Acai Berry Guides

Since the Acai has gained so much popularity the world over, here are yet again some facts you may not know about the Acai berry to help you decide if it’s a healthy option for you:

- Acai oil, according to Brazilian herbal medicine, is used to relieve diarrhea.

- Grated fruit rind of the acai is used to wash out skin ulcers

- Acai fruit seeds are crushed and boiled as an infusion to cure fever.

- It’s the most nutritious fruit in the Amazon and the only fruit containing oleic acid or omega-9, along with fiber, B vitamins, protein, and minerals. It has the highest trace of potassium, copper, and manganese. A small amount of the Acai is more than enough for the body to get what it needs.

- The French are known to consume high levels of white flour, saturated fats, coffee, nicotine, sugar, and cheese; yet their population is among the healthiest in the world having a very low heart disease occurrence. It’s called the French Paradox in medical research; but this paradox is attributed to the high levels of red wine they consume everyday – where red wine is high in antioxidants. If red wine acts as their “cleanser”, what more with the Acai juice that triples the level of antioxidants compared to red wine?

- For a Western person to cope with the free radicals they encounter every day, they must consume foods and beverage having at least an ORAC (or Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) level of 2000 units per day.

What is ORAC anyway?

ORAC has been developed for the USDA by tufts University as a measuring tool to ascertain the speed and power of antioxidant activity. It’s widely becoming an accepted standard in measuring fruits, juices, and supplements according to how potent its antioxidant levels are and how they can compare to other foods claiming to be rich in antioxidants.

- The Acai is superior on the ORAC scale as it provides more anthocyanins than any other berry. These anthocyanins are primarily responsible for the total cleansing and anti-oxidation activities for the body cells to repair and maintain their healthy function. Acai also includes phenolics like catechin and epi-catechin found on green tea, flavanoids, and quercetin derivatives that when working altogether, it’s a powerful antioxidant to keep you youthful and healthy.

- About 80% of the aging population will develop at least 1 metabolic disease. The USDA says that high-ORAC foods and juices slows down the aging process and prevent metabolic disease, so in that case, wouldn’t that be a healthy option?

Acai berry juices and supplements are just what we need for that extra energy boost, slow down the aging process, detoxify from all the free radicals we encounter every day, but as you see thousands of websites selling acai with free trial scams, you may never know if you are getting the real benefits. Here’s why.

Questionable Marketing Practices

Acai has soared in market demands not only in the US but across several countries, and this is the reason why a lot of dubious marketing campaigns has surrounded the trade. Acai has been included in the MLM and network marketing schemes along with Goji, Mangosteen, Aloe Vera and Noni. Given the lack of studies and testing methods, a lot of greedy sellers and manufacturers took the stretch to take Acai extracts, and converted these into hundreds of kilos and liters of diluted Acai drinks even with unsafe bottling to make outrageous profits. It is possible that what you taste in these drinks are additional citric acid and artificial flavors added so it won’t be too obvious that you are drinking a fake.

Acai is not the only fruit that has this kind of marketing scheme. There are exotic fruits being touted as “magic” fruits primarily due to the fact that it wasn’t known previously. Many new markets are on the search for the next magical fruit for the same purpose of reaping so much profits.

Bottling Process of Reconstituted Acai

To complicate the situation, most Acai drinks are exploited in such a way that all the health benefits of the fruit are being compromised. Sodium benzoate or benzoic acid are added to Acai juices to lengthen shelf life, but over time, it produces carcinogenic benzene in hot bottled preparations so it’s most likely that what you just bought and drank is the benzene. A reputable manufacturer would ensure that their bottling procedures will not create an environment that will allow benzene to form and contaminate – and include that in their labels even as the bottles are transported and sold.

So what‘s the best way to enjoy the benefits of Acai without being ripped off?

Go for freeze dried Acai. Freeze drying preserves all the healthy nutrients of Acai without you getting worried that you might be getting benzene contamination. It preserves the integrity of the Acai fruit even for long transportation and shelving periods.

