What are acai berries, and what are their possible health benefits?

The acai (ah-sigh-EE) berry is a grape-like fruit harvested from acai palm trees, which are native to the rainforests of South America. Acai berries are widely touted as a so-called superfood, with proponents claiming that they are helpful for a variety of health concerns, including arthritis, cancer, weight loss, high cholesterol, erectile dysfunction, detoxification and improving general health.

Acai berries may be a good source of antioxidants, fiber and heart-healthy fats. But research on acai berries is limited, and claims about the health benefits of acai haven't been proved.

Many fruits besides acai berries provide antioxidants and other nutrients that are important to your health. But if you'd like to try acai, check your local health food or gourmet stores — acai can be consumed raw, in tablet form, in beverages such as juice, smoothies or energy drinks, or in other food products such as jelly or ice cream.

http://acaiberryeducation.com/

http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/expert-answers/acai/faq-20057794

12 Health Benefits of Acai Berries

Source: http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/

There are numerous healthy berries that would be a great addition to your diet. The acai berry is one of the healthiest berries you will ever find.

Acai is an indigenous berry commonly found in the rain forests of the Amazon. This antioxidant-rich fruit has been heralded for centuries as a healing, immune-stimulating, energy-boosting fruit. An exotic relative of the blueberry and cranberry, research has shown that this antioxidant-rich berry may be able to support in the prevention of diseases associated with oxidative damage, not to mention many other health benefits.

1. Heart Health

Similar to red wine, research shows that acai berries are extremely high in anthocyanins, a form of plant antioxidant associated with the ability to lower cholesterol levels in the blood stream. They are also rich in plant sterols that provide cardio-protective benefits to our cells. It does this by preventing blood clots, improving overall blood circulation, and relaxing the blood vessels.

2. Resistant to Harmful Organisms

Scientists from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro have shown that consuming acai extract may help fight harmful organisms. However, I recommend Oregano Oil for this task.

3. Aids in Weight Loss

Known by nutritionists as a super-food, acai may help us not only lose weight, but maintain a healthy weight. One interesting study from the National Institutes of Aging found that pulp from the acai berry had the ability to reduce the negative effects of a high-fat diet in laboratory studies on flies.

4. Promotes Skin Health

Currently, many modern beauty products are carrying acai oil, again due to the oil’s high antioxidant content. What is more, acai oil is a great natural alternative to chemical based skin-care products that harm the skin in the long-run. Taken internally, the berries can also give your skin a healthier glow. In fact,
Brazilians have been eating acai berries for centuries to treat skin conditions.

5. Helps with Digestive Upset

Taking acai may also aid in keeping our digestive system clean and in optimal function. The berries have powerful detoxification capacities in the human body and are a well-known traditional source of dietary fiber. Of course, there are many other high fiber foods that can do the same thing, including many other types of berries.

6. Reduces Irritation

Acai berries contain properties may prevent the typical irritation associated with respiratory distress.

7. Improved Cellular Health

On a general level, the anthocyanins found in acai play a role in our cellular protection system, helping to keep cells strong against the invasion of free radicals.

8. May Help Fight Cancer

Acai is very high in Vitamin C and ellagic acid, an immune-system-boosting combination that has been shown to suppress the growth of cancer. One study published in the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry found that polyphenolic compounds extracted from acai reduced cancer cell proliferation by 56-86%. It is thought that acai’s phytochemcials can stop the process of carcinogenesis on a molecular level, killing off tumorous cells before they multiply. Acai berries are not a cure for cancer; but hopefully more research will examine their benefits and potential role in the fight.

9. Anti-Aging Effects

Extremely high in many forms of plant phytochemicals (antioxidants), acai berries may contribute to an ability to slow or reverse typical processes of aging related to oxidative damage. In fact, the berries are one of the planets highest sources of antioxidants, with one berry holding ten times the amount of antioxidants as grapes, and two times the amount of blueberries.

10. Energy Boost

Due its overall health benefits, taking acai extract can lead to an increased overall level of energy and stamina, and may aid to combat fatigue and exhaustion. Whenever you need a boost, simply eat a handful of berries and you will be ready to go in no time!

11. Better Sex

This famous red berry has also been linked to overall increased blood circulation in the human body, a phenomenon that may contribute to a boost in sex drive, especially for men.

12. Improves Mental Function

Preliminary research studies show that acai may prevent mental imbalance in menopausal women.

Buy organically-certified Acai. Not only are they safer, but taste better too. If you can’t find acai berries, another good source of antioxidant fruits are goji berries.

- Dr. Edward F. Group III, DC, ND, DACBN, DCBCN, DABFM

How Does the Acai Berry Cleanse Work?

Source: http://www.livestrong.com

Preparation

The acai berry cleanse starts by reducing ingestion of high-fat, high-sugar content foods, junk food and desserts, and to curtail such foods from the diet for approximately three days before starting the cleanse. Individuals are encouraged to drink plenty of water (at least 64 oz. a day).

Cleanse

The acai berry cleanse offers the most effective benefits when taken as a juice. Those who buy pills, supplements or powdered forms of acai berry cleanse products should follow instructions on the product. The acai berry juice is the most effective, as many supplement pills and capsules available on the market have not been tested, and scams are prevalent. The acai berry detox has the acai extract and other beneficial herbs. In most cases, you will be instructed to drink at least an ounce of the acai berry juice three times a day with meals for two days. The cleanse removes toxins and wastes that accumulate in the colon, or large intestine, and promotes evacuation. This encourages weight loss and removal of such wastes from the intestines.

Acai Berry on Fox News

What Is Acai Berry Good For?

