Two highly nutritious superfoods and their supplements are ruling the market for quite some time. These are two highly delicious plus extremely nutritious berries known as Acai berry and Maqui berry just like the very popular berry i.e. blueberries. So if you are also the one who is wondering the difference between maqui vs. acai berry to understand which one is better for you that you can include in your next shopping list, then read this article till the end to get your answer.
Both acai and maqui are two well known Navitas organics food that is very much similar to each other with respect to their nutrient essence and health benefits. One can grab these organic fruits directly or can also have their supplements which you can easily avail in powder form to grab those amazing health benefits associated with their consumption.
Acai berry has been ruling the market for a long time. However, its popularity has dwindled a bit with the emergence of a new superfood berry called maqui berry. So with the arrival of this new organic fruit in the market, the customer of acai berry seems a bit confused while selecting the best beery for them.
Especially the reason behind this confusion is that there are lots of similarities between these two purple-colored berries that come from South America. However, in spite of many similarities, there are some substantial differences between them that differentiate the level of effectiveness that you derive from each one of them and that will help you in deciding which one is better for your health.
Acai Berry
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Acai berries are native to the regions of Amazon in Brazil. It looks rounder with a darker version of purple color from the outside, having a deep pit inside. You must not be hurry while eating it as it may cause you to visit a doctor. The part of this berry that is edible is only the juicy flesh that surrounds the pit inside.
This organic berry remains loaded with some essential nutrients that is what makes it a health supplement for boosting your overall health. It is a rich source of calcium, iron, and powerful antioxidant called Anthocyanins in a very good quantity. It is this particular antioxidant essence in acai berries that provides its beautiful purple color.
Apart from essential minerals and powerful antioxidants, the acai berries are also known for their substantial content of healthy fats such as vital fatty acids and monosaturated fats. Both of these healthy fats content is known for stimulating and nourishing your skin health. This is one advantage of this beery consumption which makes it popular for enhancing the skin glow in a natural way.
Also, these healthy fats content of the acai berries gives them a very smooth texture especially when it is mixed with a liquid or other fruits enhancing their flavor dramatically.
That means you can make versatile recipes with this magnificent ingredient by mixing it with delicious, nutritious chocolates, vanilla, etc. This amazing flavor of acai berry powder makes it an essential ingredient for preparing smoothies, pudding, and ice cream. However, while cooking a recipe mixed with acai powder it is recommended not to cook on overheat flame as it can hamper its true flavor essence. However, it no way deteriorates its nutrient essence.
Maqui Berry
Maqui berries are local to the Patagonian region in Chile. It is harvested only one time in a year. It looks similar to blueberries and acai berry with deep royal purple color from outside. Its purple color remains so intense that it converts everything in this color that comes in its contact. It grows on shrubs and its size remains like a pea when it is fresh.
Though it came quite later than the acai berries in the market but soon makes places in the heart of a huge number of customers with its high content of healthy antioxidants called anthocyanin that lies in it. This particular antioxidant volume remains much greater in it than the acai berry which also contains this particular antioxidant.
Antioxidants are one of the most essential nutrients for the human body as it gives protection against free radicals attack otherwise it can damage your health badly. The reason why our body canât produce this essential nutrient itself is external environmental circumstances and unhealthy habits that people generally have which obstructs the self replenishment of antioxidants at the speed as our body needs it.
This is what makes us dependent on external sources to grab this essential nutrient for a health boost and stability and maqui berries are one important and reliable source for this. Apart from antioxidants, maqui berries are also a rich source of fatty acids, potassium, and Vitamin C. Though just like acai berry it doesnât contain healthy fats but the high range of Vitamin C in it make it effective for boosting your immune system and to provide anti-aging benefit.
You can easily get this organic berry in powder supplement form that is very convenient to use in sauces, salad dressings, drinks, and smoothies. As it adds very minimal level flavor in any recipe so it can easily be mixed in any anti-aging diet to boost collagen level in the skin that helps in rejuvenating your skin cells.
However, while using the maqui powder in any diet make sure you use it only at low-temperature or unheated recipes. Otherwise, if it is used in heated recipes it’s deep purple color which indicates the presence of antioxidant substance will disappear quickly and your ultimate health goal will remain unfulfilled.
Important Distinction Points between Acai Berry and Maqui Berry
ORAC Value
One crucial point that can differentiate between acai berry and maqui berry is the level of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) that is common in both the berries.
An ORAC test that was conducted by Brunswick Laboratories suggests that maqui berry contains 6120 per gram or 612000 per 100 gram which is about 2 to 3 times greater than the ORAC content existing in acai berry. So one the basis of ORAC value, purchasing maqui berry is more worthy than the acai berry.
