Acai Berry - All you need for great health

AÇAI (Pronounced AH-SAH-EE) - Its energizing value comes from the amount of fat that consists of unsaturated fatty acids.  These acids have a substance that is highly active and acts in the blood circulation thus eliminating the saturated fatty acids (which cause vein or artery obstruction).

The AÇAI (Pronounced AH-SAH-EE) is rich in fibers that help the digestive system. AÇAI is the seed of a palm called "euterpe olerácea', which is a native plant of the Amazon region.  From this plant the heart of the palm is also extracted.

For centuries, the indigenous people of Brazil's Northern Amazon region have harvested this exotic berry as an antidote for numerous ailments.  Now, modern science has validated the wellness benefits contained within the acai fruit.  For instance, by itself, the acai berry provides a remarkable source of protein, healthy fats, and essential vitamins and minerals.  Particularly valuable are the dozens of polyphenols contained within this fruit.  Testimonials  History

The Acai Legend 

Before the city of Belem was built, an Indian tribe used to live there.  Because the food was very scarce, the chief of the tribe named Itaki, demanded that all the children would be sacrificed, including his granddaughter, daughter of Iaca.  In a full moon night, Iaca heard a child's cry.  She approached the door of her tipi, and he saw her little smiling daughter close to a beautiful palm tree.  At the beginning she got static, but later on, she ran to her and held her tightly.  Mysteriously her daughter disappeared.  Her body was found holding the acai tree with a smile on her face.  Her dark eyes were staring at the top of the acai palm tree, which gave birth to the black palm berry fruits. Itaki then demanded all the Indians to get the fruits, obtaining a reddish wine that was baptized acai, in tribute to his daughter (Iaca inverted name).  He fed his people and after this day, he suspended the order to sacrifice the children.

About the Acai Berry 

With 10 times the antioxidants of grapes and twice the antioxidants of blueberries, the Brazilian Acai berry(AH-sci-EE) is considered to have the best nutritional value of any fruit on earth.  The health benefits are simply amazing.  With the symmetry of a grape and the size of a giant blueberry, the Acai 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.

Acai Berries grow on an Amazon Palm Tree and have been prized for hundreds of years by Brazilian natives for their ability to provide a sense of strength, energy, and a high nutritional content.  Acai Berries are high in essential fatty acids & omegas -- 60% Oleic (omega 9) - a monounsaturated essential fatty acid which helps to lower LDL (harmful cholesterol), while maintaining HDL ( beneficial cholesterol). 12% Linoleic (omega 6) - a polyunsaturated essential fatty acid which has also been found to lower LDL, while maintaining HDL.  Acai also contains many valuable Phytosterols.  Sterols are compounds of plant cell membranes providing numerous benefits to the Human body, namely the reduction of blood plasma cholesterol.

The Acai Berry is a dense source of a particular class of flavonoids called anthocyanins.  Acai Berry's ORAC value (a measure of its antioxidant properties), is higher than any other edible berry on the planet.  The remarkable concentration of antioxidants also helps combat premature aging and the Acai Berry is also an excellent source of dietary fiber!

The acai palm is a tall slender South American (concentrated in Brazil, Guyana, Suriname) palm grown for its fruit as well as for the "cabbage" (the cluster of new leaves more commonly called the "heart of palm").  It prefers swampy areas, and grows quickly.

The fronds were (and still are) used for thatching and weaving.  Each acai 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.

Current (Western) Use - Acai is currently being tested not only for its health properties, but as a dyeing or contrasting agent in the human body in preparation for MRI scans of the gastrointestinal tract.

About the Acai Berry  Check out Oprah's website for more information about this acclaimed superfood, the acai berry.

Brazilian Berry Destroys Cancer Cells in Lab 

University of Florida Study

Açai fruit

This delicious dark berry is making a huge buzz because it is packed with natural antioxidants, including vitamin C, vitamin E and special phytonutrients called . In fact, studies show that Açai provides significantly more antioxidants than such well-respected foods as blueberries, oranges and even red wine! Perhaps more impressive is the fact that the antioxidant concentration in the Açaí fruit is five times higher than that of Gingko Biloba, the popular “brain boosting” herbal supplement that is renowned for its antioxidant properties.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

The Acai's Nutritional Value 

Compared to raw cow's milk, the Acai fruit pulp contains:

- 3x more lipids
- 7x more carbohydrates
- 118x more iron
- 9x more Vitamin B1
- 8x more Vitamin C
- same amount of protein and calcium
- half as much phosphorous
and even fights cholesterol and free radicals!  Testimonials

 

Guest Contributed Links 

These acai links have been contributed by the lens reader community.  Many thanks for the feedback and support. Enjoy!

