Acai: The Blue Road To Health

The acai berry (ah-sigh-ee) grows exclusively in the Amazon Rainforest on acai palm trees and resembles a purple grape. The berry consists of 90% seed pit and 10% acaí pulp and must be harvested with care before it can be consumed for its health and wellness benefits. The harvest process involves combining the raw berries with water and mechanically agitating them together. This process separates the acaí pulp from the seed to produce a thick acaí fruit pulp puree.

• Anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-mutagenic qualities
• Cardiovascular health support
• Weight loss and anti-aging properties
• High in dietary fiber

How can one little berry provide all these health benefits?

Acai berries contain very high amounts of essential fatty acids, including the Omega-3 and Omega-9 acids that have been proven to lower LDL (bad) and maintain HDL (good) cholesterol levels. They also have a remarkable concentration of antioxidants to help combat free radicals and premature aging. One of these, the anthocyanins (commonly found in grapes and red wine), are of the flavonoid family and provide some of the strongest physiological benefits of any of the antioxidant groups. In fact, acai berries have 10 - 30 times the proanthacyanin content of red wine. 

These antioxidants excel in providing cardiovascular and anti-aging benefits for men and are especially critical to men as they age.  The Acai berry has the highest ORAC value of any edible fruit on the planet!

The acai is extremely rich in organic vegetable protein, which is lower in cholesterol and easier to digest than proteins found in animal or dairy protein. Acai pulp is also rich in carbohydrates and is a great source of quick energy before any type of exercise or athletic activity. In fact, acai, in various forms, is served at most gyms, sport clubs and beaches across Brazil.

Other qualities of the acai berry include:

• The fatty acid ratio in acai closely resembles that of olive oil. Studies suggest that the consumption of olive oil is a contributing factor to the low incidence of heart disease in Mediterranean populations.
• Acai berries contain plant sterols including beta-sitosterol. Sterols are commonly used to treat symptoms associated with prostate disorders. These same plant sterols have also been shown to help control bad cholesterol as well as act as precursors to many important substances produced by the body.
• According to food scientists, acai berries are the most nutritious fruit on the planet. They also possess a low glycemic index, meaning they don't generate the sharp sugar peaks and valleys that many fruits do, but rather provide a steady source of energy.

Be careful before you buy acai.

What you should know before buying acai, the world's healthiest fruit!