Interestingly, the acai berry has a legend associated with it. Folklore has it that when an Indian tribe was facing food scarcity, the discovery of acai berry saved them from extinction. Unfortunately, the berry was discovered following the death of the village chief’s daughter. Her name was Iaca, and the berry was named after her (Iaca spelled backwards is Acai).

This berry which saved the lives of the Indian tribe has been a part of the Brazilian diet for hundreds of years. It is usually served as part of breakfast and is a large part of their diet. In fact, the most famous proponents of jiu-jitsu, the martial arts, the Gracie family insisted that all students eat this berry before their morning workouts. It is also popular among football players of Brazil who have the frozen pulp of this berry to get an energy boost naturally. Americans and the rest of the western world have only just discovered the fruit and it is already popular in their juice bars as smoothies, soda, in juice blends, ice creams and other products.

So, what is it that makes this Amazonian fruit so popular with both the natives and the rest of the world? Acai berry is considered to have the highest nutritional value compared to any other fruit in the world. It is also amongst the highest sources of antioxidants. For instance, they have more than 10-15 times the antioxidants found in red grapes. Antioxidants prevent the slow and irreversible damage caused by the use of oxygen in our body. Acai berries also boast about a number of other benefits. They help improve our stamina and are natural energy boosters. They help improve our immune system, which helps prevents diseases and infections. Apart from various other health benefits, they are also known to help reduce obesity.

Acai berry is one of the richest sources of antioxidants among all fruits across the world. Antioxidants are extremely important because they prevent the damage caused by the use of oxygen by our body. Since survival without oxygen is impossible, it is important to have a diet rich with antioxidants.

Acai berry are also a great source of stamina and energy. In fact, Brazilian football players consume acai berry as part of their daily diet for its energy boosting capability.

There are a number of free radicals like pollutants, smoke, etc., in our atmosphere that are harmful for us. Antioxidants prevent and repair the damage caused by these free radicals. Acai berries which are extremely rich in antioxidants are extremely helpful in fighting diseases caused by free radicals.

Acai berry is considered a huge boon for weight watchers, since it provides for a number of dietary requirements even when served in small helpings. But, more importantly, acai berries actively fight obesity. The combination of antioxidants, fatty acids and amino acids in acai berries help burn fat effectively and help reduce obesity.

Acai berries also help boost our immune system. The antioxidants and combination of acids in the berries work as anti-bacterial and anti-viral agents, thus boosting our immune system and helping us fight diseases and infections.

Acai berries also contain a rare antioxidant called ‘anthocyanins’. These anthocyanins help reduce eye strain and improve our vision. In fact, British pilots, during the WW2 used to consume large amounts of bilberry jams which is known to contain anthocyanins, to improve their night vision.

Apart from antioxidants and a combination of essential acids, acai berries also contain a healthy amount of fiber. This helps our digestive tract process our food better and improves our digestive system.

There are a number of other health benefits that acai berry provide us with. They help relax our muscles, provide us with sound sleep, cleanses and detoxifies our body of toxins, improves our mental clarity and ability to focus, regulates our cholesterol levels, improves blood circulation and has many other advantages

Super food is the term used to describe nutrient rich foods that also provide us with a number of health benefits. They are different from regular foods because they are so nutrient rich that you need to consume only a small quantity of it to gain its benefits. They are important to us because of the numerous benefits they provide for our health and well being. Let us now look at what qualifies acai berry as the number one superfood in the world.

Acai berry contains a number of antioxidants. Antioxidants are important to us because they control and repair the damage caused by the use of oxygen in our bodies. Our survival depends on oxygen and our bodies are constantly at risk from damages caused by this, which makes the intake of antioxidants in our daily diets.

Antioxidants also fight the affect of free radicals like pollutants in the environment, on our bodies. Acai berry being one of the richest source of antioxidants, they provide us with all the benefits of antioxidants including regulating cholesterol, preventing clotting of blood, improving blood circulation and relaxing our blood vessels.

Acai berries are rich in a number of essential acids like fatty acids and amino acids. They are also rich in fiber and thus contain vitamins C and E, manganese, calcium, copper, boron, chromium and phytosterols. The nutrients contained in acai berries include phosphorus, iron, vitamins B1, B2 and B3. It contains both Omega 6 and Omega 9 acids.

The impact of being so nutrient rich results in a variety of health benefits.They increase our stamina and energy levels. They improve our digestion and increase our metabolism. They can help reduce obesity and help control blood pressure. They are known to improve our vision and give relief to eye strains. They help us relax and sleep well. They help improve our immune system and help us fight diseases and infections.

As can be seen there are a great number of benefits associated with the Acai berry which is one of the reasons it is becoming such a popular super food.

Acai fruit juice is made from the pulp of acai berries which are found in the swamplands of the Amazonian rain forests. Until recently, their existence was known only to the natives of the land who have made the acai berry fruit as large part of their daily diet. The fruit unfortunately cannot be transported over long distances as the life span of the berries is very short. However, thanks to the interest of large corporations, the goodness of the acai berries is now available to you in the form of a fruit juice.

