What is the Acai Berry?

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Acai Berry BranchThe Fruit - Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-eeh) is a Tupi (Brazilian indigena language) word that means "fruit that cries". Acai grows in the Amazon Rainforest of Brazil, natives of the region have harvested this berry as part of their diet for hundreds of years. This dark purple little fruit looks very similar to a jaboticaba (another very popular Brazilian fruit), grape or blueberry, with the difference that the majority of the fruit is seed, and only the skin around the seed is utilized to make acai juice or pulp. The acai berry is harvested by the thousands and put through a process that separates the pulp from the seed to produce a thick, edible puree.
The Palm Tree - Scientifically called "Euterpe oleracea", the Açaí Palm (or "açaizeiro" in Brazil) can grow up to 30 meters tall (90+ ft), and it can be found all over the Amazon Region - typically by the margins of the rivers, given the acai palm tree demands a lot of humidity. The leaves of this palm tree can reach 3 meters (~9 ft). Most parts of this palm tree are utilized in Brazil: the fruit is utilized to make juice, smoothies, etc, the seeds for handcrafting, the heart makes the delicious heart of palm (called "palmito" in Brazil).The leaves are utilized by the "caboclos" (locals from the Amazon Region) to make roofs of their houses, and the strings are also utilized.

Discovers of the Acai Berry

There is a lot of buzz about acai in the market place, but a lot of people don't know much about the fruit itself. You'll be hearing a lot more about this rain forest fruit going forward. Acai is the off the chart for almost everything that kale is, in addition to naturally occurring Omega-3, 6 and 9 oils. t's not only good for you, but many world class athletes drink it while training because it's so loaded with nutrition and protein it can be a complete meal.

Studies have shown that this little berry is one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in the world! Acai is the high-energy berry of a special Amazon palm tree. Hidden within its royal purple pigment is the magic that makes it nature's perfect energy fruit. A synergy of monounsaturated (healthy) fats, dietary fiber and phytosterols to help promote cardiovascular and digestive health.

Calling the acai berry “the number one super food in the world” might sound like a stretch, but this view is not unfounded. Acai berries are among the most nutritious foods of the Amazon, rich in B vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Acai berries also contain oleic acid (omega-9), a beneficial fatty acid.

The little berry is packed with an amazing amount of free-radical fighting antioxidants and is considered to have the best overall nutritional value of any fruit on earth. Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) is a method used by the USDA of measuring antioxidant capacities of different foods. As you can see below, other popular fruits don’t even come close to the antioxidant power of the acai berry.
Acai Berry ORAC Score

Acai Power

Açai is an energizing super-fruit that is rich in protein, fiber, Vitamin E, minerals, and important essential fatty acids. All this talk about antioxidants and nutritional value, what does it mean exactly? In simple terms, the acai berry can help:
  • Support the immune system
  • Aid in weight loss
  • Lower blood pressure
  • Fight aging & inflammation
  • Promote healthy sleep
  • Increase energy & stamina
  • Reduce pain and soreness
  • Improve digestion
  • Increase libido
  • Fight cancer & disease
  • Protect against heart disease
 

South Beach Acai - All Natural Cleansing System