About the Acai

You'll need to run this page through a machine translator (Google or Alta Vista) if you don't understand Spanish!

Images of the Acai

Click this link to see additional images of the acai berry.

Sports Illustrated article

This Sports Illustrated Women article, "An Apple a Day is ... Boring", mentions the acai berry.

Ucandothis2.com Announce New Acai Plus Liquid Nutrition Products ... - AddPR.com (press release)

Ucandothis2.com Announce New Acai Plus Liquid Nutrition Products ... AddPR.com (press release), TX - Dec 29, 2006  It is the ONLY liquid nutrition product available today containing both the popular Acai berry from Brazil (called a Super Food by Dr. Nicholas Perricone on ...

 

Famous Faces 

I've been looking at famous celebrity and athletes who have tried acai-based products. You'll be suprise who I found:

- Denise Richards @ the Sundance Film Festival
- Robin Williams also @ the Sundance Film Festival
- Owen Wilson @ the Wailau Juice Bar in Haleiwa
- Holly McPeak, USA Pro Beach Volleyball Athlete
- Rob Machado, Professional Surfer
- Ben Cohen, from Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream
- Hans Rey, Extreme Mountain Biker
- Bob Burnquist, Professional Skateboarder

Acai is still relatively unknown, but that will change as more celebrities and athletes such as these experience the benefits of this superfruit!  Testimonials

 

ACAI RECIPES

Traditional Brazilian Style
Take 7 Oz. (200 grams) Açai into a blender. Add 1/2 cup of soy milk or juice and 1 banana (you can also add other fruits like strawberry/mango/etc).  Blend until smooth and serve in a bowl topped with sliced bananas and granola.

Açai Frooty Power Smoothie
Blend 7 Oz. (200 grams) of Açai Frooty with 1 cup of juice or soy milk, 1 banana, 1/4 cup strawberries or other fruit and 1/2 cup ice and/or yogurt.

Açai Drink - 8 Oz
Blend 3.5 Oz. (100 grams) of Açai (powder or smoothie pack) with 1 cup of Apple Juice or soy milk, 1/2 banana or Strawberries or other fruit and ½ cup of ice and / or yogurt.

 

Oprah on the Acai Berry 

On Oprah in late 2004, world reknown anti-ageing expert Dr. Nicholas Perricone introduced his book, "The Perricone Promise" and named the Acai berry the #1 super food in the world for "age-defying beauty".

According to Perricone, the 10 featured superfoods in his book were chosen because of their direct link to the Brain-Beauty Connection.  These foods (listed here in alphabetical order) are rich in either the Essential Fatty Acids (EFAs), antioxidants or fiber, and as in the case of açaí-all three!  In addition, we have included foods that have been proven to lower or help regulate blood sugar levels-an extremely important factor for all of those concerned with slowing the aging process and preventing diabetes, obesity, wrinkles and a host of degenerative diseases.

Read more about this on Oprah.com!

 

The Unqiue Acai Plus Blend
The acai berry is arguably the most important fruit in existence for your health.  Experts have referred to acai as the world's number one super food.  But nature has given us literally thousands of different phytonutrients and antioxidants that are important for our bodies to function optimally.  This is why Acai Plus products include a blend of nineteen of the most nutrient-dense fruits known, totaling over 100 nutritional ingredients.  Each fruit was chosen for its unique ability to contribute to a product that offers you the most complete and balanced health benefits.

The Process
Acai Plus takes great care at each step in production to ensure that the highest quality standards are met.

Harvesting: The process begins with the harvesting of the acai berry deep within the Amazon river basin. Unlike poachers, who illegally chop down an entire tree just to harvest a 12-inch section of the tree known as the palmito (or "heart of palm"), Acai Plus' conservative harvesting method removes only the acai berries, thereby preserving the life of the tree and promoting the preservation of the rainforest.

Processing: Acai is a delicate fruit and much of the nutrient content can be lost within 48 hours of harvesting.  Once harvested, Acai Plus' acai is immediately processed into a patent-pending, freeze-dried formula, maintaining its beneficial properties.  The final acai blend contains the benefits of both freeze-dried acai and frozen acai pulp, which contains the fruit's flesh, skin and seed.  By pureeing each fruit in its entirety, the full complement of nutrients is captured.

