WARNER BOOKS, 2004

"...nature's perfect energy fruit."

DR. NICHOLAS PERRICONE NAMES AÇAÍ #1 OF THE TOP 10 SUPERFOODS FOR STAYING YOUNG AND HEALTHY”

Dr. Perricone's new Best Seller, The Perricone Promise, names açaí as #1 of the top 10 superfoods to “help you boost your peptide power to prevent inflammation and improve your immune system, to give you vibrant, glowing skin and to enjoy extraordinarily good health.”

Excerpts from his best selling book, The Perricone Promise, include:

“Superfood # 1:  Açaí, Nature’s Energy Fruit"

"It may seem odd to start this list of superfoods with one you’ve likely never even heard of.  But studies have shown that this little berry is one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in the world!  Açaí is the high-energy berry of a special Amazon palm tree.  Harvested in the rain forests of Brazil, açaí tastes like a vibrant blend of berries and chocolate.  Hidden within its royal purple pigment is the magic that makes it nature’s perfect energy fruit.  Açaí is packed full of antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids.  Although açaí may not be available in your local supermarket, you can find it, often in juice form, in several health food and gourmet stores.”

“Açaí fruit has more antioxidants than wild blueberries, pomegranates or red wine, along with essential omegas (healthy fats), amino acids, calcium and fiber.“

Açaí pulp contains:”

§      A remarkable concentration of antioxidants that help combat premature aging, with ten times more antioxidants than red grapes and ten to thirty times the anthocyanins of red wine

§      A synergy of monounsaturated (healthy) fats, dietary fiber and phytosterols, to help promote cardiovascular system and digestive tract health

§      An almost perfect essential amino acid complex in conjunction with valuable trace minerals, vital to muscles. “

“The fatty acid content in açaí resembles that of olive oil, and is rich in monounsaturated oleic acid.  Oleic acid is important for a number of reasons.  It helps Omega-3 fish oils penetrate the cell membrane; together they help make cell membranes more supple.  When the cell membrane is kept supple, all hormone, neurotransmitter and insulin receptors function more efficiently.  This is particularly important because high insulin levels create an inflammatory state, and , as you know, inflammation causes aging.”

“Anthocyanins are the antioxidant pigments that redden apples, berries, red-purple grapes (and therefore red wine), purple cabbage, eggplant – and autumn leaves.  Eldeberries and the Amazonian fruit called açaí are the richest anthocyanin sources by far…  Anthocyanins exhibit a variety of health benefits in animal and laboratory experiments:

§      Protect against cancer by inhibiting inflammation, cancerous changes to cells and tumor growth

§      Reduce premature brain aging and enhance memory

§      Help prevent macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people over age 65

§      Reduce oxidation of LDL cholesterol, reduce platelet aggregation (blood stickiness), dilate blood vessels and improve overall heart function

§      Influence the body’s hormone-like eicosanoids to reduce inflammation”

“The ten [superfoods] featured here were chosen because of their direct link to the Brain-Beauty Connection.  These foods are rich in either the essential fatty acids (EFAs), antioxidants, or fiber, or – as in the case of açaí – all three!”

Nicholas Perricone, M.D., FACN, is a board certified clinical and research dermatologist.  He is regarded as the Father of the Inflammation Theory of Aging and holds dozens of US and international patents for the treatment of skin and systemic disease, and for the use of topical anti-inflammatories for reversing and preventing damage to skin.  Dr. Perricone is the author of the three New York Times # 1 Best Sellers and is a popular guest on national television, frequenting shows like the Oprah Winfrey Show, the Today Show and 20/20.  He has been featured in countless publications, including the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.  In 2001, Vogue named Dr. Perricone one of the best dermatologists in the U.S.