Acai Berry Diet
The Acai (pronounced ah-SIGH-ee) berry is native to the Amazon rainforests of Brazil, Columbia and Peru. In its raw berry form, Acai is about 80% seed and 20% fruit pulp. Acai can be eaten raw, but common practice is to process the raw Acai before it is consumed. This processing involves placing the Acai berries and water into a machine which agitates and shakes the berries, separating the seeds from the pulp and producing a thick Acai mash. Think of it as a giant Acai smoothie!
Natives living in the Amazon regions of Brazil have eaten Acai as part of their daily diet for hundreds of years
- now many people are taking acai supplements. Thanks to its high levels of nutrients, its healing powers are well-respected in tribes throughout the area. The discovery that indigenous peoples had been making use of this berry as a healing aide for so long led medical researchers to study Acai. Here are some of the beneficial properties of Acai they found:
* A very high level of antioxidants, which help prevent cancer and combat aging
* Acai supplements promotes a healthy digestive system, thanks to its collection of healthy fats including Omega-3s and other monounsaturated fats, and dietary fiber
* A high level of essential amino acids which in turn promotes proper muscle development and repair
* Plant sterols such as betasitosterol, which are beneficial in helping control cholesterol and are now being used by doctors to treat illnesses such as benign prostatic hyperplasia
With more than twice the antioxidant level of blueberries, and more than ten times that of grapes, the Brazilian Acai supplements is widely considered to have some of the highest nutritional value of any fruit that can be found on the planet.