Formulation and Bottling: Most companies use a process known as kettle pasteurization.  This process involves heating the formula for several hours and can inadvertently "cook out" much of the nutritional properties.  However, Acai Plus uses flash pasteurization in which the formula is rapidly heated, bottled, and cooled, thereby capturing the fresh flavors, vibrant colors, and dense nutrient content of the blend.  Testimonials

"The Acai berry is one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in the world... nature's perfect energy fruit!" AS SEEN ON THE OPRAH WINFREY WEBSITE  Oprah.com

SCIENCE, FRUITS AND TODAY'S DIET For many years the blueberry was thought to be the very best single food source.  According to the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, the four most consumed plant foods (fruits or vegetables) in America are: French fries, ketchup, pizza sauce and iceberg lettuce! Is it any wonder that obesity has become an epidemic and that even children are now afflicted with many of the "lifestyle" diseases once reserved for older people? Yes, we all know we should eat more fruits and vegetables.  But lives are busy.  Quick meals are often a necessity.  Fresh produce is expensive in many locales.  We tend to get bored with apples, bananas and oranges.  Parents don't have time to enforce healthy eating habits upon their children. Because of the powerful phytonutrients from the broad color spectrum of nutrient-dense fruits in Acai Plus, here at last is a product that might well make up for many of the diet deficiencies in countries around the world. The fact that it tastes delicious is purely a bonus! Set aside the slices of pepperoni for a moment, and look at a "Slice of Life" as it relates to the American diet. Unfortunately, there are parallels in other nations as well.

Acai berry

For many years the blueberry was thought to be the very best single food source.  While blueberrys remain an excellant food and should be added to your diet, there is a new #1 food source - The Açai berry. Açai has been declared the #1 superfood by antiaging guru - Dr. Nicholas Perricone in his best selling books and while on a special guest apperance on 'The Oprah Winfrey' show.

With 10 times the antioxidants of grapes and twice the antioxidants of blueberries, the Açai berry is clearly the single most powerful food source avialble.

The health benefits are simply amazing.  The Açai berry is truly a wonderful fruit.  Açai berries grow on an Amazon Palm Tree and have been prized for hundreds of years by Brazilian natives for their ability to provide a sense of strength, energy, and a high nutritional content.  This berry is harvested naturally from the depths of the rain forests of Brazil, by the people who have been using it for thousands of years. Açai is the only super food on the market that has everything you need naturally from only the berry itself.

Açai berries are high in essential fatty acids & omegas -- 60% Oleic (omega 9) - a monounsaturated essential fatty acid which helps to lower LDL (harmful cholesterol), while maintaining HDL ( beneficial cholesterol). 12% Linoleic (omega 6) - a polyunsaturated essential fatty acid which has also been found to lower LDL, while maintaining HDL.

Açai also contains many valuable Phytosterols.  Sterols are compounds of plant cell membranes providing numerous benefits to the Human body, namely the reduction of blood plasma cholesterol.

The Açai Berry is a dense source of a particular class of flavonoids called anthocyanins.

Anthocyanins are a group of phytochemicals often found in red wine and thought to contribute to the French paradox, i.e.  France has one of the lowest incidences of heart disease of any westernized society despite a prevalence of smoking and a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol.
The Açai berry contains 10-30 times the anthocyanins found in red wine.

Anthocyanins have been found to “exhibit numerous potential therapeutic effects including treatment of diabetic retinopathy and fibrocystic disease of the breast in human”.  “Other potential physiological effects of anthocyanins include radiation-protective, chemoprotective, vasoprotective and anti-inflammatory agents”

Açai is packed with Vitamin B1, B2, B3, Vitamin E, Vitamin C, Phosphorus, Calcium, Potassium, Fiber, Proteins, good fatty acids such as Omega 6 and Omega 9.  Research on Açai has shown that these antioxidants are known to fight and regulate cholesterol levels in the body.

As an added benefit, Açai gives you the highest level of anti-oxidants on the market, with studies showing up to 33 times the anti-oxidant level as in red wine grapes.  Açai can give you the energy from your youth, and open up the vitality and increased stamina you had in your 20's.  So try the new "Fountain of Youth" from this incredible Amazon berry!

Besides being considered one of the “richest foods in Iron” the Açai fruit is also rich in fiber which makes it strongly recommended for the elderly and/or for people with digestive problems.

Manifold traditional use

The traditional inhabitants use to call the juice "Açaí-wine".  They also use it to make creams and a kind of porridge with manioc meal, banana or fish.  The Açaí seed can be used for producing handicraft and a great natural fertilizer. Certain parts of the plant can be burned and produce a smoke that serves as a repellant against mosquitoes and other parasites.  The palm hearts from Açaí is widely used for salads, creams, stuffings and is even used for feeding animals.  The palm's root is used in the treatment of bleedings and against worms.

