@joyrobinson's Superfood Series: "Acai Berry's BERY Powerful Nutrients"
Welcome to another Superfoods Series by @joyrobinson! Today I'm going to showcase the most powerful berry of all the berries and what makes it a superfood.
Origin and History
Acai berry superfood is an ancient fruit of South America and the jungles of Amazon Forest. It grows and harvested from "Euterpe oleracea", commonly known as acai palm. The name acai is thought that it comes out from "The Legend Of Iaca", an amazon folk story of sacrifice and unrequited love.
Indigenous Amazonian tribes contributes majority of their good health to Acai, with over 25% making up their daily food total. In the Amazon, the Acai plant was also used to treat diarrehea, fever, and ulcer.
Some studies show that Acai berry is more richer in antioxidants (5X) compared to raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, or blueberries which make it a superBERRYfood. It started to become more popular in the 1980's and 1990's when studies found that Acai berries can prevent the growth of cancer cells upto 80% and begun to be exported and sold to health companies.
One Acai berry contains one seed with a size about the size of a small grape with a purple black color. Do you love strawberries, raspberries and chocolates? then you will love Acai berries as it has a taste between a rich blackberry or raspberry and an aftertaste of a dark chocolate.
Nutrition Facts
Acai Berris is also a powerful source of the following nutrition:
- Vitamins A, B-1, B-2, B-3, Vitamin E and K
- Minerals Copper, Iron, Manganese, Magnesium, Potassium for optimal health.
- Fibre
- Antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties
- It contains 19 amino acids including Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids.
ACAI BERRY BENEFITS
- Acai Berry reduces high blood pressure and cholesterol
- Some studies showed that Acai Berry can prevent the growth of cancer cells up to 80% .
- It's an Anti-aging superfood
- It helps to boosts energy levels and metabolism
- Great idea to consume for weight loss
Acai Berry Anti-Cancer Properties
In a study by Schauss and co-workers, the high levels of antioxidant capacity of acai was tested against a number of sources of free radicals.
It was demonstrated that this berry began destroying cancer cells within 18 hours after ingested. Another research study showed that an extract of Acai berry killed 86 percent of lung cancer cells. ( Source
How To Buy And Consume Acai Berries
It's available in the market in the forms of capsules, extract and as raw berries.
Acai berries is cultivated in extract which is used for juices. It is processed into a powder form that can be used in supplements taken in capsule form. When it comes to capsules, you want one that has 100% pure acai to maximum health benefits.
Acai Berry Recipes
If you want a quick and nutritious breakfast, take 3 ounces of Acai, orange juice, banana and place it all in a blender. Simply blend until the mixture is smooth.
2 ice cream scoops of Acai and 2 scoops of vanilla ice cream and place them in a blender. Add 1/5 cup of milk and there you have a sweet and healthy milkshake.
Easy peasy!
What do you think of this superfood? I would love to hear your thoughts.
Thank you for taking your precious time Steemian!
Untill our next series!
Wow!! Let there be more super-yummy-delicious-healthy-gorgeousness!! I have an acerola cherry tree in my garden currently fruiting, so I say "use what you have locally". But no garden? Go and get some acai supplements!! Nice post.
No garden, no problem. Other berries can also grow in pots but when it comes to Acai, we can consume it through juices, powder and supplements.
Thanks for reading @artemislives!
Cheers
Educative post .
Thanks friend share it.I like to drink juice.
You are welcome
Awesome! I have never eaten or used Acai berries. Need to start! :)
Wow, seems to be really very nutritious. I haven´t tried it but will surely if I get the chance... Thanks for sharing Joy.