The health benefits of daily consumption of acai berries are numerous. Let’s look at some of the most important ones. A glass of acai juice can fulfill a number of your daily nutritional requirements. But, it is low in calorie and will not result in weight gain. In fact, quite the reverse is true. Acai fruit juice can actually help fight obesity directly. Its combination of amino acids and essential fatty acids helps the body burn fat faster and this aids weight loss. On the other hand, because it fulfills a number of nutritional requirements, it also helps control food consumption. No wonder, the acai fruit juice has become extremely popular with weight-watchers and those dealing with obesity.

Regular consumption of acai fruit juice also helps prevent other diseases and illnesses like cancer, heart problems and diabetes. It also makes your immune system stronger and makes you resistant to various bacterial and viral infections. It also helps improve your blood circulation, metabolism and digestion. It improves your vision and provides relief from eye strain. Interestingly, it also slows down the effects of ageing, and it is believed that it can also increase one’s life span.

It is also a natural energy booster and a glass of acai fruit juice will leave you energized and revitalized. So, ready for a cold glass of acai fruit juice?

Unfortunately, much as we would like it, it is not possible to get fresh acai berries anywhere in the world, except in the Amazon forest where it is grown. This is because it is so perishable, that in the time it takes to transport it over large distances, all its nutritional value is lost. However, when the western world became aware of the health benefits of the acai berry, large corporations stepped in to make it possible for us to enjoy their goodness.

We now have access to the wonders of acai berries through the large number of acai berry supplements available in our local supermarkets. You can now get acai berries supplements in the form of powder, capsules, juices or bars.

Given the plethora of acai berry supplements available in the market, it is important to know that not all supplements pack the same goodness of the fruit. The nutritional value of an acai berry supplement is directly related to its harvesting and storing procedure. Within twenty four hours of harvesting, the pulp of the acai berry needs to be separated from the pip and freeze dried. If this procedure is not followed correctly, the product will be devoid of any of the acai berry nutrients.

While research is required to choose between the many brands of acai berry products, there are some products that are now on the shelves of our supermarkets that should simply be avoided. Remember, all the nutrients of the acai berry are contained in the pulp of the fruit. Only buy products that are made from this pulp. Using any product that is made from the extract of the fruit is not recommended. It is simply not possible for an extract to have all the nutrients of the whole fruit.

Similarly, products made from the skin of the fruit also do not provide all the nutritional value of the acai berry. One also finds products made from the pit or the seed of acai berry. Please remember that the pit does not contain any nutritional value that is found in the pulp, and these products will not have the same effect as products made from the pulp of acai berries.

Originally, the acai berries were confined to the regions where they grew. However, the natives, aware of their health benefits, have made acai berries a part of their regular diet for years. In northern brazil, the pulp of the acai berries is served in gourds and is mixed with sugar or honey and served sweet. In some regions, it may be mixed with salt and served salty. In southern Brazil, the acai berry pulp is mixed with granola and served cold.

In recent years, the variety of health benefits of acai berries has been discovered by the western world and there is a huge demand for the availability of the berry. However, acai berries only grow in tropical conditions and it is impossible to grow them in any place other than swampland. Added to this is the fact that the shelf life of the acai berries is very little, not more than twenty four hours. This makes it important to harvest acai berries locally and transport them overnight to a processing plant where they can be processed into a thick edible puree that can be stored. This is how we get acai berry pulp.

The acai berry pulp can be consumed as it is. It has the flavor of a blend of berries with a touch of chocolate. Like Brazilians, sugar or salt may be added to it. However, even the pulp cannot last very long without the draining of its essential nutrients. Depending on how far it is going, and what it is going to be used in, this acai berry pulp can be turned into juice or it can be freeze dried and converted into powder.

The acai berry pulp can be used in a variety of ways. You can get yourself an acai berry smoothie at a juice bar; you can add acai berries in a juice cocktail. Ice creams are also made with acai berry pulp. The composition of the acai berry pulp allows it to be mixed with any liquid to make a tasty drink.

Studies show that the acai berry powder is the most effective form of acai berries available in the western world. In regions that acai berries grow in, they can be eaten raw, although mostly, their pulp is extracted and mixed with sugar, salt or granola and served. Unfortunately, this option is not available in most parts of the world. This is because the life span of acai berries is very short, only about twenty four hours. If they are stored any longer, they start losing their nutritional value.

Proper harvesting and storing of acai berries is extremely important to take advantages of its nutrients. The acai berries need to be harvested and delivered overnight to a local processing plant where the pulp is extracted from the berries. This pulp can be made into juice or powder. A long time would have elapsed before the product actually reaches our local market and our homes.

If the acai berries are transported as pulp itself, or even in the form of juice, their nutritional value is bound to have reduced in the time elapsed. The acai berry powder is made by freeze drying the pulp and manages to retain all the nutrients irrespective of the time it is stored. This makes acai berry powder the most effective form of acai berries available in our market.

One needs to be cautious about the acai berry products one buys. It is important to know that not all acai berry products will have the same nutritional value. In fact, even among different brands of acai berry powders, a huge gap between nutritional values can be found. This has mostly been attributed to improper harvesting or storing methods employed by different companies.

