What is Acai fruit and what does it look like?
Acai is a little blue (sometimes purple) berry that originated in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil. Acai is considered to be one of the most powerful and nutritious Superfoods on the planet. Acai has been used for centuries by the natives of Brazil for its legendary health properties. Acai 
palm trees can grow to heights of eighty feet.
How do you pronounce Acai?
Ah-SAH’-ee
What are the benefits of taking Acai?
Acai contains high levels of essential fatty acids Omega-3, Omega-6 as well as Omega-9 and monounsaturated oleic acid. Oleic acid is a beautifying oil.
Acai is ultra-rich in the blue-pigmented antioxidants and an extraordinarily rich source for many other antioxidants. Phenols and anthocyanins (an extraordinary 320mg per 100 grams), both potent antioxidants, give the berry its appealing dark blue/purple color. They play a critical role in neutralizing free radicals within the body, which promotes longevity.
Acai has one of the highest ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) values in the world. It weighs in at 185, compared to red grapes 11, blueberries 32 and pomegranates at 105.
Recent research indicates that Acai appears to help regenerate and produce stem cells. Stem cells help us to rejuvenate and heal faster by becoming any cell that is needed by our bodies. The more we can produce new stem cells the longer we live.
Acai contains large amounts of plant sterols, especially beta sitosterol. Plant sterols have been found to inhibit the absorption of excessive animal food-based cholesterol in the digestive tract. Beta sitosterol has been shown to have a preventative role in prostate and breast cancers.
More Acai health benefits:
- contains nineteen different amino acids necessary for building healthy proteins in the body
- an excellent source of fiber
- has a low glycemic level
- rich in minerals and vitamins, especially calcium, phosphorus, beta-carotene and vitamin E
All of these benefits add up to a Superfood that is a great natural energy booster, helps enhance nerve and brain function, promotes a healthy cardiovascular system, supports the creation of healthy smooth skin, improves endurance and muscular development, aids in digestive health, increases immune function and allows our body to rejuvenate itself.
Which form of Acai is the most beneficial?
The freeze-dried, organic, 100% whole fruit Acai berry pulp, powdered extract has the complete range of nutrients found in the fresh berry. When a juice is made into a “functional beverage” many of the beneficial phytonutrients are lost in the process. In addition many Acai juice drinks such as the overpriced Mona Vie have only small amounts of the active elements (the exact amounts are proprietary secrets) with the main ingredients being cheap, high glycemic fruit juices.
Does Acai help you lose weight?
There are many who say it is so, most notably Oprah and Rachael Ray. Many studies are suggesting that Acai has a thermogenic effect and it may prove to be true. Further Acai berry research is being conducted on this subject by many organizations. What is true is that a healthy lifestyle promotes weight loss and Acai is certainly part of a health-conscious lifestyle.
Page updated April 29, 2010
