These are two 'headline'superfoods that haveemerged out ofSouth America inrecent times. Acai berrieshave been quite a sensation, inall senses of the word, with alarge number ofhealth  supplements nowproclaiming to tap into thehealth benefits of the berry. But the Maqui berry has made a strong impact itselfin recent times – and recenttesting points to health benefits thatlook like more than holding their ownagainst theAcai.

So the question to ask is – which is better?

The Maqui Berry vs the Acai Berry

It is very important that youmake sure yourbrain is working whencomparingthetwo berries.Both makestrongdietary claims,most of which have beenchecked byscientific research. But there has beenscantscientific testing of side by side results so weonly canextrapolate comparisons.

As there is such little direct scientific studies to compare it isvital that we only deal inabsolutes –claims that have beenresearched andauthenticated by thewider scientific community. It is these results(notthe unsubstantiated claims) that we shall be comparing.

The ORAC Antioxidant Scoring ï»¿

The Acai berry and the Maqui berry can both boastlarge amounts of antioxidants. The standard way tocalculate the antioxidant level of foods is by using the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) count. In this case the greater the ORAC count the more antioxidant the food has.

The ORAC table

1. Maqui Berry 820
2. Acai 160-300
3. Blueberry 61
4. Raspberry 21
5. Grapes 14

This shows us that thelevels of antioxidant inthe Maqui berryoutstrip thosein the Acai berry. This isof importancewhen it comes to health benefits.

This isashaving alargelevel of antioxidants is one of themost basic factors making up a 'superfood'. Several of thehealth claims thatthe two berriesmake as toboosting health levelsarise from thelevels of antioxidants that they are able toboast. Antioxidants are prequisite to ourwell being ina variety of ways.

• They help fight cancer.
• They have anti-ageing capabilities.
• Theybuild-up the immune system.
• Magnifys our energy levels.

andmuch morebesides. As the Maqui hassomewhere in the region of 3 to 4 times thelevels of antioxidants of the Acai it means that itcanclaimmore stronger benefits with regards it's role as ahealth supplement.

Acai and Maqui Berry Nutritional Benefits

There arevery highamounts of vitamins and nutrients inboth the Acai and the Maqui berries. However thereis nosimpleoverall scoringsystem tomeasure such factors (unfortunately) as there is with the antioxidants.

What has becomenoted is that the fargreateramount of nutrients and vitamins in the Acai than in the Maquipoints to it is more 'powerful' inthese aspects of being a health product.

This indicates that

• The Acai gives more direct energy (though indirect energy from antioxidants also happens)
• Poor diets, or restricted diets, are boosted significantly by the Acai
• Growing your body (such as building muscle) is easier with the enhanced nutritional properties of the Acai.

One unique aspect of the Acai is that is contains Omega 3.  Omega 3 is vital for our health but is only found in fish and nuts – and the Acai berry.

Which Berry is Best?

With that indepth look which of the two berries is the best when it comes to our health?

The answer is very subjective as it is entirely based around what you want your health supplement to be doing.  The Maqui berry could be said to be more powerful if you are able to get all your vitamins and nutrients from other sources as the health boost from the far higher antioxidant levels is significant.

However if you want a health supplement that is able to deliver everything, antioxidant benefits and nutritional/vitamin boosts then you are best of looking at the Acai berry.

So what it eventually comes down to is your own preferences and lifestyle.  Both berries work as a health supplement, but can give you different results.

Tags: Health, Berry Nutritional Benefits There, direct energy, Health benefits, energy levels

Fitness may seem like a considerable sacrifice but the rewards are truly immeasurable. Not only will you look better, but you'll live longer.

Lose Weight, Get Fit and Build Muscle

Still skeptical?  Here is a list of the advantages of a healthy life. These ideas may  persuade you to leave the dark side.

1. Eating healthy foods and staying fit will result in more energy that spills over into both work and play time. You will have increased energy for your occupation and be more active in your off time. Active people also seem more capable and independent. Healthy people are also perceived as more charming, approachable and confident.

