Açaí Berry

With 15 times the antioxidants of grapes and twice the antioxidants of blueberries, the Brazilian açaí berry(AH-sigh-EE) is considered to have the best nutritional value of any fruit on earth.

Tall and slender, the açaí palm is a species of palm tree in the genus Euterpe cultivated for its fruit and superior hearts of palm (the cluster of new leaves also called “cabbage”). Found in South America (concentrated in Brazil, Guyana, Suriname), the açaí palm prefers swampy areas and grows quickly. The fronds were (and still are) used for thatching and weaving. Each açaí palm tree produces small deep purple, almost black, fruit (berries) in groups of 3-8 per bunch. The fruit is edible, and its pulp is used in wines, liqueurs, as flavoring, as colorant, and on its own as a juice.

With the symmetry of a grape and the size of a giant blueberry, the açaí fruit tastes a bit like wild  raspberry with a hint of grape. Most people have trouble putting their finger on the taste because it’s so different.

The açaí berry is a dense source of a particular class of flavonoids called anthocyanins. Açaí berry’s ORAC value (a measure of its antioxidant properties), is higher than any other edible berry on the planet.

As Seen On Oprah, Dr. Nicholas Perricone’s Superfood No. 1: Açaí

Nature’s Energy Fruit

Studies have shown that this little berry is one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in the world! Açaí (ah-sigh-ee) is the high-energy berry of a special Amazon palm tree. Harvested in the rainforests of Brazil, açaí tastes like a vibrant blend of berries and chocolate. Hidden within its royal purple pigment is the magic that makes it nature’s perfect energy fruit. Açaí is packed full of antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids. Although açaí may not be available in your local supermarket, you can find it in several health food and gourmet stores (often in juice form) and in all MonaVie juice, energy and weight loss products.

Açaí Pulp Health Benefits

The açaí pulp contains many natural health benefits, including:

• A synergy of monounsaturated (healthy) fats, dietary fiber and phytosterols to help promote cardiovascular and digestive health.
• An almost perfect essential amino acid complex in conjunction with valuable trace minerals, vital to proper muscle contraction and regeneration.
• A remarkable concentration of antioxidants that help combat premature aging, with 10 times more antioxidants than red grapes and 10 to 30 times the anthocyanins of red wine.

The fatty acid content in açaí resembles that of olive oil, and is rich in monounsaturated oleic acid. Oleic acid is important for a number of reasons. It helps omega-3 fish oils penetrate the cell membrane; together they help make cell membranes more supple. By keeping the cell membrane supple, all hormones, neurotransmitter and insulin receptors function more efficiently. This is particularly important because high insulin levels create an inflammatory state, and we know inflammation causes aging.

Cancer Fighting Properties

A University of Florida study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry showed that extracts from acai berries triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells tested in the laboratory, according to Stephen Talcott, an assistant professor with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

“Acai berries are already considered one of the richest fruit sources of antioxidants,” Talcott said. “This study was an important step toward learning what people may gain from using beverages, dietary supplements or other products made with the berries.”

 Fox News Dr. Manny on Acai Berry  and Cancer