Acai Berry is a fruit of an
acai tree and traditionally known as the ’Tree of Life” for providing people in the localities with abundant food for many long years. Indigenous tribes once used the fruit as their staple because they believed it could increase their stamina and endurance. Many other people have considered it as one of the most nutritional food sources as it is said to contain a nutritional pack greater than any other food. Dr. Nicholas Perricone, an anti-aging expert, once talked about
acai berry as having “a nearly perfect amino acid complex while also boasting of valuable trace minerals essential to good muscle contraction and regeneration.” In his book
The Perricone Promise, he also touted the fruit as the “number one super food in the world.”
Acai Berry is a rosy, purple fruit of the
acai palm tree that is an inch size. It is native to Central and South America. It is 90% seed and is about the size of a grape but its nutritional content is in the pulp and maintained within 18 hours from harvest. Harvested by the thousands, it is processed to separate the pulp from the seed and produce a thick and edible puree or paste. The pulp itself has a high antioxidant property and more antioxidant content than blackberry, cranberry, raspberry, blueberry or strawberry. It has many product forms especially in Brazil where the tree grows in its Amazon Rainforest. Outside the country, the most common forms are acai
supplements , purees, energy drinks, preserves, frozen smoothie packs and juices.
How is the fruit processed to produce these products and retain the nutrients?
After being collected from the tree, the fruits are placed in a large cane basket for processing in 24 hours before they begin to degrade. They are then soaked in warm water for 30 to 40 minutes for easy removal of the pulp. Once the pulp is removed, the fruits go through freeze drying to remove the water content of the pulp but retain the original nutrition and bio-availability of the fruits. With the removal of the water content, microorganisms and enzymatic activity are also removed to prevent the product from getting spoiled or degraded.
In whatever product form, Acai Berry provides numerous
health benefits to consumers. In Brazil, jiu-jitsu fighters and soccer players depend on it for a perfect source of carbohydrates and nutrition as well as antioxidants. Being full of antioxidants, it strengthens the cells and fights off free radicals that can cause cancer. The natural combination of antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids works effectively to help the body function better and burn fat efficiently to ward off obesity. The immune system of the body is also boosted by
antioxidants combined with essential fatty acids by acting as anti-bacterial and anti-viral agent. The nutrients also help maintain good cholesterol and fight bad cholesterol to do away with heart disease. With antioxidants, Acai Berry also improves vision and fights some eye-related diseases. With amino acids, it helps to relax the muscles and promote a good sleep.
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