Açaí (pronounced ‘ah-sigh-ee’) Berries are small berries that look like purple grapes. And like grapes they have certain nutritional qualities and health benefits, but at amazingly higher levels that has gotten it hailed as the perfect fruit for mankind.

Acai Berries are actually from Açaí Berry Palms (Euterpe oleracea) which are endemic to the Amazon Rainforests of Brazil. They have long been staple to the natives of the region. The Acai Berry itself is what is called among botanists as a drupe. The seed makes up 80-90% of the fruit. The juice and pulp of the Acai Berry derived from separating the pulp from the seed is popular in Brazil for use in juice blends, smoothies, and even ice cream and liqueur.

Recently, Acai Berries are rapidly becoming popular internationally. With good reason. Acai Berries are packed with an awesome amount of antioxidants – ten times that of grapes and about two to four times that of blueberries. In addition, they are considered to have the best overall nutritional value of any fruit on Earth.

Acai Berries are extremely rich in vegetable protein, which unlike animal protein, do not result in cholesterol and are easier to absorb by the body. They are also rich in carbohydrates which fuel your body during activities like working out. They also contain very high amounts of essential fatty acids and omegas that lower harmful cholesterol levels. The purple color itself is not accidental. These are from anthocyanins, a kind of antioxidant that lends it its purple hue. Acai Berries actually have 10 to 30 times more anthocyanins than Red Wine in terms of volume! The remarkably high levels of antioxidants help fight free radicals and prevent premature aging.

So what exactly does its antioxidants and nutritional value help with anyway? Why is it becoming so popular? To put it simply, Acai Berries can improve digestion; help in losing weight; promote better sleep; reduce muscle fatigue and pain, increase energy and libido, fight cancer and illnesses lower blood pressure, strengthen the immune and cardiovascular system, and fight aging and inflammation.

With all those benefits, you might expect Acai Berry to taste like medicine, huh? Actually no. Açaí Berries have a distinctly tropical flavor that has been described as something between a blend of berries and chocolate. It truly is the number one super food of the world.

 

If you have not noticed, a lot of people are becoming more health-conscious than ever. They watch what they eat, exercise regularly, and take in supplements to make sure that they stay fit and healthy. The latest trend in staying healthy today is taking in acai berry, or supplements that contain it’s extract. In fact, many Hollywood celebrities are incorporating the acai fruit into their diet and lifestyle.

A Little Bit About The Acai Berry

Acai berry is actually a fruit that comes from Euterpe oleracea, or the acai palm tree, which can be found in Central and South America. It looks like a grape, except much smaller, and comes in a purplish-black color.

Several researches and studies have shown that the acai fruit has antioxidant properties and that it can help prevent illnesses brought about by oxidative stress like cancer and heart disease.

What Makes It Beneficial To Your Health

Acai berry contains flavonoids and anthocyanins, which are strong antioxidants that help protect the human body against free radicals that can cause premature aging, tissue damage, and some diseases. A regular intake of acai fruit supplements, together with an antioxidant-rich diet and healthy lifestyle can neutralize free radicals and slow down the aging and disease process.

The anthocyanins in acai are similar to the compounds in red wine that give it its health benefits. Acai berries contain a much higher concentration of anthocyanins, making it a healthier alternative to red wine.

It also contains a lot of vitamins and minerals that help nourish the body. Acai is found to be rich in proteins, Vitamins A, B1 and E, electrolytes, omega fats, and amino acids. Those living in the Amazon forest have long used the acai fruit for their shakes, drinks, and meals. Also, Acai is known to have a low sugar content, making it a better alternative to more sugary fruits.

There are many health benefits of the acai berry. Studies show that the acai fruit pulp has higher concentrations of antioxidant content compared to blackberry, blueberry, strawberry, raspberry and cranberry.

Perhaps the major health benefit of acai is that it helps protect the heart from diseases. Acai is a naturally rich source of dietary fiber and it helps prevent cardiovascular diseases. It also contains omega-6 and -9 fatty acids that help lower cholesterol levels in the blood. Recently, scientists are looking into the weight loss properties of the acai fruit.

Where To Find Acai

Years ago, the acai fruit is actually hard to find, but with the growing demand and interest of the public, producers of acai makes this superfood available to the market. Now one can purchase raw acai berries, acai supplements, and concentrated acai fruit juices in natural grocery stores and health food outlets.

So if you want to be healthy the natural way, one way to do so would be to incorporate acai berry into your system. With its many health benefits, it can be considered as Mother Earth’s most healing fruit, worthy to add in your healthy diet and lifestyle.