An acai berry needs to be fully mature to contain its nutrients, but one finds even raw acai berries being harvested for the sake of increasing volume, and thus profit. On the other hand, proper storing techniques also come at a price.

The pulp has to be extracted and freeze dried immediately upon being harvested. A lot of companies try to cut cost by not having the pulp freeze dried and having it shipped as it is. This causes complete deterioration on the acai berry, and the product made out of it will not have any nutritional value.

To begin with, acai berries are a great source of natural energy boosters and they also help build our stamina. In fact, athletes lucky enough to be in the vicinity of fresh acai berries, usually include it in the daily diets. Even proponents of various martial arts insist on consumption of acai berries before their workouts which are quite rigorous in nature. Unfortunately, fresh acai berries are only available in the Amazonian rain forests and because they have a very small shelf life of twenty four hours, they cannot be transported over large distances.

But, fret not! As soon as the health benefits of the acai berries became known to the western world, big business have taken on harvesting of acai berries and founds ways and means to transport the pulp of the acai berry without losing any of its nutritional value. Due to the efforts of large corporations, all the health benefits of the acai berries are now available to us our local supermarket.

You are probably thinking that there has to a catch to this wonderful super food. Maybe it tastes foul. We do know of a number of health foods that are not as popular as they should be simply because consuming them can be an ordeal, especially for our taste buds. But, even in this matter, the acai berry emerges with flying colors. It taste can be described as a rich bouquet of berries with just a hint of chocolate. Sounds yummy, doesn’t it?

Because of its wonderful flavor, acai berry juices are possibly the most popular of all acai berry products. Health professionals, fitness gurus and athletes have all raved about this energy drink. You are also likely to find acai berry in fruit cocktail juice, and this is fine too, as the chemical composition of the acai berry pulp allows it to be mixed with any liquid without any chemical reaction that may be harmful to the human body.

So, go out and get yourself a drink of the acai berry juice and experience its wonders on your energy levels.

Natural Antioxidants of Acai Berry
Perhaps of most interest to the health industry are the naturally occuring antioxidants to be found in the acai berry. Antioxidants have a number of benefits, including the prevention of heart disease, cancer, and the general effects of aging. Antioxidants are purportedly behind the amazing phenomenon known as the “French Paradox.” The French as a people consumer a high level of alcohol and tobacco, and yet they suffer a less than average rate of heart disease and cancer. Scientists have cited the increased consumption of red wine among the French as a strong candidate for the reduction in illness that they have witnessed.

Antoxidants are found plentifully in red wine, with these antioxidants fighting off the occurence of cancer, heart disease, and other general aging related ailments. The antioxidants found in red wine are known to have a great impact on the body’s ability to fight off enzymes that cause damage to the body. Scientists and health industry experts are especially excited about the acai berry because of its extraordinarily high content of antioxidants. It is estimated that the acai berry contains somewhere from ten to thirty times the amount of antioxidants found in red wine.

With such a high concentration of antioxidants, the acai berry is perhaps one of the healthiest fruits on the planet. The berry has many proponents throughout the world, with the export of the fruit now a major industry in Brazil. The acai berry has become so popular that it can be found in smoothies, shakes, and juices all over the world. Along with many other benefits, the berry’s antioxidant concentration alone has the health industry very excited.

As many as 30,000 people are now involved in the acai export business in Brazil, demand for the product has grown to such proportions. The years to come and studies to be done should show whether or not the incredible potential of the acai berry will be realized. If the initial promise of the fruit holds true, then it should produce an effect much like or even better than the famed “French Paradox.”

To begin with, the acai berry has 10 to 30 times the concentration of anthocyanins that are found in red wine. Anthocyanins are widely believed to be the root of the health benefits seen in red wine. As with red wine, the acai berry is believed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular ailments, cancer, and other illnesses related to aging. Anthocyanins are known to reduce the damage done by free radicals and other harmful enzymes by neutralizing them before they can affect the body. Anthocyanins are also known to repair proteins that have already been damaged by certain harmful enzymes.

Other proposed benefits of the acai berry include improved vision and resistance to neurological disorders. As well as increased anthocyanin levels, the acai berry also boasts an extremely high level of fiber. A good level of fiber intake is critical in maintaining healthy intestinal function and in avoiding ailments such as colon cancer. Consuming acai berries is a quick way to reach the daily recommended dose of fiber.

In addition to its anthrocyanin and fiber values, the berry possesses a high level of calcium. Calcium not only contributes to improved skeletal strength, but also to reduced risk of cardiovascular ailments. Studies have also found calcium to be responsible for reduced risk of stroke. With the acai berry possessing such a high level of calcium, it can be considered an excellent way to control risk associated with stroke, as well as heart disease.

The berry is also popular because of its high content of omega 3 fatty acids and the vitamin B. With incredible anti-bacterial properties as well, the acai berry is sometimes used as a facial cream. With so many amazing properties, the berry has become a popular choice among health food enthusiasts. With further research, there is no telling what other benefits may be revealed about the exciting acai berry. Because of its short fresh life, acai berries are rarely seen whole outside of South America. They can usually be found included in health drinks and other supplements, such as in pills.