Reasons to Check out the Maqui Berry

A not so common fruit has been making the news recently and justifiably so. This fruit is one of what are called superfruits, and goes by the name of maqui berry. Chances are you may not have heard of this particular fruit before, but if not, now would be as good a time as any to do a little detective work on it. The results are guaranteed to do you a lot more good than harm.

As more and more people become aware of the effects that the foods they consume have on their bodies, many are making conscious decisions that will make, and keep, them healthy. One of these decisions includes utilizing the services of superfruits to supplement their daily diet. It is therefore not surprising to see elements of the retail side of the equation paying rapt attention to the superfruits, as the economic theory of demand and supply come into play. The word superfruit does not carry any scientific or technical connotations. It is simply a term marketers came up with to distinguish and describe fruits that have been proven to possess above-average levels of nutritional value and antioxidants.

The maqui berry is a small, edible, grape-sized fruit, which birds have shown a special affinity for. Purple-black in color, this berry has seeds, and grows on small trees in bunches not unlike grapes. The fruit is indigenous to Chile and is also known as Chilean berry, clon, koelon, ach, queldrón, maqui, and maquei. The value of the maqui berry was exposed to the western world when investigations were being carried out on peculiar characteristics of the Mapuche Indians. Researchers were trying to pinpoint the factors behind the incredible strength and endurance of these Indians, as well as their seeming inability to experience fatigue. Their lifestyle and diets were examined and it was found that the maqui berry was behind the whole thing.

The consumption of the maqui berry has so far proven to be an all-positive experience. If there are any negatives, or side effects, they are yet to be reported. For one, the fruit is a great source of vitamin C, iron, and potassium. There are a number of other ways you can benefit from the inclusion of maqui berries in your daily diet. Persons desirous of losing extra weight, upon including servings of maqui berry in their daily diet, will experience increased metabolic activity and by extension quicker burning away of body fat. Studies have also proven that inclusion of the maqui berry in the daily diet helps to suppress one’s appetite. This is due to the presence of an antioxidant known as resveratrol. In addition to suppressing appetites resveratrol inhibits stress. The maqui berry also promotes cardio-vascular health, boosts energy levels, and is believed to be a retardant to the aging process.

With all the benefits to be derived from this one fruit it is understandable that people would gravitate to the maqui berry as against other fruits in the superfruits category. With an Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) rating of 21700, compared to its nearest rival the acai berry at 16700, it logically should provide better value for money.