The Acai Berry Cycle
Wednesday, April 18, 2012 | Posted in Posted in Acai, Acai Powder, Acai Pulp Bar, General, Superfood | No Comments »

If you’ve watched television lately, you may have seen one of the many ads promoting various brands of acai berry juice. While this ‘perfect potion’ is new to the United States, it has been familiar in other parts of the world for hundreds of years.
Acai (a-sigh-ee) palm trees are members of the genus Euterpe and grow mostly in Central and South American rain forests. The fruit is a dietary staple in the Amazon region, where various species are used in herbal remedies for diarrhoea, jaundice, fever, skin ulcers, and tonics to enrich the blood. Euterpe oleracea is the variety that’s causing all the buzz.
A classic palm, the acai tree grows as tall as 80 feet. Its multiple long, thin trunks have branches near the top that support long, ribbon like leaves. Dangling from the branches are clusters of three to eight deep-purple berries - so dark that they look almost black. Each berry is about the size of a blueberry and is composed of a small amount of pulp surrounding a large seed.
Acai berries debuted on the global market about seven years ago. Because they are very fragile, until recently most berries were used locally within a day or two of picking. But several local companies now process them for global distribution.
Scientific evidence
One hundred grams (3.5 ounces) of the standard, freeze-dried powder made from acai berry pulp and skin contains 533.9 calories, 52.2 g carbohydrate, 44.2 g dietary fibre, 8.1 g protein, and 32.5 g total fat. While few people consume a serving so large, it is easy to see how a small amount of this nutrient-dense fruit could be very beneficial.
Chemical analysis finds acai juice to be an excellent source of essential fatty acids, fibre, and antioxidants. The National Institute on Aging has developed oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) values to measure the antioxidant capacity of various foods. With a rating of 161,400 units/100 g, acai has the highest ORAC value of any food tested to date and is 10-30 times more powerful than red wine by volume.
This rich antioxidant activity has spurred intense research into acai’s potential for preventing numerous diseases. A University of Florida study showed that acai extract triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86% of leukaemia cells in vitro. In a rat study at the University of Rio de Janeiro, acai extract induced long-lasting endothelium-dependent vasodilatation, which is strongly linked to improved cardiovascular function.
Meanwhile, in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial, 12 healthy volunteers ingested a standardized acai extract. When serum antioxidant levels were sampled one and two hours later, the concentrations had definitely increased at each interval.
Other touted and likely physiologic results from this berry are increased energy, improved mental clarity, improved GI function, better glycaemic control for diabetic patients, improved cholesterol balance, and a slowing of cellular aging. All these benefits have yet to be proven, but other high-antioxidant products are credited with these effects.
Acai may have another clinical benefit that’s not directly related to nutrition. A study now under way is looking at acai extract as a substitute for gadolinium contrast agents in MRI exams of the GI tract. In earlier research, acai berry pulp was found to have a definite increased T1-weighted MRI signal in vivo, revealing a significant contrast on bowel walls and gastric tissue. Further analysis linked this to spectrophotometric detection of iron, magnesium, and copper ions.
If you want to get some of this delicious berry anywhere in Australia, try the new Amazon Power Acai Powder by clicking here.
Layne Beachley, as many readers may already know, is a woman from the Manly suburb of Sydney, Australia who is regarded by most as the greatest female surfer of all time. She has won the Association of Surfing Professionals’ World Surfing Championship seven times.
One of the secrets to her success, like that of any champion athlete, is her diet. And one of the core components of Layne Beachley’s diet is the Acai fruit.
Now regarded as one of the most nutritious fruits found in the Amazon Rain Forest, Acai berries contain the highest ORAC value of any edible berry in the world. The ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) rating is a standard method of comparing the level of antioxidants present in food products.
Antioxidants are substances, including vitamin E, vitamin C, beta carotene, and active substances in green tea among many others, which protect the body’s cells from the damaging effects of oxidation, or the “rusting” of the arteries and tissues of the body. Oxidation naturally occurs whenever we eat any food, but left unchecked it leads to premature aging and early death.
The Acai berry also contains an abundance of Oleic (omega 9) monounsaturated essential fatty acid, which helps in lowering the “bad cholesterol” LDL and with maintaining the “good cholesterol” or HDL, and Linoleic (omega 6) polyunsaturated essential fatty acid which does the same thing. Thus the fruit provides very healthy fats, essential for strengthening the heart, which lives on fat, something which, of course, all great athletes need.
The Acai berry also contains phytosterols, or plant-derived sterols; these are compounds of plant cell membranes which are highly beneficial to our bodies in numerous ways, but foremost in the reduction of blood plasma cholesterol and sourcing dietary fibre.
And there is still more to the Acai berry, for this special fruit is abundant with a particular class of flavonoids called anthocyanins. These are ubiquitous plant colorants which impart the red, purple, and blue hues found many fruits, vegetables, cereal grains, and flowers.
