Benefits Of Acai Berries

November 7, 2008

For many years now health experts have rated the acai berry as one of the top ‘super fruits’, because of its powerful nutritious and antioxidant effects. The acai palm is native to Central and South American and grows mainly in moist, swamp-like conditions. The berries are small and dark purple when ripe, and very similar in appearance to grapes. They have been a staple part of traditional Amazonian tribal diets for centuries and the acai palm is one of the most important food sources in remote rainforest areas, as it yields two harvests of plentiful fruit a year. The rest of the palm is utilized as well and leaves can be used to weave hats, baskets, fences and roof thatches. Acai wood is also resistant to many pests and so is very useful for constructing wooden structures. The seeds from the berries can also be ground up and used to feed livestock and also fertilise soil.

The health benefits of acai berries are recognized in the West and many companies now produce health food drinks, yogurts and sorbets made from these fruits. Acai berries have a high protein, fibre and carbohydrate content, so are useful for people trying to prevent weight gain as they increase energy levels to help prevent you feeling hungry between meals. The high fibre levels in the berries are also good for improving natural digestion health, which is especially important in a Western diet where fibre intake is often low. Acai berries have high levels of vitamin A, B and C, calcium, iron and amino acids, all of which are essential for maintaining healthy cardiovascular, musculoskeletal and immune systems. The acai berries also contain high levels of antioxidants that can help combat the signs of premature aging and recent studies have shown that blood antioxidant capacity increases significantly within just a few hours of consuming acai berry juice.

If you want to benefit from the nutritious and antioxidants effects of acai berries then you can purchase a whole range of commercially prepared acai products from health food shops, the most popular being juices, yogurts and teas. You can also buy whole freeze dried berries, which are thought to preserve higher levels of vitamins and natural fibres. If you want to find out more about acai berries and their health benefits then there is plenty of information available on the Internet from sites such as AcaiAcaiAcai.com.

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