Check the labels. If your freeze dried acai says it’s a CERTIFIED ORGANIC freeze dried product, and it says it has over 7000 ORAC units for a single serving, it’s a good buy.

If it doesn’t have the free trial scam and it doesn’t provide outrageous claims like “cure cancers” or “increase your penile length” or “improve your bedroom performance”, it surely is the Acai that you need.

You may just have experienced one of these scenarios: you’re preparing for a wedding and you can’t fit in your dress, or your office has just announced a corporate outing at one of the marvelous beaches in the Caribbean and you have a nice bikini to go with, the problem is just the flabs, or you are just hitting the beaches for a grand vacation, or you need to look good in a nude photo shoot, it’s a frustrating thought indeed that you used to look good in an evening dress or in a bikini but now you can’t fit.

The panic: you only have 3 weeks to prepare. Lucky if you have 4 but it’s usually one reason to say that you’ll just have to start next week.

Follow these Acai tips for a quick weight loss. Sure you’ve heard about the wonders of the Acai berry and what it can do to lose weight quick.

1. Prepare yourself for a crash diet. Cut out the red meat, dairy, and the carbs for now and concentrate on the acai diets available – acai berry fruits if you have them, acai yogurts and juices, and don’t forget the acai supplements a good 30minutes before meal times. Go for half servings of vegetable and fish, and fight off the hunger pangs by consuming acai yogurts and juices.

2. If you follow step 1, you are sure to get that energy boost. Burn off all the excess calories stored in your body by utilizing all the extra energy you’ve got – 20minutes jog every morning, walk everyday if your office is just 3 blocks away, use the stairs instead of the lift, important is – keep moving. Increase your physical activities everyday because that’s the only way to shed off the stored calories and you’ve got the energy anyway. The only way to remember that you are losing weight is if you have been sweating all too much and you feel so tired (physically) at the end of the day.

3. Drink lots of water. Avoid sodas for now, and everyone who successfully lost weight will tell you that water speeds up the whole process.

4. Engage in high impact exercises. It’s easy to get bored with your usual treadmills, dumb bells, and stationary bikes, so why not enroll into a muay thai class or dance class or pole dancing that will ensure more fun as you lose all the excess weight? You won’t even remember that you’re losing all the weight because you’re having so much fun.

5. Don’t forget the abs. It’s often the fattest area you will have to improve and is always the first indicator whether or not you lost weight. Endure 100 ab exercises a day (that’s 10 sets, 10 counts each); it’s boring, but I assure you that the sacrifice is so much worth it.

Three weeks will just fly past and once you look at the mirror, and you’re not convinced that you lost weight, try wearing your smaller-sized old jeans. It’s the best and the most convincing measure because the weighing scale is sometimes tricky. Oh and if people start noticing, it only means to say that you’ve been successful as you now enjoy your new figure in that evening gown, or that bikini you’ve been wanting to try for the longest time.

The Acai berry is not only good as an energy booster, metabolism and digestion booster, a powerful detox and colon cleanser, but what others may not know is that crushed acai is also good for the skin.

- The top vitamins that the skin needs are vitamin A, B2, B3, B6, B12, C, and E. Conveniently, acai berry has all these.

- If acai is good for anti-aging as you take it IN, the better if you use it OUT for the skin to absorb and maximize all the anti-aging and detoxifying agents of the acai.

- It also has vitamin B7 or biotin, which the skin needs for cell re-growth, to encourage production of fatty acids, and how the skin metabolizes the fats and the amino acids in our diet.

- Pure acai is also good to neutralize oily skin. After soaking in crushed acai onto the face, what is revealed is the youthful, glowing skin free from radicals that degenerate skin cells.

- Acai, as a good anti-aging cream, is also effective to decrease wrinkles and fine facial lines.

