Well, since Dr Nicholas Perricone appeared on Oprah to tell everyone about it, perhaps the Acai Berry isn’t quite such a secret any more.  For those not already in the know, Dr Perricone puts the Acai Berry right at the top of his list of 10 ‘Super Foods’ and there are now statistics galore that prove to us just how incredibly healthy this grape sized berry is.

Let’s examine the case in more detail.
The Acai palm (the letter c is pronounced as an s) is native to the Amazon region and has long been a popular part of Brazilian cuisine.  The Acai has a lovely berry flavour, with a slight hint of chocolate in its aftertaste, and the Brazilians have used the juice and the pulp in blends, smoothies, sodas, ice creams and other drinks.  It has also traditionally been served with tapioca or granola - either as a sweet or a savoury.  Although nutritionists have been aware of its value, the fact that the Acai is so perishable that it spoils within 24 hours of being picked has been a real deterrent for those people wanting to export it.

But now things have changed.
So what are the health benefits of this fruit that have caused such interest amongst American experts?  Well, for starters, Acai has an amazing 10 times the antioxidant power of red grapes and twice that of blueberries.  Even more promising is that the antioxidant components are ‘slow-acting’, which indicates that the antioxidant effect is more sustained.  The Acai is rich in fatty acids, containing high levels of the monounsaturated fatty acid known as oleic acid, enabling it to reduce blood cholesterol levels.  Studies at the University of Florida also suggest that the Acai contains polyphenolics which can reduce the spread of leukaemia cells.  To summarise, Acai Berries are at the top of the Super Food list because they can prevent and reduce inflammations; regulate your metabolism and burn your body fat; lower your cholesterol and blood pressure; protect against cancer and heart disease; promote good digestive health - and, just for good measure, give you energy!

Simply eating the berries or using them in the traditional manner of the Brazilians has always been near impossible for people living far from the Amazon Basin. But now there are two ways that the berry is being transported.  Firstly, Acai pulp from the Amazon is being frozen and shipped to the USA.  Some juice bars now are beginning to have Acai smoothies - although they are often on the expensive side.
More accessible, though, is the Acai powder which results from the pulp being dehydrated and freeze-dried.  The resulting powder is easier and cheaper to export and can be used to make pure Acai supplements that have all the nutritional benefits of the original fruit.  That last point is worth stressing - the freeze-dried powder has all the health-giving properties of the berry itself.

A word of caution, though.  When you’re choosing your Acai supplement, read the packaging to make sure that it’s the genuine berry skin and pulp that has been used in the manufacturing process.  Some of the products on the market use mainly the Acai seed, which has been crushed.  The only value of the seeds is to make necklaces from them or burn them as a source of energy - nutritionally, they have little value.
This amazing Acai fruit is one of the most nutritious foods in the world - and now it’s within the reach of everybody, not just those who go to Brazil for their vacations.

A recent University of Florida study has demonstrated the cancer fighting benefits of an extract from the acai berry. This extract has proven effective on cancer cells which have been unaffected by other therapies which have been tried. This is only the first of many planned studies on the effects of acai berries on cancer.

When testing leukaemia cells with the extract from this berry, a staggering 86% of the cells self-destructed. Although the benefits of acai berries were already known as a great source of antioxidants, this has been an astounding discovery. An assistant professor at University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Services has confirmed that 86% in not an exaggeration.

Other fruits may also contain antioxidants which can kill leukaemia cells, but all of the research done to date is only preliminary, as there are other things which need to be taken into account. The figures yielded by this first study, however show great promise.

Australia has jumped on board, promoting a diet that is derived from exotic fruits, namely acai, noni, goji, and mangosteen. Promotions here are running high for various juices made with all natural fruits. Antioxidant properties have been found in many of these native fruits.

A study in Brisbane, Australia in March of 2008 has focused on the differences between the juice type antioxidants and the olive leaves antioxidants. While the results found in the olive leaf have very promising results when it comes to containing antioxidants, the studies with the acai berry are far more conclusive.

