The Acai Berry – You Won’t Think About Fruit The Same Way Again
Unless you’ve been hiding out in a secluded location far from all media outlets, it is a certainty that you’ve seen some of the many ads which have been going around for acai berry juice. While the acai berry is new to us in most of the world, it is a fruit which has been enjoyed for centuries in South America.
The acai berry is the fruit of a palm tree which grows in Brazil and other South and Central American nations. Long a staple of the diet for people in the region, the acai berry is also used as a traditional medicine for a variety of illnesses. Everything from diarrhoea to ulcers are treated using this versatile and nutritious fruit. The acai palm which people are talking about is the Euterpe oleracea, part of the Euterpe genus of palms.
The acia palm grows as tall as 80 feet, with its long, thin trunk branching out near the top with thin leaves and clusters of up to eight berries on its fruiting branches. It is the pulp of the acai berry which is used for its health and nutritional benefits; the seed is ground and used in animal feed.
Until about seven years ago, acai berries were largely unknown outside of South America. Since the berries begin to spoil within hours of being picked, it is nearly impossible to export fresh acai berries. However, in recent years some south and central American countries have begun processing the berries right after harvest so that the fruit – and its health benefits can be enjoyed all over the world.
Just 100 grams of freeze dried acai powder contain an astonishing 533.9 calories, 52.2 g carbohydrate, 44.2 g dietary fiber, 8.1 g protein, and 32.5 g total fat. While it’s unusual to consume this much acai at once, it should give you an idea of just how rich in nutrients this berry is. Acai juice is a good source of fibre, antioxidant compounds and essential fatty acids.
The antioxidant properties of the acai berry have been studied extensively. Antioxidants are believed to help prevent many diseases; and in a University of Florida study, acai extract caused self-destruction in 86% of leukaemia cells! Acai berry extract may also improve cardiovascular function, according to the results of a study performed at the University of Rio de Janeiro.
In another study of 12 healthy volunteers, the subjects were given acai extract and then tested for antioxidant levels one and two hours later. The results showed that the volunteers had higher serum antioxidant levels after one hour; and even higher an hour later!
Other positive effects of acai which have been reported include an improvement in digestive function and mental clarity, higher energy levels and even a slowing of the cellular process of aging! While not all of these benefits have yet been clinically proven, these effects have been seen with other antioxidant rich foods.
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!