- Acai is also good as an exfoliant. Mix with oatmeal or brown sugar (can be both) and use as a body scrub with special attention to elbows, neck lines, knees, and feet. If you’re going to use it as a facial masque, partially boil the oatmeal and mix the crushed acai (or juice, just make sure it’s pure acai juice). Let it on for 10minutes and rinse well – first with warm water then with cold water. You may add olive oil or fresh fruit juice for the extra vitamin.

It’s a challenging endeavor to lose weight if all you do is to sit down the whole day in front of your computer, eat lunch and dinner with your computer, and drive home to sleep. Surely, the only thing you get to exercise is your brain and your fingers (and sometimes your feet and legs), but all the fat and excess weight goes right there in the middle. End result is a fat figure and a closet crisis because all of a sudden nothing can fit! But you’re too busy with a lot of meetings and deadlines and exercise is definitely something you can’t squeeze in, and you’ve always wondered if the acai berry can help you in this effort because so far, all you see are free trial scams and the only way to find out is to try.

What to do then?

1. Have a strategy. When you say you will start today, START TODAY. Not tomorrow because most likely “tomorrow” will become “next year”. Set something realistic – is it feasible to lose your first pounds in how many number of weeks? Never say you’re too busy to lose weight because a heavier weight means a weaker body and a weaker immune system exposing you to diseases and infections.

2. Take your acai berry supplements in the form of freeze dried capsules of energy drinks.
The energy boosting capabilities of the acai cannot be overemphasized and it’s all the energy you will ever need. Not only you have a quick energy boost that will last you for the day.

3. Maintain consciousness in all the times you will have to eat or consume anything. Stay away from carbonated and sugary drinks and always drink water. Sodas and carbonated drinks keep the fat (unburned calories) in, and that’s your extra poundage. Stay away from fast food and junk and bring a ready-to-go salad for your lunch at work.

4. Cut back the alcohol for now. Believe it, a lot of people lost weight faster without the alcohol since it slows down the energy.

5. Make sure that you do a detox regime every weekend. Extra acai whether in fruit form, freeze-dried detox capsules, or juice drink is a great way to start for a total detox experience.

You will just be surprised at the results. People usually notice first, so when they do, smile and acknowledge that you successfully lost weight.

If the acai berry has quickly gained popularity, it is because along with its energy boosting and immune building capabilities, it’s also a powerful detox which can rid you of all the toxins from drinking, smoking, and from over eating all the junk food. All you need is a clean colon for faster passage and metabolism of food and water. A clean colon means that all nutrients will be metabolized properly instead of clumping up on intestine walls and the calories being converted as stored fat – which comprises of your extra pounds.

Detoxifying your body also means that you will lose one to two pounds. You are guaranteed to be more energetic and to be physically active all the time. You have extra energy to tap, and with a cleaner body system, the energy and all the nutrients are utilized more efficiently. Clogged intestines meant a heavier weight – and definitely a lot more stress. Cleaning up your system will always feel good not only because you feel lighter, but you’ll definitely feel better because the toxins have been flushed out.

Acai Berry is indeed a good detox. Loaded with so much vitamins, minerals, omega fatty acids, antioxidants, this powerful combination is enough to keep you clean and healthy. Toxins and wastes are number one culprits of a weaker immune system exposing you to a lot of diseases and infections. The best part of the detox regime is that, it’s safe and effective and with no side effects because the ingredients are all-natural.

Planning for a wedding can get all too exciting and stressful, but perhaps one of the most important considerations is for the bride and the groom to look their best. It’s their wedding; it’s the most special day in their lives. So if you need to shed extra pounds, read on.

Once a wedding is planned, weight loss is just an important aspect not to miss. The bride and the groom will have to make sure that they will fit into their gowns and tuxedos on the special day itself, and looking their best is just one of the important agendas. It’s true; when you look your best, your confidence spikes up, and you have more choices instead of being tied to one. You wouldn’t appreciate it if all the guests are looking at your bridesmaids and not the bride herself, would you?

