Supplements and juices made from the acai berry have become extremely popular. Acai berry can be found in every health food store in its two popular forms – a dried fruit powder and as acai berry juice. So where does the acai berry come from and why is it so popular?
The acai berry tree only grows in the swamp lands surrounding the Amazon river. The majority of these trees grow in the Amazonian areas of Brazil but are also found in Belize and Peru. The difficulty of the terrain in which acai grows coupled with the very fast rate that acai berries ripen and spoil is the prime reason that the whole berry is not available outside southern and central America.
I believe its popularity is for two reasons – extreme (and often way over the top) marketing and the fact that it is genuinely very good for us. One of the unproven and commonly marketed claims of acai is its ability to aid in weight loss. In its native country of Brazil acai is actually considered a high energy food that can make you fat! The high content of healthy fats in acai berries make them exceptionally high in calories compared to most fruits. So as of present, I am unconvinced of the weight loss claims. However, the health benefits of acai in regards to its antioxidant and nutrient content is another matter.
The acai berry is exceptionally high in powerful antioxidants called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are also the heart healthy antioxidants that are found abundantly in red wine. Amazingly, there are 20 times the anthocyanins in acai berries than in red wine! So acai berries are, to date, the finest source of anthocyanins known to man. This also elevates acai berries to the status of a ‘superfruit’. In fact there is no fruit or vegetable presently known that has an overall higher antioxidant content than acai berries!
The heart health benefits of anthocyanins are attributed to their protective qualities of our arteries. They help to build stronger artery walls and also protect the arteries from free radical damage. This helps to protect us from the life threatening cardiovascular disease arteriosclerosis. Anthocyanins have also been shown to be potent anti-cancer compounds.
Is acai more healthy as acai juice or as a dried supplement? This is a good question that requires an in depth answer. You can read more about this at What is Acai Juice?
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