Source: http://foodfacts.mercola.com

Acai Berry Attributes

Botanical name: Euterpe oleracea

Similar to a cross between a grape and a blueberry, the acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) berry is a small, reddish-purple drupe consisting of a cluster of seeds, with only around 15 percent or so being edible, harvested from tall, slender palm trees found around the Amazon River basin of South America. These berries are also quite perishable, but have significant nutritional attributes when eaten fresh.

Traditional uses for acai fruit has included treatment for diarrhea, parasitic infections, hemorrhages and ulcers. As a food, acai pulp in the tribal Amazon belt is often blended with the starchy root vegetable manioc and eaten as porridge.

The taste is often described as reminiscent of wild berries and chocolate. It's found in large supermarkets and health food stores throughout the world, usually as a juice or tea rather than fresh, simply because getting them out of the Amazon with the nutrients still intact is a complicated process.

Other uses for the acai berry include natural food coloring, cosmetics, anti-aging skin creams, shampoos and conditioners, and also in food supplements. Expensive acai-based products have been widely hyped as having significant weight loss potential, but on that score, scientifically speaking, the jury's still out. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission announced in early 2012 that it had asked federal courts to temporarily suspend the activity of websites marketing acai berry weight loss products.

Health Benefits of Acai Berry

This little berry's list of attributes includes a high level of antioxidant activity similar to cranberries, but more than what's been found in blueberries and strawberries. Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) values measuring the antioxidant power of acai fruit pulp/skin powder reportedly have the highest ORAC value among fruits and vegetables, or 10 times more antioxidants than red grapes.

Acai berries are low in sugar, but contain excellent amounts of iron, calcium, fiber, and vitamin A. They also contain anthocyanin compounds such as resveratrol and cyaniding and ferulic acid, which not only give fruits and vegetables their distinct color, but also team up with flavonoids to defend the body against harmful free radicals. In fact, acai berries contain 10 to 30 times more anthocyanin power than red wine. Beneficial fatty acids such as oleic acid, one of the same oils found in olive oil, is another strong point, and healthy levels of dietary fiber keep the system functioning smoothly.

The properties contained in acai berries may help prevent health problems such as arthritis, inflammation, obesity, erectile dysfunction, neurological diseases, and allergies. Lab studies have shown them to have positive effects on ailments associated with oxidative stress, heart disease, and cancer.

Acai berries should be consumed in moderation, because they still contain sugar, even if in lower levels than other fruits. Remember, fructose may be harmful to your health in excessive amounts. 

Acai Berry Nutrition Facts Serving Size: 4 ounces of acai berries (104 grams)
Amt. Per Serving
Calories	247
Fiber	16 g
Carbohydrates	4 g
Sugar	2 g

Studies on Acai Berries

A study published in mid-2011 reported that the acaí berry not only offers potential health benefits due to its antioxidant scavenging capacities, but also suppresses biological activity that would degrade cellular integrity.

Research published in September 2012 reported the effects of acai berry pulp on chemically-induced urothelial bladder cancer in mice, and the incidence and multiplicity of transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). After 10 weeks of treatment, the acai berry pulp treatment was found to reduce the TCC incidence, multiplicity, and tumor cell proliferation, as well as significantly reduce DNA damage. The study authors reported that the positive acai berry pulp treatment was probably due to the fruit's antioxidant abilities.

The purpose of another study was to evaluate how acai fruit pulp affected metabolic disorder risks. It involved 10 overweight adults taking 100 grams of acai pulp twice daily for a month. Prior to the study, each subject's blood glucose, blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and other biomarkers were measured.

At the end of the 30-day trial, researchers found reductions in fasting glucose, insulin levels, and total cholesterol; however, there was no effect on blood pressure. Scientists concluded that the acai fruit pulp reduced the levels of selected metabolic disease markers in the overweight subjects, indicating that further studies, including those on heart disease and/or type 2 diabetes, are warranted.

Acai Berry Healthy Recipes: Blueberry Acai Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups almond milk
• 1½ bananas
• 1 cup frozen blueberries
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1 acai frozen smoothie pack OR 1 cup acai juice
• ¾ to 1 cup ice

Procedure:

This recipe uses acai fruit at its most available, peak freshness, sans added sugar. Place all the ingredients into a blender, process, and enjoy! This recipe serves two. (Note: If you use the juice, cut the almond milk down to ½ cup.)

Acai Berry Fun Facts

Acai, a dietary staple for people in the Amazonian rainforest regions, has been harvested the same way for centuries. The 60- to 80-foot palm trees are scaled by workers who cut the branches, then slide back down the smooth, slender trunks to the ground.

Because acai berries are so low in sugar and acid, which protects most fruits, they must be picked, processed, flash-pasteurized, and frozen quickly before being transported out of the Amazon. If left unprocessed, the fruit will oxidize, turn brown, and lose its beneficial nutrients.

Summary

Up until a decade ago or so, acai berries were unheard of by anyone outside Amazonian regions. Seemingly overnight (thanks to the Internet), they became the new superfood promising amazing weight loss capabilities. But then, reports began casting grave doubts on those claims, especially due to the emergence of numerous (and expensive) acai berry-based diet supplements flooding the internet.

Because of so many conflicting reports, university and clinical studies have been instigated to get to the bottom of the controversy regarding what this little South American berry actually offers nutritionally. The upshot is that, just like nearly every other plant-based food, acai berries, too, contain many beneficial compounds, such as powerful antioxidants, fiber, monounsaturated fats, iron, calcium, fiber, vitamin A, and anthocyanins, clinically proven to be beneficial for health.