Matt Mason asked:


Obesity in the United States has reached endemic proportions. And many are turning to weight loss surgery as a quick-fix solution. Somewhere in the Amazon jungle, there lies the safest alternative to gastric bypass surgery – the Brazilian acai fruit.

Just like any other invasive surgical treatment, stomach stapling and intestinal bypass are not 100% safe. Risks and complications include blood clots in the legs, leaking around the staples, and hernias in the incision. Many suffer from dehydration and vitamin deficiency. Some develop gallstones, kidney stones and bleeding ulcers.

The Brazilian acai fruit presents no such side effects. By speeding up the body’s metabolism and burning fat quickly, acai has proven to be extremely effective in weight reduction. Acai is also a valuable detoxifying agent – removing toxins and accumulated fat can trim down body mass.

While acai juice drinks and powder formulas are not for the budget-conscious, they are still way cheaper than bariatric procedures such as laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery, vertical banded gastroplasty, biliopancreatic diversion, and extended (distal) Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery which can cost a fortune.

Why go under the knife and put your life in danger when obesity can be treated through non-surgical means. But first, one must believe that habitual eating and physical activity behavior can be re-learned. Stick to a low-calorie diet even after you’ve achieved your ideal weight. Most people regain most of the weight they lost within a year or two of crash dieting.

Although acai can help you burn calories, exercise is still the most important, and difficult, factor in keeping excess weight off. Exercise is hard work. But you don’t even have to go to the gym to shed those extra pounds. You can lose 15 pounds in 50 weeks by just walking your dog 20 minutes a day.

The Brazilian acai fruit and its byproducts are intended to work with fat-free diets by replenishing the body with the energy you burn and supply essential vitamins and minerals that might be absent in the food you eat.

Robert asked:


A healthy diet is knonwn to provide many benefits but those benefits can be maximized by consuming certain types of foods which are able to deliver higher levels of nutrients that can enhance the functions of our metabolic system.  An exotic fruit which was recently discovered is now the center of attention of the health and beauty community, this fruit is called Acai.

Where does it come from?

Acai is a Palm member of the genus Euterpe and can be found in floodplains and swamps of Central America but mainly in South America (Brazil).  The word Acai is a derivation of the word iwasa’i which in Portuguese means fruit that expels water.  This type of berry is found in Belize, Peru but there is a higher concentration in the Amazon basin because it provides the perfect environment for this Palm to grow.

It has been long said that the Amazon basin hides secret cures to many of the modern ailments that we experience today but, due to its impressive size and density, many of the secrets found in the Amazonian rain forest may remain hidden for long time.  Luckily for us, the Acai fruit was first used by natives who’ve long believed that such berry had fantastic properties which helped their women recuperate after giving birth and they also believe that the very same fruit was able to provide enough energy to anyone who consumed it.

There are several species of Acai found in the Amazonian basin, those are:

– Euterpe oleracea

– Euterpe precatoria

– Euterpe broadwayi

– Euterpe catinga

– Euterpe longibracteata

– Euterpe luminosa

– Euterpe edulis

The fruit of this Palm has a color tone between black and purple and its external appearance is very similar to a grape but Acai has less pulp, the branched panicles may contain as much as 900 berries.  The heart of the Palm is often consumed in salads and the fruit itself represents nearly 42% of the total food intake of people who live in the Amazonian region.  They do this to say the fruit is cultivated in order to be consumed and used in various juice blends, sodas and smoothies.

The same use is given to this fruit and other countries because such berry contains ingredients that can help people lose weight, promote overall health, prevent cardiovascular conditions, can help a person to detoxify his or her system and a quarter into recent studies it may also have an application when it comes to the treatment of cancerous cells.

In South America this fruit is given many other uses besides being used for foods and drinks, the Palm may be used for the construction and manufacturing of hats, mats, baskets and even roof hatches for homes.  Acai seeds are also gathered and given to livestock as food along with a mixture of other ingredients and nutrients; but perhaps the most important application that we can give to this extremely useful natural resource is better understood when we apply health related concepts and realize that there may be nutrients this berry contains can not only help us loose weight and improve our system but can also slow down the aging process which is something that most people would travel to the ends of the earth in search of.

franklinescort asked:


Acai fruit is also referred to as acai berry. It grows on Amazon trees – the palm trees that are found in Brazilian regions. Brazilian natives have been using this fruit as a super food since ages. However, considering the wide array of health benefits that it has to offer, these fruits have gained rapid popularity in other parts of the world as well. Following are some of the benefits to your health.

Controls Cholesterol Level



Incorporating acai fruit into your diet plan is one of the best ways to maintain cholesterol levels. This is because these fruits are rich in essential fatty acids and Omegas 6 and 9.

Prevents Heart Disease

These berries are also rich in anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are phytochemicals that are usually found in red wine. These plant chemicals have been found to be very useful in preventing heart disease. In fact, in comparison to red wine, anthocyanins is found 10-30 times more in acai fruit than it is found in red wine.

Other Benefits

* These fruits are also very rich in fiber and iron.

* In comparison to any other fruits in the market, acai can provide the highest level of antioxidants. For example, in comparison to the red wine grapes, the antioxidant level is up to 33 times more in acai. The antioxidant level in acai is twice in comparison to blueberries and 10 times more in comparison to the antioxidants found in grapes.

* Lots of vitamins and minerals are also found in acai, such as Fiber, Potassium, Calcium, Phosphorus, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, and Vitamin B1, B2, and B3.

Those who have incorporated acai fruit in their diet plan have also approved several other benefits, such as improved mental focus, better digestion, better sleep, and stamina. Overall, it is not an exaggeration to say that acai berry is a very powerful food source.