The Acai Berry and What You Don’t Know
Published:August 8th, 2010
It’s been mentioned a lot of times that the Acai Berry can do wonders for your body – not only that you will be getting a constant supply of antioxidants, omega oils, and lots and lots of vitamin c – but you can also benefit from its anti-aging properties, total cleansing from all the toxins you’ve gathered for the week, and studies have revealed that powerful nutrients can kill off leukemia cells.
Given the high popularity of this magical fruit in the West from what used to be a staple, poor man’s diet in Brazil, many are still not aware of the acai berry’s other uses as it was used then centuries ago.
The acai was used in cooking. Tribes from the Amazon crush these berries into a sauce that they will pour over fish, cassava, and meat. Later on, the crushed version was enjoyed as ice cream, sherbet, and other frozen delicacies because of its chocolate-like taste and consistency when crushed. This was how the locals of Brazil enjoyed their daily source of vitamins and antioxidants that kept them looking youthful and vibrant.
The acai, too, has been used as medicine from way back as a powerful antiseptic. Whenever wounds came up, older people would often tell you to treat it with crushed acai for it to heal quick and to guarantee days-long recovery. It’s also one of the reasons why Brazilian athletes consume this fruit in its fresh and unprocessed form to guarantee protection from the usual infections and inflammation.
What it is Today
Since these facts have been discovered by the West, the acai berry has now become a scarce resource given the fact that you cannot just plant acai in the cold regions of the West, and you have no other choice but to source it directly from the Amazon rainforests of Brazil. With the high cost of international transportation, the real fruit is now considered a valuable commodity which is why freeze-drying has been the most viable way of extending the acai berry’s shelf life, while preserving all its important nutrients that other fruits don’t have. It’s the only way for others to enjoy the benefits of this wonder fruit.
Most of all, millions can attest to the extra energy resource that the acai berry can provide. Not all fruits can provide this kind of benefit and this is the reason why so many acai energy drinks are simply one of the best-sellers in the market. Compared to your usual energy drink, the acai berry juice pulp contains no carbon, not much acid or sodium, not even the harshest preservatives that may destroy the body cells.
The fruit has further gained so much popularity when people discovered that it can lower blood sugar and cholesterol. Since it’s so difficult to get the fruit in its raw and edible form, it has been enjoyed in its freeze-dried form in capsules or in juice drinks.
There, in a single fruit we have an energy booster, an immune builder, a cholesterol regulator and a leukemia cell destroyer. Can you find this elsewhere in the market?
