The Amazing Acai Berries Of Brazil
We have all heard about the benefits of antioxidants for our health. Research has proven the benefits for everything from anti-aging to more serious diseases like heart disease and cancer. Antioxidants occur naturally in healthy fruits and vegetables. Blueberries, cranberries, grapes and other fruits all have high antioxidant contents and the acai berry from the rainforests of Brazil boasts some of the highest antioxidant levels of any fruit.
The acai berries are harvested in the Brazilian rainforest from acai palms that can reach in excess of 60 feet. These are the same trees used to harvest the edible hearts of palm. The acai berry fruit itself is about the size of a large blueberry yet only the outside skin of the fruit and the pulp are edible. The acai berry also contains a large, inedible seed.
Recently the acai berry and the acai berry juice have been touted as “superfoods” in the United States, Europe and Canada. Sales of acai berry products have skyrocketed as the acai berry has been endorsed as a metabolism booster, an answer to weight loss and an athletic enhancer. The claims even include the prevention of diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
The acai berry and of course, along with that, acai berry juice boasts an extremely large range of macronutrients, micronutrients and trace elements. It has healthy carbohydrates, essential fatty acids, a broad range of essential amino acids and a complement of vitamins and minerals. Acai berry has been proven to have remarkably high antioxidant activity.
Theoretically, high antioxidant activity may help prevent diseases that are caused by oxidative stress such as heart disease and cancer. The acai berry contains several substances with antioxidant properties called flavonoids and anthocyanins. The anthocyanins are the substance that is responsible for the deep red and blue colors of many of the healthiest fruits in the world, including blueberries, grapes and of course the acai berry. Flavonoids are substances known for their high antioxidant activities.
Many scientific studies have shown that the pulp of the acai berry has one of the most antioxidant capacities of all of the healthiest fruits. While blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries and strawberries are all loaded with antioxidants, it is believed that the more rare acai berry contains more than all of these. Even so, the most important thing is to consume at least 5 portion of high antioxidant fruits a day and acai berries or acai berry juice is a good solution to assist you doing this.
Acai berries have only recently become well known past Brazil and around the world. The reason for this is that the acai berry itself is highly perishable and it has only been within the past five years or so that products have been made with processed acai berries. People in many parts of the world have only lately had the opportunity to use and consume acai berry products.
Acai berries and acai berry juice can be a valid component to a healthy diet. High nutritional value is a strong component of any reasonable and wholesome weight loss regimen. It is also well known that a healthy immune system is boosted by the introduction of foods with high antioxidant activity and acai berry is one of the strongest.
Disclaimer: This article is not intended to dispense medical advice. The information provided herein is to give the visitor a general understanding of the topic discussed. Please seek the advice of an independent medical professional regarding specifics to your interests beyond the subject matter provided here.