What is an acai berry
Acai (pronounced ah-SIGH-ee) berries come from the acai palm which is a palm tree grows in South America and Central America. It grows mainly in swamps and flood plains. They are tall trees that grow to be 15 to 30 meters tall – that means they can get roughly 100 feet tall. The leaves can be 9 feet long.
Acai berries are small purple to black pitted fruits similar in size and appearance to a grape. They grow in bunches of 700 to 900 berries. The trees produce fruit twice a year. The fruits are about 1 inch in diameter with seeds that are about ¼ of an inch. The berries are harvested as one of the primary foods of the local people and also are an important part of the economies in the areas where they grow.
The juice from the berry, and even the pulp, is commonly used with other juices to make juice blend drinks, smoothies, and other beverages. It is also used as a flavoring for ice cream, mixed with granola, and in flavored liqueur. They can be used as a flavoring for or added to almost anything. The berries have a high fat content and deteriorate rapidly (spoil) so you won’t see fresh acai berries very far from the region where they are grown.
What are the benefits of acai berries
Now to the acai berry health benefits. That is probably why you are reading this article. The acai berry has a good portion of protein, fiber and key omega fatty acids. The acai berry also has a high level of antioxidants that many studies have shown to be very beneficial for people to take. In fact, multiple studies have shown acai berries to have one of the highest levels of antioxidants of any food. These properties are why many people tout the acai berry as a super fruit and it is sold as an all natural health food supplement.
What are antioxidants
Antioxidants are vitamins and nutrients that protect your cells from damage caused by free radicals. These free radicals cause damage to your cells and have been blamed for various health problems including cancer, heart disease, and even premature aging.
Many fruits and vegetables have antioxidants in them and your best bet is to eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. In the case of acai berries, you probably won’t be able to get them fresh so you will have to get acai berry supplements in order to get the antioxidant benefits this super food has to offer.
What are the benefits of antioxidants
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals in your body. This means that the free radicals don’t cause damage to your cells because they are neutralized by the antioxidants. You need to continue to consume antioxidants because they are consumed when they neutralize the free radicals.
In theory, if you had enough antioxidants in your body, you could completely stop the damage caused by the free radicals. Studies have indicated that this could reduce you risk of many diseases and mean a longer, healthier life.
