What is the Acai Berry?
The Acai berry is relatively new to the North American USA market, but it has been consumed by millions in South America for hundreds of years, perhaps for thousands of years. The Acai berry tastes like a vibrant blend of berries and chocolate. Hidden within its royal purple pigment is the magic that makes it nature's perfect energy fruit. The Acai berry is packed full of antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids. The Acai berry is considered nature's number one "superfood".
Acai Berry grows on a tall slender attractive Palm tree in Central and South America from Belize south to Brazil and Peru. The Acai berry palm trees reach a height of 50-100 feet, growing mainly in floodplains and swamps. The Acai berry fruit is a small, round, black-purple drupe similar in size to a grape. The Acai berry is produced in branched panicles of 700-900 fruits. The Acai berry appearance is similar to that of a grape, but the acai berry has a smaller amount of pulp and a single large seed.
The Acai berry is extremely rich in B vitamins, minerals (particularly iron), fiber, proteins, Omega-3 fatty acids, and anthocyanin, a member of the flavonoid class of antioxidants. The fatty acid content in the acai berry resembles that of olive oil, and is rich in monounsaturated oleic acid. Oleic acid is important for a number of reasons. It helps omega-3 fish oils penetrate the cell membrane; together they help make cell membranes more supple. By keeping the cell membrane supple, all hormones, neurotransmitter and insulin receptors function more efficiently. This is particularly important because high insulin levels create an inflammatory state, and we know, inflammation causes aging. Also, the remarkable concentration of antioxidants in the acai berry help combat premature aging. The acai berry contains 10 times more antioxidants than red grapes and 10 to 30 times the anthocyanins of red wine. A synergy of monounsaturated (healthy) fats, dietary fiber and phytosterols to help promote cardiovascular and digestive health. An almost perfect essential amino acid complex in conjunction with valuable trace minerals, vital to proper muscle contraction and regeneration.