Yerba Mate

Yerba Mate, or Mate as it is often called, is a South American herb that has won many admirers in wide-ranging parts of the world. In the search for a natural stimulant devoid of side effects and toxicity, Mate currently holds the most hope. An invigorator of the mind and body, a natural source of nutrition, and a health promoter par excellence, Mate deserves the attention of every person interested in optimum health.

Mate contains numerous vitamins and minerals.  Yerba Maté is basically a stimulant drink, eliminating fatigue, while stimulating mental and physical activity.  It has a beneficial effect on nerves and muscles; it also enhances intellectual work.

There are 196 active chemical compounds found in the Yerba Mate plant.  Yerba Mate contains 11 polyphenols.  Polyphenols are a group of phytochemicals that act as powerful antioxidants and are considered to exhibit anti-cancer effects in mammals by strengthening an organism's natural defenses and protecting it against cellular destruction (i.e. lycopene in tomatoes, flavonoids in blueberries, and isoflavones in soy).

In addition to polyphenols, Yerba Mate leaves contain saponins (In fact, one recent study yielded 3 new saponins in the Yerba Mate leaf!).  Saponins are phytochemicals that have been found to specifically stimulate the immune system and aid the body in protecting against disease.

Due to the central stimulant effects of xanthine found in Mate, jointly with the activation of other key substances, the cardiovascular activity strengthens your system.  Xanthine also has a well-known effect on the central nervous system, that stimulates mental energy.

Yerba Maté's stimulant action lasts longer than that of caffeine and does not have side effects such as insomnia and irritability.

Yerba Maté - The National Drink Of Argentina...

According to a consumer survey of 6,351 persons between the ages of 12 and 75 in Argentina conducted by IBOPE Argentina during 1999, 92% of Argentine households consume yerba maté.

Argentines drink yerba maté for several reasons, including increased energy and weight management.
Do the Argentines know something you don't?

Yerba maté, like coffee and tea, is considered safe by the FDA, and is on their GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) list. Consumed is moderation, maté is recognized as one of the most healthful natural beverages on earth!

Yerba Maté Provides a Wealth of Nutrients.  Each infusion of Maté contains - Vitamins: A, C, E, B1, B2, Niacin (B3), B5, B... Complex Minerals: Calcium, Manganese, Iron, Selenium, Potassium, Magnesium, Phosphorus, Zinc... Additional Compounds: Carotene, Fatty Acids, Chlorophyll, Flavonols, Polyphenols, Inositol, Trace Minerals, Antioxidants, Tannins, Pantothenic Acid, and 15 Amino Acids.

In addition, results from a study done by researchers at the University of Madrid assert a high content of mineral elements, especially K, Mg, and Mn, in maté.  They considered those findings “to be of great relevance” to the nutritional value of maté infusions.

Properties/Actions of Yerba Mate Documented by Research: Anti-inflammatory, Antioxidant, Antispasmodic, Bile Stimulant, Stimulant, Thermogenic (increases fat burning), Vasodilator, Aids In Weight Loss, Induces Mental Clarity.

Diabetic Treatment -Yerba maté has been shown to inhibit the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), with an effect comparable to that of two pharmaceutical grade AGE inhibitor drugs.  The formation of AGEs plays a part in the development of diabetic complications.

Fights Bad Breath - Polyphenols found in tea and yerba maté have been shown to prevent both the growth of bacteria responsible for bad breath and the bacteria’s production of odorous compounds.

Aids in Weight Loss - For many years now, physicians in Europe have been incorporating yerba maté in treatments for obesity.

In 2000, a research team studying obesity at the Charlottenlund Medical Center in Denmark, tested an herbal preparation of Yerba Maté, Guarana, and Damiana (YGD) for gastric emptying and subsequent weight loss.

They concluded that the herbal preparation, YGD capsules, significantly delayed gastric emptying, reduced the time to perceived gastric fullness and induced significant weight loss over 45 days in overweight patients treated in a primary health care context.  In addition, maintenance treatment given in an uncontrolled context resulted in no further weight loss, nor weight regain in the group as a whole.

Other Properties/Actions of Yerba Mate Documented by Traditional Use: Anti-allergy, antidepressant, appetite suppressant, blood cleanser, cardiotonic (tones, balances, strengthens the heart), central nervous system stimulant, digestive stimulant, hypotensive (lowers blood pressure), nervine (balances/calms nerves), neurasthenic (reduces nerve pain), neuroprotective (protects brain cells), purgative (strong laxative).

