The Acai berry, the fruit of a palm tree which grows in the South American regions of Brazil and Peru is a nutritional powerhouse. However, the fruit is 90% seed pit, with only 10% being edible fruit and has a fat content, meaning that this is a fruit with a very short shelf life. The fruit is widely consumed locally but for export, it must be preserved by freezing acai pulp or making it into freeze dried acai powder.

The frozen and powdered form of this berry is said to be rich in protein, fiber, calorie, vitamins A and C, calcium and iron. Acai berry in its powder form is a strong antioxidant against superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. Its juice is a stronger antioxidant than red wine, orange juice and tea. Anthocyanin, the antioxidant found in this fruit is extremely beneficial to the health. It is the highest valued edible berry in the world according to ORAC.

This amazing tropical fruit can help to improve your digestion and brain function. Its high fiber content also helps your body to naturally detox, helping you get healthier skin.

Due to its protection of the nervous system it helps diagnose neurological illnesses. It reduces the chances of cancer, the protein content of it is higher than that of eggs, the circulatory system also benefits from it and it is also believed to improve the libido. It reduces inflammation and is very good for diabetic patients.

Says Oprah Winfrey of this berry: “This little berry is one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in the world. It can often be found in juice form in health food and gourmet stores.” With such an influential endorsement, no wonder everyone is interested in this amazing tropical fruit.

The high level of protein in the acai berry helps to control cholesterol levels and stimulates digestion. It’s heart healthy too – it contains fatty acids which are as powerful as those in olive oil! These omega 3 fatty acids also act as antioxidants and along with its vitamin E content, helps keep you looking and feeling younger.

The best part of consuming the Acai berry is that it can be done in many forms. You can eat the berry as a fruit, or make it into a pulp or even have it in its powdered form. Acai berry can be used to make frozen yogurt, mixed with other fruits to make smoothies and even milkshakes with the powder.

Athletes like the natural energy they get from acai, along with all of the other nutritional benefits offered by this fruit. The acai berry is becoming increasingly available and many are choosing acai over expensive supplement capsules and powders.

Tags: acai, alternative medicine, health, superfoods, supplements, Your Health & Body

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 7th, 2009 at 4:59 am and is filed under Your Health & Body. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.