The Acai Berry - A Nutritional Powerhouse In One Small Package
If you've seen any TV at all in the last year or so, you've probably seen the ads for different brands of acai berry juice. This is a product which is relatively new to those of us living in Australia; but it has been known and used in South America for centuries.
The fruit of the acai palm, a member of the Euterpe genus, is native to the Amazon River basin region in Brazil and other South American countries. The acai berry is a staple of the diet in the regions where it is grown, as well as being an important ingredient in traditional remedies for everything from skin ulcers to diarrhoea. The particular acai palm which has everyone so excited however is the Euterpe oleracea.
The acai palm grows in a classic palm shape, reaching heights of as much as 80 feet. The long, thin trucks have fruiting branches near the top with long, narrow leaves. The branches, when fruiting will bear clusters of three to eight purple-black berries, each around the size of a blueberry. The fruit is mostly seed by weight; it is the pulp of the acai berry which contains the amazing health benefits of the fruit.
It's only been about seven years now that acai berries have been available outside of their natural habitat. The berries spoil very quickly after being picked, making them unsuitable for export. However, there are now a few companies who pick the berries than immediately process them so that they can be distributed worldwide.
Three and a half ounces of freeze dried acai powder has 533.9 calories, 52.2 g carbohydrate, 44.2 g dietary fiber, 8.1 g protein, and 32.5 g total fat. Hardly anyone would consume this much acai at once, but this should give you a good idea of how nutritious this humble little berry is. Acai juice is a great source of antioxidants, essential fatty acids and dietary fibre.
The antioxidant rich berry has been the subject of a lot of research. Antioxidants are thought to prevent many diseases; acai extracts have been tested at the University of Florida for its effectiveness in fighting leukaemia. The result? Acai extract caused 86% of leukaemia cells to self-destruct. A University of Rio de Janeiro showed that acai extract may improve cardiovascular function as well.
Yet another study done on acai's antioxidant activity found that 12 volunteers given an acai extract had higher antioxidant levels in their system when tested one and two hours afterwards - with the antioxidant levels in their blood increasing between the first and second hour!
Other effects which have been reported include enhanced mental clarity, improved digestive function, a higher energy level and a slowing of the aging process on the cellular level, among others. Not every benefit of the acai berry which has been claimed has yet been proved, but many other high-antioxidant foods have been shown to have these effects.
The acai berry may even have applications which are not related to its nutritive value. Acai berry pulp has shown to have some possible use as a medium in certain medical tests on the GI tract, most notably MRI procedures. It looks like this South American import may be here to stay - and we're all glad it could make it! - 17274
The fruit of the acai palm, a member of the Euterpe genus, is native to the Amazon River basin region in Brazil and other South American countries. The acai berry is a staple of the diet in the regions where it is grown, as well as being an important ingredient in traditional remedies for everything from skin ulcers to diarrhoea. The particular acai palm which has everyone so excited however is the Euterpe oleracea.
The acai palm grows in a classic palm shape, reaching heights of as much as 80 feet. The long, thin trucks have fruiting branches near the top with long, narrow leaves. The branches, when fruiting will bear clusters of three to eight purple-black berries, each around the size of a blueberry. The fruit is mostly seed by weight; it is the pulp of the acai berry which contains the amazing health benefits of the fruit.
It's only been about seven years now that acai berries have been available outside of their natural habitat. The berries spoil very quickly after being picked, making them unsuitable for export. However, there are now a few companies who pick the berries than immediately process them so that they can be distributed worldwide.
Three and a half ounces of freeze dried acai powder has 533.9 calories, 52.2 g carbohydrate, 44.2 g dietary fiber, 8.1 g protein, and 32.5 g total fat. Hardly anyone would consume this much acai at once, but this should give you a good idea of how nutritious this humble little berry is. Acai juice is a great source of antioxidants, essential fatty acids and dietary fibre.
The antioxidant rich berry has been the subject of a lot of research. Antioxidants are thought to prevent many diseases; acai extracts have been tested at the University of Florida for its effectiveness in fighting leukaemia. The result? Acai extract caused 86% of leukaemia cells to self-destruct. A University of Rio de Janeiro showed that acai extract may improve cardiovascular function as well.
Yet another study done on acai's antioxidant activity found that 12 volunteers given an acai extract had higher antioxidant levels in their system when tested one and two hours afterwards - with the antioxidant levels in their blood increasing between the first and second hour!
Other effects which have been reported include enhanced mental clarity, improved digestive function, a higher energy level and a slowing of the aging process on the cellular level, among others. Not every benefit of the acai berry which has been claimed has yet been proved, but many other high-antioxidant foods have been shown to have these effects.
The acai berry may even have applications which are not related to its nutritive value. Acai berry pulp has shown to have some possible use as a medium in certain medical tests on the GI tract, most notably MRI procedures. It looks like this South American import may be here to stay - and we're all glad it could make it! - 17274
About the Author:
About the author: Marcus C. Evans discusses findings from studies on the acai berry on his site where you can also find further details on the incredible health benefits of the acai fruit.
posted by X - Men at
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