Represented by over 600 molecular structures, research has found the properties of the Acai berry to boast benefits including: protection from liver damage; significant blood pressure reduction; eyesight improvement; powerful anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities; the inhibition of mutations caused by mutagens that arise in cooked food; and the suppression of human cancer cell growth.
Clearly, the Acai berry and its fresh, all natural juice should be considered a “superfood” and “superdrink”. Health conscious Aussies as well as those who may want to follow in Layne Beachley’s bare footsteps and become champion athletes should incorporate Acai berries and products into their diets.
When it comes to looking good and staying healthy, people today have it pretty rough. Not only are we exposed to toxins that were unheard of a generation ago, we also have to deal with stresses that differ from those that have come before us.
This is why it might be a little strange that the solution to such new problems is actually one that has been used for thousands of years! The acai berry is a fruit that is found in the Amazon rain forest, and it has long been revered for its beneficial aspects by the people of the area. Now the world at large is waking up to the benefits that this berry offers, so make sure that you don’t miss out.
The first thing that you should realize is that the acai berry is chock-full of antioxidants. When free radicals are released in your body, they can do all sorts of damage, ranging from premature aging to even promoting certain types of cancer.
The acai berry is a famous provider of antioxidants, with several times the amount of antioxidants found in the much praised blueberry. In addition to this, you will find that it also has excellent levels of fatty acids, that are similar to those found in olive oil and that it also has more than its fair share of amino acids. These factors all combine to help make the acai berry a winner when it comes to promoting health and longevity in humans.
You’ll also find that there are a number of different benefits that the acai berry can have for your digestion as well. In the first place, you will find that it has long been used as an appetite suppressant. How many times have you found a diet sabotaged by hunger pangs? You will also discover that due to its lower glycaemic index that the acai berry is more filling than you might expect, and it doesn’t hurt that it tastes great as well! If you are tired of diet food that has no taste or worse yet tastes terrible, now is the time for you to try the acai berry.
There is also the fact that acai berry is often use to promote digestion. When you combine it with a healthy diet and moderate exercise, you will find that you are able to digest food much more efficiently, and at the end of the day, you will discover that this is something that can go a long way towards getting you the results that you need.
Effective digestion can keep you from putting on the weight that happens when your body is not processing as effectively as it should and instead decides to store everything as fat!
The truth of the matter is that people all over Australia are waking up to the acai berry and they are finding that it is improving their lives immeasurably. Whether you want to try acai berry dried, in smoothies or in a juice mix, see what this amazingly tasty, incredibly nutritious super food can do for you!
If you want to get some of this delicious berry anywhere in Australia, try the new Amazon Power Acai Powder by clicking here.
What do Layne Beachley, World Surfing Champion, and Chris friend, the Runner-up ISA Amateur World Surfing Champion have in common? Besides a love of their chosen sport, these are just two of the athletes that attribute at least some of their success to the power and energy that can be had from consuming acai berry.
The acai berry, found in the Amazon rain forest, is just beginning to be known to the wider world. In its homeland however, it has been the darling of many world class athletes. When it comes to helping these athletes do their thing, nothing beats the acai berry, and you will find that it can help you too.
There are many reasons that people who participate in sports love the acai berry. The first thing that you will discover is that it provides the people who consume it with a powerful energy boost.
This berry is one way to put some caffeine in your system without resorting to a sugary soda or frighteningly coloured sports drink! It also helps your body process the food that it gets more effectively. When you are in training, you want to turn your body into an effectively functioning machine, and when it comes to helping you get the most out of your food, the acai berry is the way to go.
More than just athletes can benefit from the use of the acai berry. You’ll also find that anyone who is looking for a natural boost can get a great deal from this Amazonian fruit.
Some major ingredients of the acai berry include vitamin C, vitamin E and vitamin B1. These can keep you working at a high energy level through the day, and along with the fibre and protein that are a part of the berry as well, you will find that it is much easier for your body to repair the damage that occurs daily.
People who are interested in making sure that their bodies do not age prematurely find that the acai berry is an impressive resource when it comes to helping fight off arthritis and other types of swelling. Thanks to the fact that you will also find that minerals calcium and potassium in the berry, you will be able to help strengthen your bones and keep your skin looking young and resilient. Many people find that not long after they start enjoying this berry they are feeling healthier, fresher and much more ready to take on the world!
No one ever said that life was easy and if you are trying to get by in modern life in Australia, you already know it. There are plenty of stressors out there that were unknown just five or ten years ago, and it feels like you need to deal with them! Take advantage of what so many Australians are learning; the acai berry is a great-tasting way to give your body that extra boost, so don’t miss out on it!
Acai berries are South American fruits that are small, round, and only grow deep within the rainforests of the Amazon. Natives have long climbed the trees to harvest these delicate berries by hand. The fruit grows in clusters at the top of a species of palm tree, and are not unlike purple grapes in outward appearance.
