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The Acai berry - natures wonder fruitWhat is Acai ? Its nutrients and its benefits
Acai is an antioxidant rich berry that grows wild in the Brazilian Amazon and tropical forests in Cetral America and is considered to be one of the top Superfoods in the world. Acai has long been consumed in Brazil but is relatively new in other parts of the world. Acai, like other fruits and herbs found in the rainforests on this planet holds the key to many of the unknown health benefits. A reason for acai's slow adoption in other countries is that the fruits can be had only for a short period post-harvest, before it quickly deteriorates. Hey good things don't last do they ? so the fruit is only available in juice or fruit pulp outside the growing region. The juice and pulp of acai fruits are frequently used in various juice blends, smoothies, sodas, and other beverages, primarily in South America where such products are widely available.
Acai fruit flavor and textureThe fruit pulp is very deep purple and is reminiscent of a blueberry. Akai berries are produced by a palm tree known scientifically as Euterpe oleracea, common in floodplain areas of the Amazon River. When ripe, the berries take on a dark purple color and about the size of a blueberry. They contain a thin layer of fruit pulp surrounding a large seed.
The Nutrients in AcaiThe fruit pulp also has very good antibacterial properties, resulting in wide use as an astringent in South America. All of the above nutrients makes acai one of the most concentrated source of nutrients you can get in a fruit form. Due to the high antixoxidant content, the acai berry is known as one of the most powerful of the anti-aging foods.
Acai berry studyA University of Florida study found that acai contains antioxidants that destroyed cultured human cancer cells. University of Florida was one of the first to investigate the fruit’s purported benefits. "This was only a cell-culture model and we don’t want to give anyone false hope. We are encouraged by the findings, however. Compounds that show good activity against cancer cells in a model system are most likely to have beneficial effects in our bodies" the study noted. No specific studies have been found on acai usage during pregnancy. The benefits or detriments on pregnancy is unknown at this time - it is better to err on the side of caution here.
Why Acai ?All the nutrients in Acai makes it one of the best immune boasting nutrient formulas you can get in a food item. This nutrient packed berry is truly one of the wonders of the Amazon.
In what form is Acai available ?The juice and pulp of acai fruits are frequently used in various juice blends, smoothies, sodas, and other beverages. Fruit pulp and juice can be found in many health food stores. Popularity of acai has risen so much that even skin creams using acai have also become available. When a natural product such as Acai, becomes a health fad, several products are bought to market in a massive scale by manufacturers to tap into a perceived trend. Thus you can find acai capsules, acai fruit punch, tablets and a myriad of other forms that can give you your dose of acai. While the benefits of Acai has been widely touted, it is not a panacea for all ills. The consumer needs to exercise caution in buying Acai related products and should watch carefully as to what they are really getting.
About the AuthorJosh E. Thomas is a nutrition specialist. and contributor at Smatix: nutrition.smatix.com. He lives in California with his wife & daughter. This article can be freely re-published in any form, as long as the Author credit and links are included.
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