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.

Simple Steps to an Acai Weight Loss Program

As you have probable seen on TV or read on the Internet Acai Berries are a fantastic way to lose weight. Acai berries, often referred to as “nature’s energy fruit” have benefits WAY beyond just weight loss. Acai berries were originally found in the Amazon rainforest and are packed with more nutrients then nearly every other natural food.

In this brief article I will cover off a few simple steps that will help you get started with your acai weight loss program.

The acai berry is available in several forms including: Frozen Berries, Extract/Juice & Capsules. Some of these forms are easier to consume then others.

The Acai berry has a very pleasing taste – most describe the taste as a chocolate covered berry. If you can find the berries in a store near your home you may want to try a bag of frozen berries. They can be eaten on their own or blended into smoothies, mixed into pancakes and added to breakfast cereals (hot or cold!).

Acai Juice & extract is a highly concentrated form of the acai berry. Extract is often sold in a 5:1 concentration and will normally have approximately 1000mg of acai berry. This is a very popular form of the taking the acai berry due to the high concentration.

Acai Capsules are a highly concentrated capsule or pill that is usually packed with several vitamins & nutrients along with the acai berry itself. Some of the additional nutrients include Phosphorus, Calcium, Potassium and valuable fatty acids including Omega 6 and Omega 9. Acai capsules are also very easy to work into a regular daily routine. For these reasons the capsules are a popular way of using Acai in a an acai weight loss program.

Acai berries are available in many health food stores and at several online herbal supplement stores. You may decide to go for the nice tasting whole acai berries or possibly you decide to go for the convenience & cost effectiveness of the capsules. Either way you should be careful to buy acai berries from a reputable source. A few things you can do when buying acai berries. Only buy certified organic products and MAKE SURE the product contains a high concentration of acai. Some scams trying to capitalize on the popularity of acai are selling nothing more then sweetened water! This is easy to avoid if you read the label. Last, demand a money back guarantee if buying online – the label on the package you receive should match the label you were shown on the internet.