ACAI BERRY FAQ'S

Where does Acai grow?
The Acai berry grows in clusters on the Acai Palm, a genus of 25-30 species of palms native to tropical Central and South America. These tall, slender, and attractive palms can grow 15-30 meters tall, with leaves up to 3 meters long. The prime commercial source of Acai comes from the area where several rivers converge within the Amazon estuary, emptying along the northeastern corner of Brazil into the Atlantic Ocean between the states of Para and Amapa. The people of Brazil refer to Acai as the "Milk of the Amazon".Does harvesting the Acai berry destroy the Amazon rainforest?
No. In fact, MonaVie is helping to preserve the Amazon rainforest by harvesting the Acai berry. Each week, poachers illegally chop down 5,000 - 10,000 palm trees to obtain and sell a 12-inch section of the palm known as the "Palmito". As a result, the entire tree dies. On the other hand, by harvesting the Acai berry, the palm tree continues to thrive and the natives have an incentive to preserve the Acai-bearing palm tree. It is estimated that in 2006, MonaVie, by buying the Acai berry from the Brazillian suppliers, will preserve over 250,000 Acai palm trees.

Does Acai have a high ORAC score?


Yes, with an ORAC score of 1,026, the açai used in MonaVie boasts the highest ORAC score of any fruit or vegetable tested to date. The açai fruit is the star among other well-known antioxidants, such as blueberries, grapes, red wine, green tea, cranberries, and pomegranates. Obtaining a variety of antioxidants through diet or supplementation is essential to maintaining good health.

What does ORAC mean?
ORAC (oxygen radical absorption capacity) is a way to measure the antioxidant capacity of a food. Foods with high ORAC values are desirable for their ability to inhibit free radical activity.

Why are Antioxidants important?

What are phytonutrients?
Phytonutrients are powerful antioxidants and naturally occurring compounds that contribute to the flavor, color, and disease-resistance of plants (i.e., fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes). Maximum health benefits are derived from consuming a variety of phytonutrients with a full spectrum of colors and pigments, such as those found in MonaVie products.

What are polyphenols?
Polyphenols are a class of powerful antioxidants that are thought to be responsible for the French Paradox: the French have a diet relatively high in fat, yet have a decreased incidence of heart disease; this is attributed to the amount of polyphenols present in the grapes used to make French wines. MonaVie products contain a powerful variety of polyphenols, including anthocyanins. It is estimated that MonaVie products have 20–30 times the anthocyanins found in red wine.