Tuesday, January 6, 2009

What are the Benefits of the Acai Berry?

By Gray Rollins

The Acai berry is an amazing superfood native to South America. This fruit of the acai palm, which grows in Brazil and Peru is 90% seed and 10% pulp; they also have a very high fat content, meaning they do not last long in their fresh state and are generally unavailable fresh outside of the areas where grown. However, the pulp can be frozen or freeze dried and powdered for export.

Both in powdered and frozen forms, the aci berry is packed with fiber, protein, calcium, iron and vitamins A and C. Acai berry powder is a good source of antioxidants, having more antioxidant compounds than tea, orange juice or red wine. The antioxidant present in the acai berry (Anthocynanin) provides a number of health benefits - this fruit is the most nutritious edible berry in the world, according to the 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.

Acai berries also fights cancer, has a higher protein content than eggs and is beneficial to circulatory function and some say it even increases libido. There are also powerful anti-inflammatory properties possessed by this berry and it is helpful for managing the symptoms of diabetes.

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.

The acai berry is high on energy and antioxidants due to which athletes swear by this berry. Another positive side of having this fruit is that it is economical instead of spending loads of cash on expensive protein shakes, energy supplement capsules and drinks you can easily opt for this natural power food instead. It is also more easily available than it was before.

About the Author:

No comments: