Acai: Nutritional Value & Benefits

Acai Berry Nutrition:

Vitamin B1 |Vitamin B2 | Vitamin B3 | Vitamin C | Vitamin E | Beta-carotene | Calcium | Copper | Magnesium | Phosphorus | Potassium | Zinc | Fibre | Protein | Carbohydrate | Monounsaturated Fats | Omega-3 and Omega-6 Essential Fatty Acids

Acai Berry Health Benefits

• Anti-Cancer
• Anti-Inflammatory
• Antioxidant
• Detoxifying
• Good for the Heart
• Good for the Skin
• Good for the Brain
• Helps the Digestive System

One of the healthiest foods in the world, açaí is truly a “Superfood”.

The açaí berry takes its name from the palm tree that bears it, the Açaí palm, native to the Brazilian Amazon region. The berry is only consumed fresh nearby where it´s harvested: because of its high levels of monounsaturated fats, it deteriorates extremely quick. It has to be frozen within 24 hours of harvesting, otherwise it begins to go bad. Because of this, it´s usually available frozen or as a juice, widely sold in juice parlors.

Here, the frozen Acai fruit pulp is blended with Guaraná Syrup into an ice cream like consistency  People eat it usually mixed with granola or fruit. It´s a very refreshing food that tastes even more amazing in the summer in Rio de Janeiro.

Besides been delicious, the Açaí berry is considered a Superfood due to its many health benefits. They became known worldwide because of their fantastic nutritional value. They are a source of protein, many vitamins and minerals, monounsaturated fats, and omega-3 and omega-6 essential fatty acids. It´s a lot of health benefits for such a small fruit!

Even more astounding is the berry´s phytochemical content. It contains beta-sistosterol, which reduces cholesterol. Also possesses many antioxidants, among them anthocyanins, which have anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory properties, and also proanthocyanidins, which are responsible for strengthening blood vessels.

The frozen pulp can be used in smoothie recipes, and is specially delicious blended with bananas.

We wrote this article with info found online and also on one of our favorite books –  The Top 100 Healing Foods: 100 Foods to Relieve Common Ailments and Enhance Health and Vitality (The Top 100 Recipes Series), by Paula Bartimeus. It’s available from Amazon and it’s super worth it!