From reports of personal experience with mate, its physiological effects are similar to—yet distinct from—more widespread caffeinated beverages like coffee or tea.  Users report a mental state of wakefulness, focus and alertness reminiscent of most stimulants, but often remark on mate's unique lack of the negative effects typically created by other such compounds, such as anxiety, diarrhea, "jitteriness," and heart palpitations.

Reasons for mate's unique physiological attributes are beginning to emerge in scientific research.  Studies of mate, though very limited, have shown prelimary evidence that the mate xanthine cocktail is different from other plants containing caffeine most significantly in its effects on muscle tissue, as opposed to those on the central nervous system, which are similar to those of other natural stimulants.  Mate has been shown to have a relaxing effect on smooth muscle tissue, and a stimulating effect on myocardial (heart) tissue.

Mate's negative effects are anecdotally claimed to be of a lesser degree than those of caffeine, though no explanation for this is offered or even credibly postulated, except for its potential as a placebo effect.  Many users report that drinking yerba mate does not prevent them from being able to fall asleep, as is often the case with some more common stimulating beverages, while still enhancing their energy and ability to remain awake at will.  However, the net amount of caffeine in one preparation of yerba mate is typically quite high, in large part because the repeated filling of the mate with hot water is able to extract the highly-soluble xanthines extremely effectively. It is for this reason that one mate may be shared among several people and yet produce the desired stimulating effect in all of them.

Polyphenols, Phytochemicals, Anthocyanins

What are they and what are the benefits of such compounds?

Phytochemicals characterize, or sum up the whole picture of the beneficial compounds found in fruits, vegetables, and certain teas.  They are the protective living matter in which plants are able to thrive in some uncertain environments such as climate and insect infestations.

When consumed by humans, these compounds act as antioxidants so vital to good health and longevity.  Many studies suggest that the use of antioxidants may help in the fight against anti-aging, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and so many other age related degenerative diseases including ophthalmology.

Anthocyanins are some of the more potent forms of antioxidants.  We have all heard of the "French Paradox", how the people of France with their high fat diets and not uncommon unhealthy lifestyles are still below the percentage of related deaths from cardiovascular disease than many of the populations which exist today. One reason may be that they consume large amounts of red wine.  Wine, made from grapes have very high levels of the antioxidant anthocyanins.

The polyphenols (anthocyanins) in red wine, are believed to mitigate the effects of a fatty diet and smoking.  Anthocyanin, a polyphenol which is proven to reverse, halt, and improve the conditions of many age related diseases inflicted on the general population.  Anthocyanins (flavonoids) found in various fruits have a unique chemical structure that makes them 6 to 8 times more potent than vitamin C.

One particular fruit, known as Acai (ah-sigh-ee) contains the most highly concentrated forms of anthocyanins known thus far through intense research.  The anthocyanin content in the Acai is proven to be 3.5 times the amount of that present in a glass of red wine, volume to volume when tested in an ORAL analysis (measure of capacity).

Anthocyanins and their protective properties:

Inflammation and Collagen: Anthocyanins neutralize enzymes that destroy connective tissue.  Their antioxidant capacity prevents oxidants from damaging connective tissues and repair damaged proteins in the blood-vessel walls.

The Nervous System: By preventing tyrosine nitration, the anthocyanin properties in Acai may help protect against neurological diseases.  The primary anthocyanins in Acai known as Cyanidin-3-glucoside have been found to help in the reversal of age related neurological deficits.

Large and Small Blood-Vessels: Anthocyanins ability to counter oxidants make them a powerhouse in the fight against arteriosclerosis.  Even in trace amounts, anthocyanins effectively protect against LDL oxidation. Anthocyanins protect the integrity of the endothelial cells that line blood vessel walls and help to maintain micro capillary integrity.  Diabetes: One of the serious diabetic complications is retinopathy, which in most cases can cause blindness.  This condition occurs when the body attempts to repair leaking, damaged capillaries, but does so by over producing abnormal proteins.  The protection of anthocyanins may help prevent these capillaries from leaking and to help prevent abnormal protein proliferation.

Eyesight: Anthocyanins may also help improve eyesight by numerous mechanisms.  In the Second World War, British fighter pilots were found to have improved night vision.  These findings were thought to be contributed by the large amounts of bilberry in the pilot's diet.  The effects of the improved night vision were not long lasting after the initial consumption of bilberry lasting just hours after initial consumption.  With this new found advantage, the pilots would consume the bilberry fruits just prior to the mission.

*Information on this site is for educational purposes only.  It is not intended to act as a substitute for medical advice provided by a qualified health care provider nor is any information in this site intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  Statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.-