Acai Berry

Acai berries are small purple fruits that look like blueberries. They grow on tall palm trees and the fruits are characteristically arranged. They can be found in Central and South America, as well as in the Amazon rainforest.

Acai berry was a very popular food among the Amazon tribes, thanks to which they were able to survive for a long time without starvation and without getting tired. According to some scientists, this is due to small acai berries, which accounted for about 40% of their daily calories.

Nutritional value

Purple fruit contains many useful substances in addition to antioxidants, namely minerals, macronutrients, amino acids and even small amounts of essential fatty acids. Although there is much talk about the benefits of acai berry in cancer prevention, not much research has been done on the issue and the claim has not yet been proven. But since other fruits such as blueberries and cherries are thought to prevent cancer, due to the large amount of antioxidants that fight free radicals, acai berry could be expected to have the same abilities.

Acai berry contains many nutrients:

• antioxidants (anthocyanins, polyphenols, vitamins A, C, E);
• healthy fats, including monounsaturated fats, omega fatty acids (omega-3, omega-6 and omega-9 and fatty acids such as linoleic acid, palmitic acid and oleic acid);
• dietary fiber;
• some essential amino acids;
• minerals (magnesium, potassium, phosphorus and manganese);
• plant sterols (B-sitosterol, campesterol and sigmasterol);
• other traces of minerals (iron, calcium, copper and zinc)
• B vitamins (B1, B2 and B3).

The nutritional value in 100 grams of acai berry fruit is:

• 70-80 calories
• 5-6 grams of fat (mostly monounsaturated)
• 1-2 grams of protein
• 2-3 grams of sugar
• 3-4 grams of fiber
• 130% of the daily dose of manganese
• 15% of the daily dose of vitamin A.
• 8% of the daily dose of honey
• 4% of the daily dose of iron, thiamine, calcium and magnesium

Health benefits

Undoubtedly, the greatest benefits of the fruit come from the high amounts of antioxidants in its content.

In fact, the color of the fruit is due to the high concentrations of some pigmented nutrients it contains, especially anthocyanins, which are part of many reddish-purple fruits. The concentration of anthocyanins is 10 times higher than that in red grapes and it is believed that acai berry has 10 to 30 times more anthocyanins than red wine.

Antioxidants, including anthocyanins, contribute a lot to slowing down aging and have anti-inflammatory properties. This is because antioxidants help fight free radicals and the damage they cause to the body.

Helping the body become more resistant to free radicals, acai is beneficial for almost every body system - cardiovascular, endocrine, digestive, nervous, immune, etc.

Acai berry is useful for preventing the first signs of aging and helps skin regeneration. For thousands of years, people have used antioxidant-rich foods and herbs, both topically and internally, to prevent skin degeneration and keep it resilient and healthy.

Many people use Acai berry against scars, stretch marks, crow's feet and dry skin.

Eating antioxidant foods is a natural way to improve your memory. Inflammation and oxidative stress are two major causes of cognitive problems, including memory loss, dementia, and other age-related mental disorders.

Acai berry stimulates mental functions and helps to think clearly, maintains high levels of energy in the body and copes with various effects of psychological stress. In addition, the fruit supports hormonal balance and maintains cortisol levels.

Acai berry suppresses appetite, thanks to its effect on various hormones that control blood sugar levels and the feeling of hunger and satiety. It supports the metabolic functions through which the body handles food processing and regulates the release of insulin.

Due to its ability to regulate insulin, the fruit is beneficial in reducing appetite and naturally helps to lose weight. Acai berry facilitates the breakdown of fats and carbohydrates, helps reduce the desire to overeat, which is a practical way to help maintain a healthy body weight.

Acai berry contains many useful fibers that improve digestion. The fruits help the liver and kidneys to process and remove waste and toxins from the body.

Helps cleanse the colon and prevents the accumulation of harmful substances. Prevents constipation and other digestive problems.

Contains monounsaturated fatty acids that support cardiovascular health. Studies show that drinking acai juice regularly has a positive effect on blood lipid levels and can protect the heart. Consumption of the fruit helps reduce inflammation, which is one of the main causes of coronary heart disease and hormone-related problems, including type 2 diabetes.

Contraindications

Acai berry is safe to eat, but in some people with allergies to various fruits, it can cause a reaction.