Question: CAOH,
I like the what I’ve read about acai juice (Acai Max), but wonder when it is processed from it’s natural state, does it change the vitamin and mineral content. Thanks for the update!
Sherry
Answer: Hello Sherry,
I have copied below some data from our blog which replies to a question about or freeze dried acai powder (Absolute Acai).
3. Is your Acai spray dried? – We utilize freeze drying only. At present the processing method likely to yield the most beneficial açaí berry product is lyophilization (freeze-drying). Lyophilization is widely employed in the pharmaceutical industry to stabilize drugs and extend the lifetime of their potency. The lyophilization process is a stabilizing procedure in which a substance is first frozen and then the quantity of the water within the açaí is reduced, initially by a primary drying process and then by a secondary drying process to levels that will no longer support biological activity or chemical reactions. This process avoids the five destructive factors (heat, light, air, moisture, and time) producing a stable material which retains a greater concentration of active, volatile constituents. Because lyophilization is the most complex and expensive form of drying, its use is usually restricted to delicate, heat-sensitive materials of high value such as our Absolute Acai.
Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc
Response from Sherry: Dr. E
Thank you, I appreciate your response. Has a study been done on the product comparing the liquid state versus freeze dried state on vitamin/mineral content. Also from the natural berry to the liquid state. I’m interested as any time products are changed from their natural state, something is usually lost or changed in the translation.
Sherry
My response back: Sherry,
To the point: Freeze dried is the closest to natural as any process will allow. If you want the FULL benefits of acai, freeze dried IS the ONLY way to go.
Sincerely,
Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc
Sherry’s response back: Hi Marcus,
Thank you for your recommendation and I appreciate your response, but you did not answer my question. I’m very much interested in finding out if there are any comparative studies for vitamin/mineral and content/changes from the berry state to liquid vs freeze dried. That’s ok if you don’t have the answer, I’ll just have to research more.
Much appreciation,
Sher
My response back: Sherry,
The berry has no juice. It is water added to the skins that makes the juice. So there will be no research on the juice. I hope this helps. Go Here Fro More
Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc
Sherry’s response back: Thank you. There are so many vitamins, minerals, herbs that claim something that I’m very much interested in educating myself and what I’m taking into my body. I like your products, and just wanted to see if there had been any studies done that compared the vitamin/mineral content from the natural state of the product (berry) to freeze dried. The juice product is still the berry in its natural state, other than the process that adds water and makes it into juice.
I’m not a doctor or in the medical field, how vitamins and minerals affect your body has always interested me. If you do find any information or studies done, or to direct me to any books you can recommend, it will be greatly appreciated.
My response back: Sherry,
I should have added more detail for a clearer picture. The juice is skins and water, yes, a natural state, as is flash freezing. The point I’m trying to make is that the freeze dried acai IS the closest anyone will ever get to “real, fresh, whole fruit.” The juice will never be close to freeze dried, here is why: The juice is at best 15% acai and 85% percent water – they call this 100% acai juice (I have no idea how this ever came to be the standard but it is what it is). So, 10oz of “so called” 100% juice gives you just 1.5oz of actual acai. 1.5oz of freeze dried acai gives you 1.5oz of actual acai.
Research is irrelevant unless you are very wealthy and would like to consume a quart or more of the juice daily. Please e-mail me back to let me know if this helps.
Sincerely,
Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc
Sherry’s response back: Dr. E
It makes better sense proportionately-wise, actually a better deal going freeze dried for the amount of actual acai. Thanks again for the explanation,
Sher
