Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Acai Super Fruit from the Amazon Now Available in the West

By Marcus C. Evans

The berries of the South American acai are small and round and grow deep in the Amazon rain forests. Natives have harvested these small fruits by hand and climbed the trees they grow on to do so. The clusters of fruit at the tree tops (a type of palm tree) do not appear that different from the purple grapes we have here.

The taste of the berries is a luscious combination of mixed berries and dark chocolate. The acai berry is only about one inch in size, but has relatively little pulp because the seed of the fruit take up almost all of the interior space. For years the Caboclo peoples who live in the Brazilian Amazon have harvested the berries as food and enjoyed various health benefits as a result.

Almost fifty percent of the diet of the natives consists of these berries enabling them to lead a healthy, active life. The acai has gained a reputation as a miniature super fruit. This is because the fruit is known to be capable of providing energy in abundance and promotes the overall strength and health in people who eat this fruit or drink its juice. Many others find that weight control is another benefit of this amazing fruit. Natives believe that a strong heart, clear mind and long lives are promoted by the super berries.

The pulp and juice of the acai are used to create juices and some other drinks. You will find these drinks popular in Brazil and Peru and more recently in Western countries. Brazilians eat the fresh fruit and sometimes have the fruit mashed in with tapioca, sugar and honey. It has also been mixed with granola and put into ice cream. The results of extraordinary benefits have been reported for decades throughout South America and have more recently been confirmed by others.

The acai berries contain healthy fats and as a result of this they are a very perishable food item. Western countries enjoy yogurts, juices and energy drinks containing acai. It can be found in frozen fruit pulp or even as a freeze-dried powder when consumed far from where the berries are harvested.

Contained in the fruit is anthocyanins and resveratrol. Studies show these have benefits for the human body. One benefit is that within two hours when drinking acai juice the antioxidant level increases significantly in the blood stream. This antioxidant increase heightens the body's ability to fight free radicals that attack cells in the body.

There are also ongoing studies that suggest that this fruit is good for heart and blood circulation. Other studies are showing great promise that active ingredients in the berry may even be useful for fighting certain cancers.

For Australians and others who live and play at a fast pace, this fruit is able to provide energy whilst also providing other health benefits.

The energy levels and endurance experienced have turned a number of high profile sporting figures into serious proponents of the acai berry. People living athletic lives such as runners, swimmers and others who enjoy the outdoor life will find this supplement gives them all the energy they need to really enjoy their healthy and active life style.

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