Layne Beachley was born and bred in Sydney Australia and may be seen as the greatest female surfer ever. In fact, she has won the Association of Surfing Professionals’ World Surfing Championship seven times over.

She has many reasons for her success, but one secret is what she puts in her diet. One of the major components of Layne Beachley’s diet that helps her perform like the champion she is includes the humble acai berry.

In fact, the acai fruit may be one of the most nutritious found in the world. Found in the Amazon rainforest, acai berries have the highest oxygen radical absorbance capacity, or ORAC, of any berry settable worldwide. The ORAC rating compares levels of antioxidants present in food products and is a standard method.

Antioxidants are substances that protect the body cells from the damaging effects of oxidation. Typically, we know some familiar names of antioxidants, including vitamins C and E, substances found in green tea, and many other kinds. Antioxidants help protect against oxidation’s damage. When oxidation occurs, basically, the arteries and tissues of the body “rust.” This is a process that naturally occurs whenever we eat food or with any number of processes and as such is needed for life. However, if not counteracted with antioxidant activity, it can lead to disease, aging, and even premature death.

The acai berry also has a good amount of oleic monounsaturated essential fatty acids, or omega-9s. This particular type of essential fatty acid helps lower LDL or bad cholesterol and maintains the good cholesterol, HDL. In addition, linoleic or omega-6 polyunsaturated essential fatty acids are also present in the acai berry, and these are also beneficial. This means that the fruit gives you very healthy fats, which are necessary to strengthen the heart and cardiovascular system. This is something of course that all athletes need.

In addition, the acai berry contains phytosterols, which are sterols that come from plants. These compounds of plant cell membranes assist our bodies in many ways, but one of their major benefits is that they reduce blood plasma cholesterol and provide a source of dietary fiber.

The acai berry, though, doesn’t just stop there. It has many other benefits, including a special class of flavonoids called anthocyanins. These are the plant colours that give many plants their blue, red and purple colouring, found in many flowers, cereal grains, vegetables and fruits.

In addition, the acai berry is represented by over 600 molecular structures, with properties that rival the benefits of other more well-known fruits and vegetables, including suppressing human cancer cell growth, inhibiting mutations caused by mutagens in cooked foods, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity, blood pressure control, eyesight protection, and liver damage protection.

What does this mean, then? Simply, the acai berry and its juice are a super-food. If you want to follow in Layne Beachley’s stellar footsteps (or simply be healthy), it’s as easy as incorporating acai berries and products into your diet.

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