Not all fats are created equal. While for many years all types of fats were seen as leading to a higher risk of heart disease, it has now been solidly established that some types of fats, namely unsaturated fats, actually diminish the risk of cardiovascular maladies.

How? It all begins with cholesterol, a soft, wax-like substance produced in our bodies but also acquired from the consumption of foods containing it. Cholesterol is necessary for our organism as it has an important function in the development of cell membranes and hormones. But when there is too much cholesterol in our blood stream it tends to build up and lead to a narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) and even a total block of circulation (heart attack).

Blood cholesterol level is crucially affected by the amount and type of cholesterol carriers in our blood. Carrier proteins called low-density lipoproteins (LDL) carry cholesterol from the liver into the bloodstream and thereby increase blood cholesterol level. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) shuttle the cholesterol out of the bloodstream and into the liver, where it is then disposed of, thus lowering blood cholesterol level. While saturated fats (most animal fats) and trans fats (margarine, hydrogenated oils) increase harmful LDL and decrease beneficial HDL levels, unsaturated fats do exactly the opposite: they increase beneficial HDL and decrease harmful LDL levels, therefore reducing blood cholesterol level and the associated risk of cardiovascular complications.

The great majority of fats found in açai are unsaturated, heart-healthy fats. 100g (3.5oz) of pure açai (like Wonderfruit Açai^® Real Pure) contain over 4g of linoleic acid (part of the omega 6 family of unsaturated fatty acids) and oleic acid (part of the omega 9 family of unsaturated fatty acids). Linoleic acid has the additional advantage of being an Essential Fatty Acid (EFA), that is, a fat that humans need but cannot synthesize, and must therefore be obtained through the diet.