What Is The Acai Berry? A General Overview
For those of you who may be wondering what is the acai berry, this article aims to give consumers a general idea of this fruit which has been touted as the new “superfood.”
Acai Berry – The Fruit
Long before the acai berry fruit was thrust into the global spotlight, it had long existed in the Amazon rain forest of Brazil, growing from the acai palm trees. Aside from its physical characteristics of being dark purple in color and about the same size as a grape, it is also known among the locals as a rich source of nutrients.
The fruit consists of about 10% edible pulp and skin, where all the nutrients are found, while the seed which is practically indigestible, makes up for the remaining 90% of it. The natives of the Amazon have made it a staple part of their diet not only for its health benefits, but also because of its savory taste. The small part of the acai which can be eaten is said to have the combined taste of berries and chocolate.
Acai Berry – “Miracle Diet?”
Over the past few years, the acai berry has been the subject of media interest as it was hyped up as a wonder food just discovered from the heart of the Amazon. It has come to be known in many different labels such as amazing food and superfood. It has been featured prominently in popular tv shows and is the subject of a book by Dr. Nicholas Perricone aptly titled “The Perricone Promise.”
Because it is loaded with nutrients, and contains antioxidants 10 times more than what is found in red grapes, acai berry does make for a great supplement. So if you ask what is the acai berry and how it can benefit you health-wise, you’ll find out that it is often credited for helping to alleviate many of today’s health concerns including aging, inflammation, and heart diseases. It is also claimed to be beneficial in promoting weight loss, increasing energy levels, improving sleeping habits, promoting stronger immune system, and boosting libido.
Please note, however, that all these supposed health benefits have yet to be proved conclusively in any studies. In fact, there are no studies to date that prove the reported health benefits are the direct result of acai berries.
Acai Berry – Effective Weight Loss Aid?
One of the uses of acai berry that has gained more attention over all its other benefits is the claim that it can help facilitate weight loss. In today’s society where having excess weight is a constant struggle, it is no wonder that being known as an effective weight loss supplement has helped to boost the popularity of this product. Unfortunately, there is no evidence to date that proves a direct correlation between acai berries and weight loss.
It may have nutritional components that can help with weight loss but even then its role would be limited. Only as part of an overall healthy diet will acai berry have any affect on weight loss but that affect would be minimal.
Acai Berry –The Supplements
Having the acai as a diet supplement is not as easy as you think. The fresh fruit can only be found in Brazil where it is grown and transporting it to other parts of the world is just not possible as it perishes quickly usually within 24 hours of being harvested. Thanks to technology, however, you can experience the health benefits of the acai berry no matter where you live.
Supplement companies, such as Perfect Acai, freeze dry the pulp to turn it into acai berry powder. The powder is then sold or used in capsules and other acai berry supplements. Perfect Acai is an example of a product that uses only the 100% pure organic freeze-dried powder.
Because we are constantly bombarded with different products that promise different benefits, it is important that we arm ourselves with the basic information about them before deciding to use these supplements. Hopefully this write-up on what is the acai berry has given you an idea of what this fruit, wonder food, and supplement is.