The Acai Berry - A Nutritional Powerhouse In One Small Package
Unless you've been hiding out in a secluded location far from all media outlets, it is a certainty that you've seen some of the many ads which have been going around for acai berry juice. While the acai berry is new to us in most of the world, it is a fruit which has been enjoyed for centuries in South America.
The acai berry is the fruit of a palm tree which grows in Brazil and other South and Central American nations. Long a staple of the diet for people in the region, the acai berry is also used as a traditional medicine for a variety of illnesses. Everything from diarrhoea to ulcers are treated using this versatile and nutritious fruit. The acai palm which people are talking about is the Euterpe oleracea, part of the Euterpe genus of palms.
The acia palm grows as tall as 80 feet, with its long, thin trunk branching out near the top with thin leaves and clusters of up to eight berries on its fruiting branches. It is the pulp of the acai berry which is used for its health and nutritional benefits; the seed is ground and used in animal feed.
Until about seven years ago, acai berries were largely unknown outside of South America. Since the berries begin to spoil within hours of being picked, it is nearly impossible to export fresh acai berries. However, in recent years some south and central American countries have begun processing the berries right after harvest so that the fruit - and its health benefits can be enjoyed all over the world.
Three and a half ounces of readily available freeze dried acai powder contains 533.9 calories, 52.2 g carbohydrate, 44.2 g dietary fiber, 8.1 g protein, and 32.5 g total fat. Of course, most people do not consume this much acai at one sitting, but it serves as a good illustration of how nutrient dense this little berry really is.
The antioxidant rich berry has been the subject of a lot of research. Antioxidants are thought to prevent many diseases; acai extracts have been tested at the University of Florida for its effectiveness in fighting leukaemia. The result? Acai extract caused 86% of leukaemia cells to self-destruct. A University of Rio de Janeiro showed that acai extract may improve cardiovascular function as well.
Yet another study done on acai's antioxidant activity found that 12 volunteers given an acai extract had higher antioxidant levels in their system when tested one and two hours afterwards - with the antioxidant levels in their blood increasing between the first and second hour!
Other positive effects of acai which have been reported include an improvement in digestive function and mental clarity, higher energy levels and even a slowing of the cellular process of aging! While not all of these benefits have yet been clinically proven, these effects have been seen with other antioxidant rich foods.
There is another health benefit which the acai berry may be able to offer, this one unrelated to its nutritional properties per se. Acai berry pulp has shown some promise for improving the way that MRI exams are performed on the GI tract - this berry may make even medical testing healthier! - 17273
The acai berry is the fruit of a palm tree which grows in Brazil and other South and Central American nations. Long a staple of the diet for people in the region, the acai berry is also used as a traditional medicine for a variety of illnesses. Everything from diarrhoea to ulcers are treated using this versatile and nutritious fruit. The acai palm which people are talking about is the Euterpe oleracea, part of the Euterpe genus of palms.
The acia palm grows as tall as 80 feet, with its long, thin trunk branching out near the top with thin leaves and clusters of up to eight berries on its fruiting branches. It is the pulp of the acai berry which is used for its health and nutritional benefits; the seed is ground and used in animal feed.
Until about seven years ago, acai berries were largely unknown outside of South America. Since the berries begin to spoil within hours of being picked, it is nearly impossible to export fresh acai berries. However, in recent years some south and central American countries have begun processing the berries right after harvest so that the fruit - and its health benefits can be enjoyed all over the world.
Three and a half ounces of readily available freeze dried acai powder contains 533.9 calories, 52.2 g carbohydrate, 44.2 g dietary fiber, 8.1 g protein, and 32.5 g total fat. Of course, most people do not consume this much acai at one sitting, but it serves as a good illustration of how nutrient dense this little berry really is.
The antioxidant rich berry has been the subject of a lot of research. Antioxidants are thought to prevent many diseases; acai extracts have been tested at the University of Florida for its effectiveness in fighting leukaemia. The result? Acai extract caused 86% of leukaemia cells to self-destruct. A University of Rio de Janeiro showed that acai extract may improve cardiovascular function as well.
Yet another study done on acai's antioxidant activity found that 12 volunteers given an acai extract had higher antioxidant levels in their system when tested one and two hours afterwards - with the antioxidant levels in their blood increasing between the first and second hour!
Other positive effects of acai which have been reported include an improvement in digestive function and mental clarity, higher energy levels and even a slowing of the cellular process of aging! While not all of these benefits have yet been clinically proven, these effects have been seen with other antioxidant rich foods.
There is another health benefit which the acai berry may be able to offer, this one unrelated to its nutritional properties per se. Acai berry pulp has shown some promise for improving the way that MRI exams are performed on the GI tract - this berry may make even medical testing healthier! - 17273
About the Author:
Author: Marcus C. Evans discusses results of studies conducted on the acai berry on his website where you can also find further details on the amazing nutritional properties of the acai fruit.
posted by X - Men at
1:22 AM
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