Health Benefits of Acai

What is Acai

It has been only recently that the acai berry had been marketed as a dietary supplement, most commonly as a weight loss product. However it has also been touted as having the ability to improve energy levels, sexual performance, digestion, skin appearance, heart health, good sleep, cholesterol levels, and detoxification capacity. Aside from being a good source of fiber and antioxidants the berries also have significant amounts of calcium, iron, vitamin A, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and some vitamin C. In a recent study acai juice had an antioxidant capacity equivalent to that of black cherry and cranberry juice and higher than that of orange juice, apple juice and tea.

Acai Origin

Acai or acai berries are from the acai palm tree. The berries have often been known for their healthful properties. The berries contain natural flavonoids and antioxidants that help enrich the vitality of the body and have recently become one of the most sought-after berries of all time. Global demand for the berries has expanded rapidly in recent years, and acai is now cultivated for that purpose primarily.

Acai Culinary Uses

The juice and pulp of acai berries are used in various juice blends, smoothies, sodas and other drinks. Acai is also traditionally served in South America with tapioca, granola, and ice cream and is also made into a liqueur.

Acai Berries

The acai berry is a small, round, black-purple drupe about 1 inch in diameter, and looks like a grape and has a single large seed about a quarter to a half inch wide. The berries are produced in branched panicles of about 700 to 900 berries. Two crops of berries are produced each year.

Acai Palm Tree

The acai palm is a species of palm tree that is native to Central and South America. These palms, usually found in exotic locales, grow mainly in swamps and floodplains. Acai palms are fast growing and reach the height of about 50 to 75 feet, the tallest sometimes reaching close to 100 feet with leaves measuring close to 10 feet long. They are cultivated for both their berries and for their superior hearts of palm. The soft inner tip of the palm or “heart” is typically eaten in salads.

History of the Acai Berry

Of course you know that the Acai palm tree (açaí) is a 6-24 meter tall, fruiting palm that grows in Amazonia, mostly in the wetlands of Brazil.

It was named by the native people there as “içá-çai”, which roughly translated is: “the fruit that cries”.

It’s an unusual name, but it has a story. An Acai-obsessed Brazilian told this one to me.

(You’ll have to judge yourself how factual it is.)

Many moons ago there was an Amazon Indian girl named “Iaca,” whose father was the tribe’s chief. His tribe had outgrown the local food supply and there was no longer enough food for everyone.

The chief decreed that all newborn babies must be killed until food supplies are sustainable again. (Pretty drastic, I know.) When Iaca, his own daughter had a child herself, the chief had his one grandbaby killed in order to not appear two-faced.

Iaca naturally wasn’t too happy, mourning her baby’s death alone in her hut for days.

Then she heard a baby crying outdoors, and followed the sound into the Jungle. After a little while she came across a very tall palm tree, covered in purple fruit.

Seeing all the food that could have saved her daughter was too much for Iaca, so some say she died right there against the trunk of the tree.

The next morning the other tribesmen found the new tree and Iaca’s body. The tree’s fruit satisfied their hunger and renewed their energy, making them stronger than ever before. The chief lifted his harsh ruling and declared that the fruit would be named for his daughter, and named it Acai, because acai is “Iaca” spelled backwards.

So with plenty of food for all, the tribe grew and is still there eating Acai berries three meals a day to this day.

One very interesting thing to note about that story is that very few of the native Indian tribes from before Columbus had survived in South America… Most were wiped out, not by conquistadors, but by European germs.

But not those who lived on the Acai berry. Their numbers never dwindled!

In modern times, Acai has been eaten daily for decades by people across Brazil.

A cold bowl of Acai is usually eaten in the morning for breakfast. (I eat one of these myself each morning… Yum!)

In the 1950’s, local doctors began to notice the health benefits of Acai.

In the 1980’s, refrigerated trucks were able to get the first frozen berries from the rainforest to Rio, where it has flourished as a very popular smoothie, ice-cream, and even cocktail ingredient ever since. They eat it many times a day down there and almost always eat it with dinner when they stay out late to party all night.

Only recently, since late 2000, have a few small start-up companies attempted to bring it to the United States and other countries. One of the first companies was Sambazon, and they are to this day the largest supplier of Acai berry pulp outside of Brazil.

Since it started showing up in supermarkets across the country, new medical studies have popped up and researchers are founding out about all of the exciting health benefits of Acai on a daily basis.

Dr. Andrew Schuass was the first to perform an ORAC analysis on the Acai Berry, and since has inspired many, many other doctors and scientists to run their own tests.

To date, none have ever failed to be amazed.

Acai Anti-aging

Most of us  to prevent wrinkles, heart disease, and cancer a small fruit from the Amazon may be simply the right treatment. Although not as widely known as other fruits, Acai berries are one of the most healthy and strong foods in the world. The acai berry is a dark purple, grape-size fruit that comes from a palm tree from the Amazon rainforest. Acai berry bears 50 percent essential fatty acids and has the same healthful fat found in olive oil. Acai has about as much calcium as milk, and an amino acid profile similar to eggs. The antioxidants found in Acai berry are also found in blueberries and wine.The specific nutritional composition of acai berries aids to protect the body from free radicals and inflammation, which are the two main causes of degenerative diseases and aging. The antioxidant in acai helps prevent aging of the body and the skin by eradicating free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that are missing an electron. Our bodies continue to produce free radicals as byproducts of normal metabolic processes and in response to such environmental elements, such as pollution and radiation. Left alone these free radicals can take electrons away from healthy cells and damages DNA, increasing the risk of heart disease, cancer and other degenerative diseases.The most effective foods to fight this process contain antioxidants such as Vitamin C and E and beta carotene. Foods like blueberries, spinach, strawberries and wine are great but Acai berry is even better. Acai berry also plays an powerful role combating inflammation. Acai berry fights inflammation and wrinkles similar to that of salmon and extra virgin olive oil. Acai berry can be found in many natural stores in capsules and powder. Acai berry can be taken as a capsule but you can use the powder or the fruit can be used to make smoothies, juice drinks or yogurt, and not only will it be very beneficial for your health, it is also delicious and enjoyable to make. Acai has a taste that is often described as a hint of chocolate and red wine. Since it is a fruit there are no known negative side effects using Acai berry.