These are two 'headline' Superfoods that have emerged out of Southern America in lately. Acai berries have been quite a sensation, in all senses of the word, with a huge number of dietary supplements now claiming to tap into the health benefits of the berry. But the Maqui berry has made quite an impact itself in recent times– and recent research  strongly suggests health benefits that look like more than holding their own against the Acai berry.

So the question to ask is– which is better?

Acai Berry vs Maqui Berry

It is important that you make sure your brain is switched on when you compare the two berries. Both make important health claims, many of which have been authenticated by research studies. But there has been no research studies of side by side results so we only can make an educated guess in comparisons.

As there is such little direct scientific studies to compare it is important that we only deal in facts– facts that have been researched and authenticated by the larger scientific community. It is these results( not the unsubstantiated claims) that we shall be comparing.

ORAC Score

The Acai berry and the Maqui berry are both able to boast high contents of antioxidants. The normal way to measure the antioxidant level of foods is to use the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) score. In this case the higher the ORAC score 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 states clearly that the levels of antioxidant in the Maqui berry exceed those found in the Acai berry. This is of importance when it comes to health benefits.

This is because containing a large level of antioxidants is one of the basic factors  composing a 'superfood'. Most of the health claims that these two berries promise as to boosting health levels come from the amounts of antioxidants that they are able to parade. Antioxidants are essential to our well being in many wide ranging ways.

• They help fight cancer.
• They have an anti-aging capacity.
• They boost the immune system.
• Improves our energy levels.

and much more as well. As the Maqui Berry has about 3 to 4 times the quantities of antioxidants of the Acai it means that it can boast more powerful benefits with regards it's role as a health supplement.

Nutritional Benefits

There are extremely high amounts of vitamins and nutrients in both the Acai and the Maqui berries. However there is not any simple umbrella scoring method to count such factors (unfortunately) as there is with the antioxidants.

What has become noted is that the far larger number of nutrients and vitamins in the Acai than in the Maqui points to it is more 'powerful' in these aspects of being a health supplement.

This means 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.