|
 |
acai. Make room for maqui. The newest berry to hit the
supplement market is quickly taking over as the superfruit
leader because of its sky-high antioxidant capacitiies.
Maqui is a deep-purple-colored berry that hails from
Patagonia in South America. For centuries, the native Mapuche
Indians of that region have harvested maqui, also known as
Chilean wineberry, and consumed it as a fermented drink. The
Mapuche remain the only unconquered Native American Indian tribe
in all of the Americas and attribute their "warrior" strength,
stamina, and overall health, in part, to maqui.
Oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) analysis has shown
that foods such as fruits - especially berries - vegetables,
legumes, and certain spices, have high antioxidant |
|
|
|
 |
properties and can have a positive
impact in combating free radical damage. Free radicals
affect our cells as the body ages and can contribute to
age-related degeneration and a host of other health problems, such as
heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and gastrointestinal disorders.
Recent studies have shown that the maqui berry contains
the highest ORAC values ever found among fruits. Its antioxidant potency
is almost double that of acai, three times higher than pomegranate, more
than four times higher than blueberries, and a whopping 100 times more
than a glass of red wine.
What makes maqui so mighty? It is jam-packed with
anthocyanins, antioxidants naturally produced by plants for
protection against the sun, irradiation, disease, and biological
enemies. Because maqui is exposed to cold weather and high
amounts of sunshine in the mountainous terrain of Patagonia,
this small berry contains extremely high levels of anthocyanins.
Maqui berries are also loaded with polyphenols, a group of
chemical substances found in plants that may also contain
antioxidant characteristics.
Apart from protecting the body's cells from oxidative
stress, supporting healthy aging, and promoting a healthful
response to inflammation, the maqui berry is an excellent source
of iron, potassium, and vitamin C, all of which can contribue to
overall wellness. |
Maqui berry is currently available as a dietary liquid
supplement, a water-soluble energy powder drink, and in
capsules. The liquid supplement, which is sold in 16-ounce
bottles, contains filtered water, maqui berry concentrate, maqui
seed extract, elderberry concentrate, blackberry concentrate,
and raspberry concentrate. Although you can consume this natural
organic juice by itself (the recommended dosage is 1 tablespoon
per day) or by adding water, there are many ways to incorporate
it into your diet.
Blend half an ounce of the liquid supplement into your
favorite fruit smoothie or yogurt for a tasty tropical breakfast
treat or snack. Whisk it with olive oil and balsamic vinegar to
make a tangy vinaigrette that you can toss into a bed of fresh
salad greens or splash over steamed vegetables. For an entree,
make a savory-sweet sauce for stove-top or oven-baked chicken
breast: combine maqui with olive oil, onion, parsley, red wine,
brown sugar, brandy, and chicken stock.
|
DID YOU KNOW?
The ORAC value of 100g of maqui berry is 27,600 units,
compared to 16,700 units per 100g of acai berry. |
|
|
|