The acai berry (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) is found in the Brazilian rainforests and is truly an Amazon super-fruit. A deep rich purple color, the acai berry is exceptionally rich in antioxidants, nature’s free radical destroyer.
Free radicals are commonly formed by the body’s metabolism and can cause premature aging, cancers and heart disease. They are mopped up the body by chemicals known as antioxidants, examples being ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and tocopherol (vitamin E). The acai berry is full of them.
The berries also contain other chemicals such as amino acids and good healthy fats that increase your energy levels and provide the materials necessary for the synthesis of protein by the body. The berries also improve digestion and circulation, in addition to increasing stamina and sexual function. It is probably the most powerful berry known to man, and can be purchased from health food stores. It is available in drink and pulp form, the pulp being particularly beneficial. It is nature’s high-energy power store with a gorgeous taste.
Said to taste a bit like blueberries with a coating of chocolate, the acai berry also contains essential vitamins and minerals, and are also a source of plant sterols. Plant sterols reduce cholesterol in the body, and are used in yoghurt drinks designed to reduce cholesterol and promote a healthy heart. What does this berry not contain! Being a deep red color, the berry naturally has rich vitamin C content similar to blueberries.
The acai fruit contains an extremely high concentration of chemicals called anthocyanins, which are flavonoids with a great antioxidant effect that can destroy the free radicals that cause aging and can severely affect your health. The antioxidant properties of red wine are well known, but the acai berry contains around twenty times the antioxidant content of red wine.
The control and mitigation of cardiovascular disease is of extreme importance to continued health, and the availability of foods that can reduce cholesterol and blood pressure, and carry an antioxidant effect, is of extreme importance. The acai berry possesses all of these properties and is available in a number of forms from the dried pulp to the liquid.
The berry is also rich in calcium, which itself can cause a reduction in blood pressure in addition to providing protection against osteoporosis. The calcium content has also been found in studies to provide a reduced risk of stroke, and might also be linked to reduced occurrences of certain types of cancers.
The acai palm grows 15 – 30 metres tall and the berry itself is about the shape and size of a grape, around one inch in diameter, but has less pulp than a grape. The antioxidant properties have been found to be enhanced by freeze-drying the pulp, and it is available commercially in this form. The palm produces two berry crops a year, and another property of the freeze-dried pulp is its 30% dietary fiber content.
The health benefits provided by this amazing berry are, therefore, numerous and varied. Which of them are the most significant depends on your own point of view. From the standpoint of control of cardiovascular disease, there are three major benefits. The reduction in cholesterol provided by the plant sterols is valuable, and might be boosted also by the high calcium content. Blood pressure is also lowered, and the antioxidant effect of the flavonoids further reduces the risk of heart disease.
There is a definite boost in energy provided by the acai berry, arising from the high proportion of vitamins, minerals and amino and fatty acids, and the high dietary fiber content of the pulp provides benefits for the digestive tract.
The acai berry is truly nature’s super-fruit and you should make it part of your regular diet, or take it as a dietary supplement, if it is available from your local health store.
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