Now, the weight loss part. If you need to lose weight you have to change your diet and increase your exercise. Eat more wheat, vegetables, and fruits, lessen the red meat, and take on the acai berry. Freeze-dried capsule or the juice pulp will suit fine; what’s important is to take this daily. The good news is that you get so much energy in a single day, and will not cause you to overeat and think you need to eat again to replenish lost energy. Enjoy the acai in lots of varieties – put it on your fruit salad, or in cakes and pastry, even enjoy it in ice cream, sherbet, or yoghurt form. With the extra energy you are guaranteed to lose weight faster because you will want to exercise more.

Now since you have loads of energy thanks to acai, it’s a lot easier to stick to an exercise regime that you will most enjoy. Be it dancing, boxing, pole dancing, mixed martial arts, whatever, it won’t be too difficult to keep up the exercise because you have all the extra energy you need, and make sure that you do all these at least 3 weeks before the wedding date for the effect to be dramatic.

Keep in mind that losing weight this fast can get stressful, and make sure that you will not overeat as you expend all your efforts to lose all the excess pounds to look good. Besides, it’s for your health benefit as well to save you from infection and to build up your immune system. Because the acai gives out a lot of extra energy that will make you lose weight, you will soon be surprised when you look at the mirror – a perfectly lean you.

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?

A study has been conducted and published in the Arthritis Research and Therapy in Australia that has generated a significant development in the long list of health benefits derived from the acai berry – protecting the bone structure from changes related to knee osteoarthritis. Acai berry, being high in antioxidants and Vitamin C, may indeed lower the risks of developing osteoarthritis.

The results generated from this study conducted by
Australian researchers were as follows:

• higher dietary consumption of fruit means lower risk of bone changes and malfunction 10 years later.

• higher dietary levels of vitamin C translated lower risk of bone changes 10 years later.

• higher consumption of carotenoids such as zeaxanthin and lutein in green vegetables means lower exposure to cartilage defects.

About 239 middle aged men and women were sampled for this purpose as all of them started as healthy individuals experiencing no pain or any bone complaint. Some were noted to take Vitamin C supplements while others indulge on fruits. Ten years later, the same participants were contacted to undergo MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scans to take a sample of their bone tissues for further analysis.

What the Researchers Conclude

Antioxidants play an important role in protecting the body cells from all the damage and inflammation done by oxidative damage. Though there are other explanations from the findings of this study, a conclusive evidence was therefore generated where in people who have healthy diets rich in antioxidants (such as that of the acai berry) were protected from cellular damage, including a protective effect in osteoarthritis ten years later.

The acai berry, being one fruit that has as much antioxidants than any other fruit, may actually be beneficial for arthritis along with a lot of other medical ailments.

Antioxidants are helpful cleaners which eliminate the body of free radicals, which are unstable cells caused by oxidation (as substances interact with oxygen). The body produces free radicals when the body is constantly exposed to pollution, smoking, and radiation, and as it breaks down the food – healthy or otherwise. Free radicals, as all medical experts will agree, are those unstable compounds that can well damage the body cells, cause inflammation, and a lot of diseases.

Will Antioxidants Cure Arthritis?

Medical research has already concluded that selenium and vitamins A, E, and C can treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis as well. Antioxidant benefits, however, can only go as far as preventing arthritis and these subtypes and not to treat the disease entirely. Antioxidants such as that of the acai berry can help in the treatment process because of it eliminating the free radicals and a lot of unstable compounds that may cause further inflammation. But to the treatment per se, further studies are needed to establish conclusive evidence.

What foods are great sources of antioxidants?

Fruits and vegetables are good sources, also with poultry, grains, nuts, fish, and some meats. Certain spices too are good sources like cinnamon and oregano. Add cinnamon to coffee to boos the antioxidant level and add oregano to your usual mozzarella sandwich. Red peppers, thyme, curry, and rosemary are also known good sources of antioxidants. Next in line are the dark berries like black grapes, blueberries and blackberries, even strawberries. The richest source of antioxidants, above all, would be acai berry, having more antioxidants than any of these berries alone.