Are Acai berries really able to help fight cancer?

Acai berries are a health supplement that have only come to the market relatively recently, and have done so in a blaze of publicity and claims.  Celebrities such as Oprah have been singing the praises of the small purple fruit, especially it's ability to help people with weight loss.

But one of the most eye catching of the claims that supporters of the Acai berry are making is that they can help prevent and fight cancer, certainly a very bold claim.  But can it be verified?

Testing the Acai berry claims

That's a question that many people have been asking, so in 2006 a group of academics in the University of Florida set out to check it.  They took 6 extracts of the Acai berry and tested them on cancerous human cells using various strengths of extract.

Amazingly in 4 of the 6 extracts they triggered a 'self-destruct' impulse in huge numbers of the cancerous cells.  The percentage of the cancerous human cells that it worked on varied from extract to extract due to the difference in strengths but went from a very respectable 35% up to a huge 86% in the optimum strength Acai berry extract test.

Whilst this is only an initial test and needs follow up work the signs are very encouraging.

How does this work?

Acai berries are proven to contain a huge amount of anti-toxins that deal with many poisons and toxins in the body.  The most important factor with regarding preventing and fighting cancer is how the anti-toxin capabilities (anthocyanins) of the Acai berries are able to safely deal with molecules known as 'free radicals'.

Free radicals are molecules that are already well known for being a major cause of cancer.  They come from a variety of sources, from naturally being produced by the body through to huge amounts being inhaled from cigarette smoking or car fumes.  They are dangerous as they are able to alter the DNA of cells, which is what leads to the cells becoming cancerous.

Because of the ability to fight deal with them naturally the anthocyanins contained within the Acai berry there is a strong theory that the Acai berries can fight the cancer, as supported by the University of Florida's findings.

Ongoing tests

Whilst scientific tests are obviously still ongoing the initial results are very promising that the claims of Acai berries fighting cancer could well be true.  The scientific theory supports the claim as well, and many people are claiming that Acai berry supplements are helping them in their fight against cancer.

So it does look like Acai berries really are able to help people fight cancer.