Metabolomics and the Acai Berry
The Wikipedia defines metabolomics as the: systematic study of the unique chemical fingerprints that specific cellular processes leave behind - specifically, the study of their small-molecule metabolite profiles. The metabolome represents the collection of all metabolites in a biological organism, which are the end products of its gene expression. Thus, while mRNA gene expression data and proteomic analyses do not tell the whole story of what might be happening in a cell, metabolic profiling can give an instantaneous snapshot of the physiology of that cell. One of the challenges of systems biology is to integrate proteomic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic information to give a more complete picture of living organisms.
The science of metabolomics (American J. Clinical Nutrition 2005;82:497) is revolutionising the way we think about health and disease. Its simplicity is astounding, especially when we realise that we have always intuitively known the principles metabolomics is founded upon: energy produced by our cells is indispensable for them to carry out their assigned duties. For this to occur, for our cells to metabolise, they need air, food, and the ability to get rid of the “metabolites,” or toxins, or by-products of combustion generated by our production of energy, or metabolism.
Consequently, our cells depend in all respects from the energy derived from our Sun. The energy from the sun is spead throughout our planet, fuelling life at all levels. Plants absorb this energy (photosynthesis,) which is later consumed by animals and humans. In its simplicity metabolomics studies the energy produced by our cells that is crucial for them to carry out their assigned duties. For cells to metabolize they need air, food, and the ability to get rid of toxins. Energy is supplied to the cells from the sun. Plants absord this energy (photosynthesis), which is later consumed by animals and humans.
Cell communication takes place mostly at the level of the outer cell membrane, which is equipped with antennae, or radar-like glycoproteins. These “receptors” are literally shaped into “lock-like” structures, by the energy produced within the cells themselves. Messages turn out to be “key-like” glycoproteins , or molecules that will need to match the lock, or receptors on the cell membranes for “listening “ to occur. The mitochondria are specialized organelles in charge of producing the energy necessary to fuel all activity within the cell. Mitochondria function takes place mostly in their own cell membranes, too. While the nuclei are very important to all cells, they are only a blue print to guide the production of each cell. The messages therein produced, are sent from the cell membrane, and received by other cells’ membranes throughout the body (J. Science, May 31st, 2002 & 2003;300:1461-1604.)
Naturally, the cell membrane becomes an extremely important part of cell communication and function. The cell membrane is the very interface between each cell and its environment. Cells are totally dependent on the environment in our bodies. There is strong link in poor diet, environmental pollution and stressful lifestyles for disease to infiltrate the body (“The Biology of Belief,” Bruce Lipton, 2005 & “Quantum Cellular Biology,” J. Medical Hypothesis 2001;57:358.).
As talked about before the acai berry is loaded with micronutrients needed by cells to maintain cell membrane integrity and function. Good energy absorption requires good intestinal function and the acai juice's micronutrients heal the intestinal lining and increase the availability of these molecules. The intestinal lining is made up of cells that may become leaky and as a result compromise energy and nutrient absorption and the elimination of toxins. Acai juice is a superfood that contians virtually all the nutrients necessary to sustain your life.
There is a good book that discusses Metabolomics in greater detail in relation to acai jucie it is written by Hugo Rodier, M.D. "33 Frequently Asked Question About Acai".