To get a sufficient level of ORAC for your body you need to take 2 capsules of maqui berry or 1.5 grams of maqui powder. Whereas for the same amount of ORAC you need to take 4 to 6 capsules of acai berry i.e. 4.5 to 6.0 grams of acai powder.
Taste
The very much similar looking these two organic berries can be differentiated on the basis of their taste. One thing that makes maqui berry superior over acai beery is that it does not leave an after taste in your mouth after its consumption or have very little after taste effect which makes it easier to serve children who are very picky with regard to food taste.
Moreover, the active range of maqui berry remains absolutely free of gluten, chemicals, and preservatives. You will not get any content of animals in the maqui berry powder neither dairy nor meat.
Nutrition
Both acai and maqui berries are a powerhouse of essential nutrients for your health. You will get all the basic nutrients in acai berries such as vitamins A, C, E, and antioxidants. It is also a rich source of antioxidants. The maqui berry contains vitamins A, and C, as well as antioxidants, omega fatty acids, iron, calcium, and potassium.
Omega Fatty Acids Content in Acai and Maqui Berry
Omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids are two polyunsaturated fats that your body cannot produce itself. This fatty acid is highly essential for your health protection as it has anti-blood-clotting and anti-inflammatory properties. It helps in overcoming major health issues by reducing the level of triglyceride and cholesterol.
Also, it reduces a high blood pressure level that otherwise increases your risk of heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, colitis, asthma, mental health concerns, and some types of cancers as per one report published by the National Institutes of Health.
Omega 9 is a monounsaturated fat that your body can produce itself if your body has already a sufficient level of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. You can easily get omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids in acai berry whereas maqui berry contains only omega 6 and 9. It doesnât have any omega-3 fatty acid content which is the most essential and effective fatty acids.
Antioxidants in Acai and Maqui Berry
Both acai and maqui berries are a powerhouse of one highly effective antioxidant content called Anthocyanin. This particular antioxidant has potential to boost your health on a different level like with its ability to improve your immune system and most essential with its anti-aging effects that fight against free radicals existing in your body and prevent tissue damage which is the main culprit that accelerates the aging process and again signs growth on the skin.
The acai berry contains ten times greater amounts of these antioxidants and vitamins than the grapes and two times greater than the blueberries. This high antioxidants level is very effective against peroxyl radicals. Also, even with the fewer doses of acai berry, this antioxidant can enter inside your body with its full-fledged functional form.
Just like the acai berries, maqui berries too contain the highest doses of antioxidants that you generally get in any superfruit or organic fruit. However, the ORAC value of maqui berries is approx. 4 to 30 times greater than the average level acai berries as per the report of Medical News Today, which draws a clear cut distinction between these two berries. So anyone who wants to enjoy the greater value of antioxidants to boost their immune system and for getting its anti-aging benefit can try maqui berries to fulfill their need.
Tips to Include Acai and Maqui Berry in Your Diet
Both acai and maqui berries are a powerhouse of nutrients however, out of these two superfoods maqui berries wins when we consider its antioxidant content and its associated benefits for your health. However, acai berries also have a unique level of benefit for your health when you incorporate into your diet plan.
You can easily get both these organic foods in powder form that can supplement the necessity of antioxidants and essential nutrients for your body. Both of these supplement powder you can avail in most of the health food stores in the UK and North America. Also, you can order the acai and maqui powder online by sitting at your home from any corner of the world only on an e-commerce website like Amazon.
The supplements of these two superfruits are usually made from freeze-dried berries. Also, these organic food products are certified by USDA which increases their worth and reliability value in the eyes of general customers, especially those who are the first time buyers of these organic fruit supplements.
After having these supplement powders in your pantry you are free to use them in your regular diet plan in a versatile way to grab those amazing health benefits associated with them. You can use both these supplement powders in a similar way in your diet such as smoothies, drinks, sauces, yogurt, oatmeal, salads dressing or seasoning, etc.
These superfood supplements are very much similar to any exotic superberry supplement powders. Use them in your breakfast dishes to get a quick boost of energy that will nourish your immune health as well as enhance your outer appearance by offering nourishment and protection to your skin health.
Conclusion
After going through a detailed review of maqui vs. acai berry we can say that both are effective and beneficial for your health in their own ways. With little or subtle differences in them, it will be unfair to call any of them superior. Both of them provide vital nutrients to you along with their specific taste and color.
However, being a health-conscious person you should always give priority to variation in your diet to get essential nutrients for your body through different sources. So, switch between these berries from time to time to get enough amount of antioxidants, omega fatty acids, essential vitamins, and minerals like iron, calcium, and potassium whose scarcity in the body leads to many major health concerns.