With various health threats and an ongoing global pandemic, it is critical for people to protect their immune systems and maximize all the wellness support they can get. University of Toronto researchers presented as one viable option the nutrients found in the Brazilian acai super berry in a virtual forum on December 1 in partnership with Philippine wellness company Organique. Filipino medical experts were also present in the forum, entitled “Superfood Acai Berry Against COVID-19 symptoms: How to Harness its Nutrients,” which focused on the Canadian study that found the super berry to be a potential treatment for some COVID-19 symptoms. 

面對各種健康威脅和持續的全球大流行，保護人們的免疫系統並使他們獲得的所有健康支持最大化是至關重要的。多倫多大學的研究人員在12月1日與菲律賓健康公司Organique合作舉辦的虛擬論壇中，提出了巴西巴西超級漿果中發現的營養素作為一種可行的選擇。菲律賓醫學專家也出席了論壇，主題為“針對新冠肺炎症狀的超級食品Acai Berry：如何利用其營養素”，該論壇的重點是加拿大的一項研究，該研究發現超級漿果可以治療某些新冠肺炎症狀。

The clinical trial tests, which are slated to wrap up by the end of the first quarter of 2021, will determine whether an early intervention of acai palm berry extract can help mitigate severe inflammation problems in COVID-19 patients, thanks to the superfood’s potent anti-inflammatory properties. 

由於超級食品的有效抗衰老作用，預計將於2021年第一季度末結束的臨床試驗測試將確定早期對巴西棕櫚果提取物的干預是否可以幫助減輕新冠肺炎患者的嚴重炎症問題。。

“Organique has always believed in ‘prevention over cure.’ This is what has continuously compelled us to provide an affordable, safe, and effective immunity-boosting supplement powered by the acai super berry,” said Organique CEO and President Cathy Salimbangon. “The findings from the University of Toronto’s study could be ground-breaking as we navigate COVID-19.”

Organique首席執行官兼總裁Cathy Salimbangon說：“ Organique一直堅信’預防過度。’這一直使我們不斷提供負擔得起，安全且有效的增強acai超級漿果免疫力的補充劑。” “在我們瀏覽新冠肺炎時，多倫多大學的研究結果可能是開創性的。”

Organique’s premium health products harness the powers of the Brazilian acai super berry, touting benefits for anti-aging, weight-loss support, immunity-boosting, and more.

Organique的優質保健產品充分利用了巴西超級漿果的功效，為抗衰老，減肥支持，增強免疫力等功能而吹捧。

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been strong evidence that COVID-19 can trigger the body’s acute inflammatory response, leading to severe complications such as heart and lung inflammation. Initial medical studies have shown that the acai berry’s extracts have the potential of controlling the body’s inflammatory response within normal levels.

自大流行開始以來，有強有力的證據表明新冠肺炎可以觸發人體的急性炎症反應，從而導致嚴重的並發症，例如心臟和肺部炎症。最初的醫學研究表明，巴西莓提取物具有將人體的炎症反應控制在正常水平的潛力。

The acai can also significantly decrease NLRP3-mediated inflammation, which is what triggers the body’s response to ward off infections and stress. These findings came from Dr. Ana Andreazza, associate professor of Pharmacology and Psychiatry at the University of Toronto. Originally from Brazil and working with other Brazilian researchers on this berry, Dr. Andreazza said that “acai was effective as an anti-inflammatory. It’s important to note that it has a very similar effect on the NLRP3 cell as it does with a damaged mitochondria as we’ve seen.”

acai還可以顯著減少NLRP3介導的炎症，這是觸發人體對抵禦感染和壓力的反應的原因。這些發現來自多倫多大學藥理學和精神病學副教授Ana Andreazza博士。 Andreazza博士最初來自巴西，並與其他巴西研究人員共同研究了這種漿果。他說：“ acai可以有效地起到消炎作用。需要特別注意的是，它對NLRP3細胞的作用與我們看到的線粒體受損非常相似。”

Dr. Joseph Lee, a guest speaker at the forum who has done extensive research on Acai, said, “For the duration that we have given acai to our patients, we have noted that they are stable and there is no erratic change to them even if they are on maintenance for high blood and liver enzyme—and those are prone to changes. Basically, through continued monitoring of all our patients and their responses to acai, we have found that acai remains a most promising superfood that can likely live up to all the claims.”