One study in particular that is yielding very interesting results is on these fruits and cancer. Just as the United States is working very hard to find a cure for cancer, leukaemia in particular, Australia is doing so as well. The hard, cold facts are that leukaemia is the number one killer of children under the age of 20 the world over. Studies have not been conducted yet on the effects of preventing leukaemia or any other cancer.

Because only basic research has been done up to a certain point, more studies are warranted. The acai berries have anywhere from 50 to 75 compounds that have not been established yet. The main reason the berries are so hard to study is that they are very perishable.

The acai berry is roughly the same size as a blueberry and is dark purple when ripe. They contain a single seed and decompose rapidly if not frozen or used straightaway. Since this berry is native to the Amazon River basin, freezing these berries for a long trip is not always a viable option.

To be imported all the way to Australia, acai powder works best. This is produced from acai berries by dehydrating and then freeze-drying acai pulp. Far easier and cheaper to export than are the ripe berries, this powder can then be used in all sorts of nutritional supplements and foods. The powder contains all of the same nutritional and health benefits of the fresh berries.

The research is still very much in its infancy, but the hope is there that someday leukaemia will meet its match in the form of a cure. Leukaemia is a disease which strikes more children than adults - and this is spurring the world to search especially hard for a cure to this form of cancer.

If you want to get some of this delicious berry anywhere in Australia, try the new Amazon Power Acai Powder by clicking here.

Are you an athlete? Do you want to be the best in your profession? Do you want to have more stamina and more energy? Do you want to win? Then maybe you should meet World Surfing Champion Layne Beachley because she has found what you are looking for.

Layne Beachley has found something that has provided her with the best sustenance for her surfing competitions and training workouts. She has found something that is light and easily digestible, that can keep her satisfied all throughout the day, it is the super fruit called the Acai berry. For Layne Beachley, this super fruit is perfect for her because while she suffers from numerous food allergies the berry is able to compensate for the nutrients that she cannot get from ordinary foods. Thus she remains healthy and strong because the berry provides her the nutrients, vitamins, proteins and antioxidants that she needs.

But, if you can’t meet Layne Beachley then you might want to go look for Pro Junior Surfer and Runner-up at the ISA Amateur World Championship, Chris Friend. Why? Because he too has discovered Acai berry, the berry that just might solve your energy and stamina problems. For Chris Friend, Acai berry has given him the strength to train and surf at a 100% intensity rate. He eats the berry for breakfast, for snacks and other times of the day thus providing him with all the power and intensity he needs to win.

Again, are you an athlete? Do you want to be the best in your profession? Do you want to have more stamina and more energy? Do you want to win? Then it is time for you to know Acai berry. This berry is small but it is loaded with power!

This amazing little berry also has the important Phytosterols which are compounds of plant cell membranes that provide the body a lot of benefits like reducing blood plasma cholesterol. It also has Anthocyanin, a protein substance found in the berry that can dissolve saturated and solid fatty acids. These types of fatty acids are the primary causes for cholesterol.

Speaking of cholesterol, Acai also has Oleic or Omega 9, a mono unsaturated essential fatty acid and Linoleic or Omega 6, a polyunsaturated essential fatty acid. Both these help lower bad cholesterol levels while maintaining good cholesterol levels. These fatty acids also support in the transportation and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins such as vitamins K, D, E and A.Acai can energise the body because it is high in unsaturated fatty acids that have good fat.

Acai berry is already being used by a lot of athletes as a substitute to protein bars and shakes.

So, are you an athlete? Do you really want to be the best in your profession? Do you really want to have more stamina and more energy? Do you really want to win? Then you know what to do- train hard, join competitions, learn from your mistakes, keep your head high when you lose and keep your feet on the ground when you win.

And lastly eat the super fruit that a lot of athletes are now using to maintain their stamina and energy levels high- Acai berry.

If you want to get some of this delicious berry anywhere in Australia, try the new Amazon Power Acai Powder by clicking here.