ACAI

Special Offer: Free Sample of Acai Berry Clear

In the past decade the acai palm has gained world notoriety for its health benefits. The acai palm tree is a member of the genus Euterpe, which contains 7 species of palms native to tropical Central and South America, from Belize south to Brazil and Peru, growing mainly in wetlands, floodplains and swampy locations.

Amazon Acai

Euterpe are relatively tall, slender palms growing to 15–30 meters, with pinnate leaves up to 3 meters long. Many of the palms that were once in the genus Euterpe have been reclassified into the genus Prestoea. The species Euterpe oleracea is usually called Açaí Palm, after the European derivation of the Tupian word ïwasa'i, which translated means 'fruit that cries or expels water'.

Acai palms are known to be fast growing, and are cultivated for both for their superior hearts of palm as well as their fruit. Global demand for the acai fruit has expanded rapidly in recent years, and Acai is now cultivated for fruit more than for the heart. The closely related species euterpe edulis (jucara) is now predominantly used for hearts of palm.

Acai Fruit - Acai Berry

The fruit, a small, round, black-purple drupe about 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter, similar in appearance and size to a grape but with less pulp, is produced in branched panicles of 700 to 900 fruits. Two crops of natural acai fruit are produced each year. The acai berry has a single large seed about 0.25–0.40 inches (7–10 mm) in diameter. The exocarp (the outer most layer of the fruit wall) of the ripe acai berries is a deep purple color, or green, depending on the kind of açaí and its maturity. The mesocarp (the fleshy middle portion) is pulpy and thin, with a consistent thickness of 1 mm or less.

Pure acai berries are harvested as food. In an extensive study of three traditional Caboclo populations in the Amazon region of Brazil, Brazilian acai berry was described as the most important plant species because the acai berry pulp makes up such a major component of diet (as much as 42% of the total food intake by weight) and is economically valuable in the region.

Acai Juice

Acai juice and pulp of açaí fruits are frequently used in various juice blends, smoothies, sodas, and other beverages. In northern Brazil, açaí is traditionally served in gourds called "cuias" with tapioca and, depending on the local preference, can be consumed either salty or sweet (sugar, rapadura and honey are known to be used in the mix). Amazon acai has become popular in southern Brazil where it is consumed cold as açaí na tigela ("açaí in the bowl"), mostly mixed with granola — in which the açai berry is considered an energizer. Açaí is also widely consumed in Brazil as an ice cream flavor or as an acai berry drink. Acai berry extract has also been used in a flavored liqueur.

As the high fat content of acai indicates it would deteriorate rapidly after harvest, acai berry products are generally available outside the immediate growing region only as juice or fruit pulp that has been frozen or processed as an acai berry powder, typically freeze-dried. Several companies now manufacture juices, health drinks, yogurts, and sorbets made from fresh acai berries, often in combination with other fruits.

Most of the acai berry research to date has focused on a particular freeze-dried form referred to as Opti-açaí. This powder preparation of freeze-dried açaí fruit pulp and skin was reported to contain (per 100 g of extract) 533.9 calories, 52.2 g carbohydrates, 8.1 g protein, and 32.5 g total fat. The carbohydrate portion included 44.2 g of fiber. The amino acid content was 7.59% of total dry weight.

Acai Antioxidant - Acai Health

The acai antioxidant is a molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that transfers electrons from a substance to an oxidizing agent. Oxidation reactions can produce free radicals, which start chain reactions that damage cells. Antioxidants terminate these chain reactions by removing free radical intermediates, and inhibit other oxidation reactions by being oxidized themselves. As a result, antioxidants are often reducing agents such as thiols or polyphenols.

Although oxidation reactions are crucial for life, they can also be damaging; hence, plants and animals maintain complex systems of multiple types of antioxidants, such as glutathione, vitamin C, and vitamin E as well as enzymes such as catalase, superoxide dismutase and various peroxidases. Low levels of antioxidants, or inhibition of the antioxidant enzymes, causes oxidative stress and may damage or kill cells. Conversely, high levels of antioxidants helps prevent cell damage. This is one of the main acai health benefits.

As oxidative stress might be an important part of many human diseases, the use of antioxidants in pharmacology is intensively studied, particularly as treatments for stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. However, it is unknown whether oxidative stress is the cause or the consequence of disease. Antioxidants are also widely popular as acai supplements with the goal of maintaining health and preventing diseases such as cancer and coronary heart disease. These supplements are primarily acai capsules or acai berry pills.

Acai Superfood

Superfood is a term sometimes used to describe food with high phytonutrient content that some may believe confers health benefits as a result. For example, blueberries are often considered a superfood (or superfruit) because they contain significant amounts of antioxidants, anthocyanins, vitamin C, manganese and dietary fiber. It should be noted that acaiberry contains even higher amounts of these nutritious substances.

Acai berry retailers are experiencing increasing demand with each passing month as acai is fast becoming known as a wonder food for its versatility. Açaí has nutrient properties and is naturally rich in omega fats (the good kind, unlike the saturated fats found in fast food), amino acids, electrolytes, antioxidants, protein, vitamin A, vitamin B1, and vitamin E.

Buy Acai

Consumers wishing to puchase acai may wish to try a free sample before committing hard earned dollars. Also, have a look at some acai testimonials to see what others are saying about acai superfood results. Does the acai berry with white tea really deliver as promised? Is weight loss with acai berry achievable? Read what others have said to find out.

Free Acai Samples

Consumers wishing to buy acai may wish to try a free sample before committing hard earned dollars. Listed below are three free acai trial offers that will make sampling the health benefits of acai berry nearly cost-free (you just have to pay a small fee for shipping and handling):

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