Facts About Acai Berry

In just the last few years, the acai berry has become all the buzz on TV shows, in magazines, and certainly on the internet as the next “super food.”  Oprah Winfrey has had both cosmetic expert Nicholas Perricone and Dr. Mehmet Oz (her constant medical contributor) praise the acai berry for different reasons on her show. 

Indeed, most people had probably never heard of acai berries until just recently.  So just where did the acai berry come from, what is all the fuss about, and what can it do for us? Here are a number of facts about acai berries:

They grow as a small white or purple fruit that is harvested from palm trees in the Amazon rain forest in Brazil and other Central and South American regions, usually in flood lands or swampy areas.

They have been used in these areas for a long time by people who swear by them.  Interestingly, the fruit is sometimes salty, sometimes sweet and is consumed in drinks, ice cream, and smoothies.  People today that consume acai regularly say they sleep better, have more energy, a stronger immune system, and better concentration. 

1. Acai has quite a high fat content for a fruit, making it quickly perishable and the berries not easily transported outside of where they’re grown.
   
2. Some people, including bestselling author, Dr. Peritonea, rate acai as the #1 super food in the world because it has high concentrations of several essential nutrients.
   
3. The taste of acai berries is often described as a mixture of berries and chocolate.
   
4. Only the purple variety of acai has been shown to have the antioxidants that will fight free radicals and aging. They are full of amino acids, fiber, protein, and essential fatty acids.
   
5. Most acai is sold in the form of capsules containing powdered acai or liquid bottled drinks.
   
6. The theoretical  health benefits attributed to acai are many:  immune system boost, improved mental focus, better sleep, better stamina and more energy, better digestion, better circulation, anti-aging support, aids in prevention of Alzheimer’s disease, anti-allergenic support, helps prevent blood clots, and improves sexual functioning.  There have been many research studies done that seem to bear out the validity of almost every one of these claims as well.
   
7. The Acai berry rots within 24-36 hours of being picked, so it must be processed immediately. To that end, sellers have opened facilities in the Amazon to process it at its source rather than risk attempts at transporting it.
   
8. Antioxidants like acai berries prevent cell oxidation and damage.  When our cells get oxidized, it ages them and they get sick, and that is why antioxidants and phytochemicals are essential to combat the free radicals that are damaging the cells and causing aging.
   
9. Berries in general have lots of antioxidants to prevent aging, help us stay healthy, and prevent chronic illnesses like heart disease and cancer.  Acai berries in specific offer even more of these properties and the best of health.
   

There are many great benefits to regular consumption of acai berries. They’ve been shown to have far more antioxidants than any fruit, even more than blueberries and pomegranate, which have long been the gold standard for health.  Add acai to your diet and get a healthy boost!