論壇的特邀演講者Joseph Lee博士對Acai進行了廣泛的研究，他說：“在我們為患者提供acai的持續時間內，我們注意到他們是穩定的，即使他們也沒有任何不穩定的變化 如果需要維持血液和肝酶的含量，則容易發生變化。 基本上，通過持續監控我們所有的患者及其對acai的反應，我們發現acai仍然是最有前途的超級食品，可以滿足所有要求。”

A previous study by Dr. Andreazza also revealed that acai may even prevent mental stress too—another problem brought about by the pandemic and its socio-economic consequences such as financial uncertainty, economic slowdown, and long bouts of isolation during lockdowns. 

Andreazza博士先前的研究還表明，acai甚至還可以預防精神壓力，這是大流行及其社會經濟後果帶來的另一個問題，例如金融不確定性，經濟放緩以及封鎖期間長期孤立。

Although much of the research is at its early stages, the researchers remain positive that it can potentially open doors in the fight against disease worldwide. 

儘管許多研究仍處於初期階段，但研究人員仍對它有可能為全球抗擊疾病敞開大門持積極態度。

“Within the next six months we can see if it can be shared globally as an efficient treatment. We can see if it can treat the virus, and if ever, be used for prevention, as well as for the actual symptoms. We will also monitor if there are any after-effects in COVID-19 patients two to five years down the line,” added Dr. Michael Farkouh, lead researcher and director of the Peter Munk Centre of Excellence in Multinational Clinical Trials. “The beauty of this trial is it can be done remotely. We can ship the extract or the placebo and monitor them for any need for hospitalization. We will be checking in on them on day 1, day 15, and day 30 for regular monitoring of their clinical status.” 

“在接下來的六個月中，我們可以看到它是否可以作為一種有效的治療方法在全球範圍內共享。 我們可以看到它是否可以治療病毒，以及是否可以用於預防以及實際症狀。 我們還將監測新冠肺炎患者在兩到五年內是否有任何後遺症，” Peter Munk多國臨床試驗卓越中心首席研究員兼主任Michael Farkouh博士補充說。 “該試驗的優點在於可以遠程完成。 我們可以運送提取物或安慰劑，並監測是否需要住院。 我們將在第1天，第15天和第30天對他們進行檢查，以定期監測他們的臨床狀況。”

 “This can make a huge difference in a country like the Philippines, where many are unable to afford COVID care. If proven effective, this is just another reason why the acai berry should be a staple in our lifestyle,” stated Dr. Sonny Viloria, an expert in Integrative Wellness. While there has yet to be an approved vaccine for COVID-19, Dr. Viloria iterated that our immune system remains our best weapon against sickness. 

“在像菲律賓這樣的許多人無力負擔新冠肺炎護理費用的國家，這可能會帶來巨大的改變。 如果證明有效，這就是為什麼巴西莓成為我們生活中必不可少的另一個原因，”綜合健康專家Sonny Viloria博士說。 儘管還沒有批准的新冠肺炎疫苗，但Viloria博士重申我們的免疫系統仍然是抵抗疾病的最佳武器。

Salimbangon concluded, “We at Organique have been believers of the powers of acai since 2009, and we will continue to spread awareness about it until more people have more access to these supplements. Maintaining good health means good nutrition-—and that could possibly be achieved with supplements like Organique.”

Salimbangon總結說：“自2009年以來，Organique一直信奉acai的力量，我們將繼續傳播對acai的認識，直到更多的人有更多機會使用這些補充劑為止。 保持健康就意味著良好的營養-可以通過Organique這樣的補充劑來實現。”