2. Less illness- People who live a healthy lifestyle are well, healthy. They are not as subject to sickness that can slow down people's achievement levels. Thus, fit individuals complete much of what they set out to do. They are not as hampered by time consuming doctors appointments or plagued with issues with their health. Since fit individuals infrequently have to use their sick time, they can often use it for other purposes, like vacation or relaxation days. They don't need to take a leave because they are sick.

3. Look younger- People who live healthier lives are more attractive than those who smoke and drink too much. Cigarettes and alcohol make people look older by drying up the skin and causing wrinkles. Chemicals in alcohol and cigarettes decrease the amount of nutrients that are absorbed into the body, depriving it of vitamins and minerals that keep the organs and skin functioning at peak efficiency.

Being younger looking gives you a whole other set of advantages, from career options, to a more active social and love life. Appearance counts, whether or not we want to admit it.  Being younger looking and more attractive can take you places. As shallow as it is, younger looking people have more friends and romantic involvements. Our society loves fit people.

Find out how to tighten loose skin here!

4. Clear thinking- It is not true that chemicals in alcohol, cigarettes and drugs amp up creativity levels. These effects are detrimental to overall body functioning and actually very short-lived.Individuals who make the time to eat healthfully and live active lives think clearer. Active people are more able to focus and thus accomplish much more than less healthy people. They are also more dependable and have clearer memories.

5. Emotionally secure- Healthy people who live active lives are happier. Since healthy individuals are not as distracted by health issues, they are able to enjoy their lives more.They are more able to cope with stress and worry less. Perhaps this is because they don't have to rely on chemicals to cope with problems in their lives. Living a active lifestyle helped them develop natural coping strategies that makes it easier to get through daily life.

Weight loss training

Tags: peak efficiency, Health, Health benefits, work and play, love life

The Question of Picking the Best Green Tea?

Green tea is everywhere these days. You can find it in drink form and in supplements. It is added to all types of products. But how do you know that you are getting the best green tea? In a time when our food sources are coming into question this is more than just a quality issue. This is a safety issue. You need to know that what you are consuming is safe and that it offers the maximum health benefits. Finding the best green tea is important.

Factors to Consider Regarding the Best Green Tea

Green tea is best served hot from the teapot. It is better if it has low sugar content as sugar can counteract many of the health benefits. It is also best if the tea is not mixed with other ingredients. Tea bags are fine but loose tea is also a good substitute. Most of the time loose tea uses whole leaves which are better for you because they contain more of the healthful ingredients.

Loose tea also has less caffeine. While some caffeine is preferable in the best green tea, too much can be a detriment.  Loose whole tea leave offer the right balance.

Also, loose green tea is the best green tea because of the quality. Loose tea can be steeped up to three times whereas bags can only be used once. This increases the value of the product because a little goes a long way.

If You Use Tea Bags for best Green Tea

Still, tea bags offer convenience and less mess so most people use them for expediency. If you must use tea bags, the best green tea is the tea that is processed least. Most tea in bags is cut in small pieces, curled, steamed and dried. Fermentation can change the taste and the quality. You need to look for the least processed product you can find because the best green tea is the most pure.

The best green tea comes from China. Green tea originated in China and there are over 168 different brands to choose from. Consistently these teas rank highest in the ingredients that promote health in green tea. China is a place for the best green tea is a fair theory.

If you are looking for better health green tea is a good place to start. You need to be sure you take it in the most pure form. The chemical interaction between hot water and tea leaves seems to let loose the healthy ingredients to a higher degree than other methods of consumption. There may be more flavorful ways of using the product, but the best green tea is the plain, simple unvarnished tea with few of the bells and whistles. After all, if you don't have your health, nothing else really matters.

Tags: tea bags, Health benefits, three times, healthful ingredients, loose green tea, Health, safety issue, sugar content