The taste of the berries is a luscious combination of mixed berries and dark chocolate. The Acai berry is only about one inch in size, but has relatively little pulp because the seed of the fruit take up almost all of the interior space. For years the Caboclo peoples who live in the Brazilian Amazon have harvested the berries as food and enjoyed various health benefits as a result.
This one berry amazingly accounts for almost 50% of many natives’ dietary intake. The Acai has gained a reputation as being a miniature super fruit. This stems from the fact that it is capable of providing people with great levels of energy and promoting health and overall strength in those who consume it. Some people also believe that it helps to control weight. Native people consider these super berries to give users strong hearts, clear minds and long lives.
The Acai juice and pulp have been used in juice blends and other drinks throughout Peru and Brazil, but have only recently become available in Western countries. People in Brazil eat the fruit fresh but they also share the mashed fruit after it is mixed with tapioca, sugar, and honey. It can even be mixed with granola and added to ice cream. Numerous reports have been carried out in South America with results confirmed by others. These reports document the superior energy that people enjoy when they eat or drink something containing acai berries.
Acai berries contain a tremendous amount of healthy fats and it is for this reason that they are a very perishable food item. Western countries can enjoy Acai in yogurts, juices, or as energy health drinks. It is also available as a frozen fruit pulp or a freeze-dried powder in areas that are some distance from where the berry is harvested.
The fruit contains anthocyanins and resveratrol and studies have shown it to have several benefits to the human body. One of these benefits is that antioxidant levels in the bloodstream increase significantly within 2 hours of drinking a product containing Acai pulp or juice. This increase of antioxidants in the bloodstream heightens the body’s ability to fight free radicals that attack cells.
There are also ongoing studies that suggest that this fruit is good for the heart and blood circulation. Other studies are showing great promise that active ingredients in the berry may even be useful for fighting certain cancers.
For Australians and others who live and play at a fast pace, this fruit is able to provide energy whilst also providing other health benefits.
Increased energy levels and endurance is what many consumers are finding so wonderful about juice drinks that now contain Acai. People who live athletic life styles like swimmers, runners, and other outdoors lovers will find this energy-producing supplement gives them all the energy they need to enjoy their healthy, active lives.
The fruit that has been taking the world by storm is the Acai berry which is really pronounced like (ah-sigh-ee). You can find it in the South American Amazon rainforest where it sits high on top of palm trees. The Acai is a small round berry that is blackish-purple in colour. This delicious Brazilian berry tastes like a special blend of berries and chocolate.
The Amazon tribe’s people have had the pleasure of enjoying the Acai berry for many thousands of years. It was used not only for medicinal purposes but it also had energy giving qualities as well.
These berries were handpicked by the Amazon tribe’s men. They would simply climb up the palm trees and harvest the Acai berries from the tree’s top branches. Now the world over, even as far away as Australia, are extolling the many health benefits of the Acai berries. Many athletes and other high performing people use the Acai as their ‘secret weapon’ as they excel in their chosen activities.
The Acai berry is full of amino acids, antioxidants and essential fatty acids. These are all of vital importance in maintaining a healthy diet. Here is some very good nutritional information that will tell you why the Acai berry is so good for us to eat:
This berry is full of amino acids and has more proteins than one egg. Its fatty acids are similar to the ones that are found in olive oil and it contains twice the number of antioxidants as blueberries and ten times that of grapes.
Acai berries contain over 16 phytonutrients and antioxidants, 30 times the amount of anthocyanins as found in red wine and pack in 44.2g of fibre per 100g of berry. On top of this acai berries have a low glycaemic and are high in macro and trace minerals and vitamins.
This berry has an amazing number of health benefits due to its nutritional makeup. Berries are antibacterial, have antioxidant properties, are anti-mutagenic, act as an anti-inflammatory and are very good for the cardiovascular system. The Acai berry works to lower levels of bad cholesterol that may be found in the blood while it maintains the levels of good cholesterol. One of the main jobs of the Acai berry is to lower the levels of cholesterol in blood plasma.
The Acai berry is a rich source for anthocyanins which are very good for the blood vessels, eyes, nervous system and connective tissue. The flavanoids in the Acai berry help protect your body against disease. The berry seems to strengthen visual acuity in the eyes and helps prevent macular degeneration and glaucoma.
The Acai berry seems to help people who have sleep problems. It helps provide a more natural sleep for the body. The Acai berry has been used for many centuries to both cleanse and detoxify the body.
Wow! This little berry is a nutrient goldmine. You can either take the Acai berry in the form of capsules or you may drink the pureed pulp. Either way, you are sure to feel the many benefits of this amazing berry as it works its wonders on you! Give it a go and see for yourself.
If you want to get some of this delicious berry anywhere in Australia, try the new Amazon Power Acai Powder by clicking here.