Acai Berry

You may have heard of Acai berries, being familiar with Oprah Winfrey’s positive outlook on the fruit or the general hype of Acai berries in the media.

But do you really know what Acai Berries are?

After reading this article you will have a much deeper understanding of Acai Berry, know how to avoid the scams and how to benefit from Acai Berries powerful properties.

What Are Acai Berries?

Acai berries are from the Acai palm tree, native to South America and about the same size as a blueberry with an inedible seed in each one. Considered one of the world’s super foods, it is nutrient rich and has generated a considerable amount of attention in the U.S. in the last few years, even though South Americans have been enjoying this fruit for many years.

What do Acai Berries Taste Like?

The taste of the Acai Berry gets a lot of delicious feedback. I have seen it described as the love child of a raspberry and grape. Another attractive description I have heard is that of a choc berry smoothie without the dairy.

So far, Acai Berry is a delicious fruit that packs a super food punch, ticking all the boxes there.

Acai Berry Nutritional Content & Benefits

Acai Berries are all too often referred to as one of the greatest super foods; now let us take a look into why this is the case.

Some of those Acai Berry Claims

• Anti-aging
  There is a lot of interest when a product claims to be anti-aging and Acai Berry is no different. The great thing about Acai Berry is the nutritional content that supports the idea behind anti-aging. Due to a modern lifestyle and environment, we accumulate free radicals which are a prime cause of aging. And what helps to prevent these free radicals from accumulating? Antioxidants do of course!
  
  And what fruit has 10 times more antioxidants then grapes? That’s right…our anti-aging super fruit, Acai Berry.
• Anti-cancer properties
  There are a few points to suggest that Acai may actually have anti-cancer fighting properties
  > Acai is high in the antioxidant Glutathione which plays an important role in carcinogenic detoxification
  > There is no incidence of cancer among the Amazon natives who have been eating the Acai berry for many years
  > The Journal of Food and Agricultural Food Chemistry announced that 85% of test tube leukemia cells self destructed when subject Acai berry extracts

Oprah Winfrey and Acai Berries Scams

In August 2009, Harpo Inc. who produces the Oprah Winfrey Show took legal action against a number of online marketers who used Oprah’s name to falsely endorse their supplements and deceive the public.

Acai Berries in the Diet

In Brazil

Acai Berry is native and abundant in Brazil and has therefore been a major part of their diet for many years and is eaten in a variety of ways. Traditionally it is eaten with tapioca, either as a sweet (with honey or sugar) or savory\salty. It is also a common flavor of ice-cream.

Outside Brazil

Outside of Brazil, the Acai Berry cannot be enjoyed in the same manner because of the Berry’s short life span.

Before being exported from Brazil the pulp or juice is first frozen, freeze-dried or dried.  It is then incorporated into drinks, yoghurts, sorbets and juices.

It is also common these days to powder the freeze dried Acai berry to create a supplement. The quality and effect of supplements varies and there are a number of them on the market.

Acai berries may also be blended with other fruits but the percentage of Acai berries and its benefit in such products is questionable. In juice form it should cost roughly $40 for a bottle.

Buying Acai frozen fruit pulp is quite a safe and reliable option as you are more likely to get 100% Acai berries that you can then consume as you see fit. You will need to check health and gourmet food stores to find frozen packed Acai pulp.