The Basic Data Regarding The Acai Berry
For centuries the acai berry has been a relatively obscure and unknown food. As it is indigenous to the Amazon rainforest and it is very delicate so it has only been in recent history that this amazing fruit has even been obtainable to the greater part of the world. The acai berry may be more unusual than most of the fruits that you have heard of but it is just another addition to a long line of enormously wholesome fruits such as blueberries, cranberries and pomegranates.
This minuscule little purple fruit, that is about the size of a large blueberry grows in bunches on the Amazon palm tree, the same palm that provides hearts of palm. This berry has been a fundamental food or the populace in the locale for hundreds of years. It is a exceptionally rich source of antioxidants, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, fiber and Omega 3 fatty acids.
Lately this little fruit has received significant media coverage from the national news media and talk shows such as Oprah and Rachael Ray. It has been touted as being beneficial for weight loss, disease prevention, anti-aging and more. These claims are likely to be rightful as this berry does have an very high nutritional content. However, it is just a fruit and just another in a long line of healthy, nutrition foods that play a part to great health.
Due to all the claims one may wonder about the potential side effects associated with the consumption of this berry. Just as with any fruit, if you eat too much at one time you may suffer from some extreme intestinal distress, however it will be short-lived. There are no known long-term damaging effects just as with any other fruit.
Much of the excitement has been because the acai berry has been featured in the media on shows such as Oprah and Rachael Ray as well as many of the nationwide news media. While many leading nutritionists and doctors have proclaimed the benefits of this fruit, one must consider that they also propose other healthy foods, such as spinach and blueberries and that the acai is just another good for you food. The majority of the brand name products have not gotten an authorized endorsement.
There are more than a few key nutrients contained within the acai berry that can be a factor to healthy weight loss. The acai berry is high in anthocyanins, which is an antioxidant that has been proven to aid in weight loss in controlled studies involving laboratory mice. The acai berry is also loaded with healthy fiber and essential fatty acids both of which are nutrients proven to aid in weight loss by boosting metabolism and helping a person stay fuller longer.
The acai has one of the top ORAC levels of any food. ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity and it is a measurement of the antioxidant capacity of food. Antioxidants are crucial for the prevention of sickness and to curb the damaging effects of aging.
The end result is that the acai berry can be an particularly healthy addition to any dietary regime. It can be found in pulp form and juice form, in a powdered extract form and as an addition to many healthful foods such as smoothies, meal bars and more. The only thing you need to concern yourself about is the method used to process the fruit as flash frozen and freeze-dried are the top methods to maintain the critical nutrients.