All about Acai

You've heard about it on Oprah and on Rachael Ray, even the news is raving about it. But the question remains: what is acai berry?

Pronounced "ah-sigh-EE", the acai berry is nothing short of the "number one super food in the world." The crop is produced twice a year from the large acai palm tree in Brazil, Peru, Central and South America. The acai tree is fast growing, making it the most important plant species in the Amazon region of Brazil, since it makes up to 42% of their total diet.

The Berries

The acai berry, rich in antioxidants and nutrients, is a dark purple fruit, almost like blueberries. It is approximately 1 inch in diamater with a large seed in the center. However, despite the seed, the acai berry tastes like a cross between a bowl of berries and rich chocolate. Because of not of the berry's flavor as well as nutritional value, the juice and pulp of the acai fruits are used in smoothies, juice blends, and other beverages. The berries can be mixed with granola, or be made into muffins, or even top off ice cream.

In studies done on the different acai varieties, the commercial (purple variety) of acai was shown to be exellent against radicals - radicals that damage your immune system. Blood antioxidant capacity increases within two hours of drinking acai juice.

Acai Berry Nutrients

The berries have enormous amounts of antioxidants that clean out your entire system, helping to flush out all of the toxins within your system. The berries help your body stay in optimal condition, because of all the nutrients they carry. These nutrients include:

'The Acai berry "triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells tested."' - Professor Steven Talcott, University of Florida: January 2006.

• Vitamin C: keep your body healthy
• Vitamin A: keep your vision working
• Calcium: keep your bones strong
• Fiber: flushes the waste out of your system
• Iron: fight away anemia (lack of red blood cells)
• Amino Acids: boost your metabolism
• Protein
• Glucosamine
• Minerals such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium

And more. The acai berry has also been known to fight the aging process, and has increasing studies backing it up as a cancer-fighting food.

Benefits of the Acai Berry

Studies are coming out more and more that promote the acai berry as a super food. So far, this amazing berry has been discovered to:

• Fight cancer
• Fight heart disease
• Boost the immune system
• Improve vision
• Fight insomnia, promote sleep
• Maintain good cholesterol
• Promote weight loss
• Increase energy

Problem with Acai

There's only one: spoiling. Unfortunately, getting fresh acai berry is near impossible unless you live in Brazil or the Amazonian rain forest. These berries last up to a day at most, spoiling very quickly.

Don't lose heart! Commercial acai juices, powders and supplements are available all year round now. The berries are freeze dried while still in the forest so that they can retain as much of their powerful antioxidants as possible without spoiling. This helps everyone who needs the berry so you can add them into your diet - which is sure to boost your energy and minimize your vitamin deficiences.