trees in the flooded forests of the Amazon. The berries are harvested, soaked in water, freed from its stone and then cooked as a sort of puree. In Rio de Janeiro, there are the soft drink at any juice bar, usually with a lot of sugar.
Until recent years, Acai berry was virtually unknown outside of Brazil. Then three friends from the United States discovered the berries on vacation and decided to export it. In no time, the food became the new trend fruit. Acai berry and contain high amounts of antioxidants, which are molecules that can inactivate certain harmful oxygen compounds produced in the body (can reduce "oxidative stress"). They should help some to protect against cancer or prolong life. Research also interested in why the Acai. A few weeks ago a study was published that showed that fruit flies, their life due to particularly high oxidative stress lasts only briefly, to live with a Açaidiät up to three times longer. As health fruit marketed and touted by Oprah Winfrey and other stars, became a bestseller Açai in the U.S.. Meanwhile, the dark berry juices also appear in German and more frequently.
Here, the alleged miracle berries just another fruit are your antioxidant content is high, but not much higher than other fruits. And the positive effect of antioxidants is in the test tube is indeed excellent. In the human body, there seems to be more complicated. Vitamin C and vitamin E, for instance, two of the most well-known antioxidants, were appointed many years ago for cancer killer. Until clinical trials involving thousands of smokers and asbestos workers showed that people who took these vitamins themselves, had no lower risk of developing cancer. They even died more often from cancer.
The acai berry is therefore a welcome addition to the diet, but whether it really promotes the health, which must turn out yet. Perhaps the decade of Açai is also timed out - and the next trend fruit on the way. In northern Brazil, there are more than enough little-known fruits that could be informed by excellent marketing to the Olympics.
