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Monday, October 27, 2008

Acai and beyond and an offer


Some readers may notice that I have allowed comments from persons who appear to have an interest in selling products made from the acai berry, a fruit of the acai palm, which is grown in South America. The berry is an interesting fruit, containing an unusually high amount of fat (for a fruit) and a rather grainy texture that is, according to some reports, a bit off-putting for some.

The persons who have posted these comments promote the use of acai juices and powders in the treatment of arthritis pain. As best as I can make out from my research, you would not likely harm yourself by using this juice. And the juice may be of help to you. That's why I have allowed these near-spam comments.

For the record, though, I am not a proponent of "super foods" whether naturally available or chemically made. I am a proponent of a diet comprised of whole foods, plant-based, organically grown and preferably grown nearby. This way of eating has been shown to be the best for health for everyone, including arthritis sufferers and those with diabetes, for example.

A compelling argument in favor of this diet is to be found in The China Study by Colin Campbell. The link is to my review of this book and includes a link to my amazon bookstore, where you can purchase it. I make an offer here, though: I will send you this book, straight from my bookstore, for free if you promise you will read it through, all the way through, and let me know what you thought of it. I will offer it to the first person who responds with a name and address and I will trust you to do as you say.

The media likes to stir up interest by letting us think it is impossible for us mere mortals to know just what is healthy and what is not in our diets. It isn't all that complicated. The media has an interest in adding to the confusion with articles that serve more to confuse than to enlighten, as such articles lead readers to read more, to keep searching. The sellers of products like acai berry products and enhanced pomegranate juice benefit from the confusion as well. People naturally want to do what they can to stave off illness and enlarge their life spans, and articles about single foods providing benefits sucker in a lot of readers. It doesn't have to be that way. Stick with the whole foods, as cleanly grown as you can get them, and you won't regret it.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Eat fish rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, such as salmon, tuna, sardines, herring, mackerel and anchovies. Omega 3's have been shown to have an anti-inflammatory effect on arthritic joints. Fish that are wild have higher levels of Omega-3 fatty acids, so avoid farm-raised fish when possible.

http://www.readaboutarthritis.com/3_ways_to_reduce_arthritis_with_dietary_oils.html

Judith Lautner said...

Anonymous, I don't eat fish. I am a vegan. There are vegetable sources of omega-3 fatty acids, however, and I do seek them out.

David said...

Acai happens to be very good for you and high in antioxidants, which have an anti-inflammatory effect. Still, in my research, supplements with glucosamine and chondroitin are far more common as arthritis remedies.

Judith Lautner said...

Once again, David, if you'd read my post you'd know I said Acai can be good for you BUT you don't need it if you eat a variety of fresh whole fruits and vegetables. You will get plenty of antioxidants and other nutrients from everyday food. You do not need to hunt down exotic plants to be healthy.