All about acai berries
Precisely what are acai berries?
Acai berries (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) have dramatically grown in popularity in recent times. This is generally since they have at last been identified in the West as being a “superfruit” as a result of their very high nutrient content. But precisely what are they and where can you find them?
An acai berry is a little round fruit (roughly 25mm in size), which is found exclusively in swampy parts of the Amazon rainforest (Central and South America). It grows on the huge palm trees (açaí palms) that grow there, which can attain a height in excess of 80 feet. The berries mature from from green to dark blue / purple in colour as they ripen and in the end look and feel very similar to grapes, other than they possess a large, inedible seed – in fact, they are around 90% pip and only 10% edible fruit.
A bit about the history of acai berries
South Americans native to the Amazon have actually been experiencing the nutritional health benefits of the superfruit acai berry for quite some time. Indeed, acai berries are viewed as a particularly important food source for 3 traditional Caboclo tribes in the Brazilian Amazon, since it makes up a significant proportion of their diet – up to forty-two per cent of their total intake of food in terms of weight. This fact of itself highlights their exceptionally high nutritional content.
Why are they good for you?
As stated before, acai berries are now generally recognised as a “superfood” or “superfruit” – titles which emphasise their dense nutrient content of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and antioxidants.
They’re regarded as being helpful for:
Interesting facts about acai berries
Acai berry fact #1:
Acai berries are wild harvested, instead of farmed, which is a huge benefit because it means that they aren’t contaminated with harmful pesticides and fertilizers.
Acai berry fact #2:
Acai berries grow in bunches (just like bananas), in contrast to some other fruits and berries (like cherries), which grow on their own on trees. A typical açaí palm tree can supply between 3 and 8 bunches of acai berries.
Acai berry fact #3:
Acai berries have a single large seed in them and even this portion of the fruit can be useful. Individuals have been known to grind the seed and use it as manure for their plants. Others use it to make organic matter for agriculture and livestock food.
A few other proposed health benefits of acai berries include their antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-mutagenic properties.
Just where can I find acai berries?
1 of the reasons for the heightened popularity of acai berries (other than their fantastic nutrient per calorie ratio of course) is the fact that they are truly delicious. Some describe the taste as a combination of berries and earthy chocolate, whilst other people think that it’s a cross between a wild raspberry and grape.
Regrettably, acai berries are not yet widely available in their fresh form. Although they are now easily available in juice form in many health food shops and supermarkets, to be sure that you are getting the highest level of nutrients from this incredible superfruit, it is best to go for a good quality, high strength health supplement, containing pure freeze-dried acai berries. The freeze-drying process (in contrast to the juicing process) means that less nutrients are lost, giving you and your body maximum benefit.
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