Acai Berry

Chances are, you have heard of the benefits of acai.

The acai berry is native to Central and South America and has been eaten for many centuries by the native cultures there.

The fruit itself comes from the acai palm tree.

The berries are about an inch long, with a deep reddish, purple color and are related to 2 other well-known superfruits, the blueberry and the cranberry.

The acai berry is one of the most potent superfoods known. The berries contain very high levels of antioxidants, even higher than in other powerful superfruits like cranberries, raspberries and blueberries.

Antioxidants are crucial for fighting free radical damage, a natural byproduct of our body’s metabolism. Free radical damage has been associated with many disease states, including cardiovascular disease and cancer, as well as aging.

Anthocyanins and flavonoids are the two most prominent antioxidants found in acai. The former is responsible for the fruit’s color (translated from two Greek words meaning “plant” and “blue”) while the latter demonstrates potent anti-inflammatory and cell-protective properties.

Acai berries have also been shown to help alleviate joint pain associated with arthritis because of its high levels of glucosamine.

Furthermore, the berry’s mineral spectrum is as complete as you can get in a single food source. Acai berries show more trace elements than any other food source tested to date.

Because of the high antioxidant and mineral content, the berries are thought to be the ideal food to help detoxify the body, since antioxidants and minerals are crucial for effective and safe detoxification.

Another interesting point about acai berries is that they are very high in protein content. Once per once, acai berries contain more protein than eggs!

For these 3 reasons – high levels of antioxidants, high mineral content and high protein content – acai berries are a main ingredient in many weight loss products nowadays.

After all, a weight loss program is largely a detoxifying regimen – the body is shedding and eliminating – so this makes sense. The antioxidants and minerals help the body eliminate waste and support the liver, the main detoxifying organ. And of course, people are looking for high-protein low-carbohydrate foods when they wish to lose weight.