The acai berry comes from the acai palm tree, or Euterpe Oleracea. The berry is no more than an inch long and has a red to purple coloring to it. Scientists are learning more about this unique berry through various studies being conducted, but what they have found is that it contains two particular substances known to be incredibly helpful to overall health. These are called anthocyanins and flavonoids.

Anythocyanins are what helps to make some fruits turn a blue, purple, or red color. Any fruit, vegetable or even flowers, that contain this coloring will be rich in this nutrient. The stronger the coloring is, the more anythocyanins is present in the food. Both flavonoids and anthocyanins are able to benefit the body, because they are powerful antioxidants, which help to fight off bad chemicals known as free radicals that are found in the body.

Free radicals are the byproducts produced by the body, or ingested in other ways. They line the arteries of the heart and clog cells. Because of this, the body is unable to work at maximum potential and sometimes these free radicals hinder the cell protection system. Antioxidant-rich diets help to flush away free radicals by neutralizing them.

Serious illness can be caused by free radicals, especially when large amounts of them are present in the body. However, antioxidant-rich foods like acai berry fruit are able to give an important boost to your body's health. Antioxidants play a key role in attacking these free-radicals that we have in our bodies. This process also helps to improve overall health and some people believe that it slows the effects of aging, but research is still too early to tell.