Natural Weight Loss
Acai berry juice is made from a unique fruit that is common in the Amazon region of Brazil. The fruit of the acai palm tree, the acai berry is quite similar to a purple grape in appearance. The fruit itself is composed mostly of a large seed with about 10% of it consisting of acai pulp. The fruit is quite delicate in its natural form, and care must be taken in its handling before it is processed. Acai berries are first mixed in water and blended together. This allows the pulp to work free of the berry and the result is a thick puree that can be used in a number of concoctions including acai berry juice.
The acai berry has a distinct tropical fruit taste and it has a number of clear nutritional benefits. Containing considerable amounts of antioxidants known as anthocyanins, acai berry juice also has plenty of essential omega fatty acids, in addition to amino acids, fiber, iron, and vitamins and minerals. The acai fruit was traditionally consumed in the Amazon by mixing the pulp of the fruit with guarana seed. This blend results in an energy boost and increased mental functioning, with the guarana providing an effect similar to caffeine.
The acai berry has been eaten by the native tribes of the Amazon region for hundreds of years, mainly for its nutritional benefits. Its curative and rejuvenating properties are well known among these peoples, and the popularity of the fruit eventually brought it to foreign shores.
The acai berry diet has been attributed numerous health and nutritional benefits, mainly due to its antioxidant, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and antimutagenic properties, as well as its benefits to the cardiovascular system.
As we mentioned earlier, acai berries contain remarkably high levels of essential fatty and omega acids, which are crucial to the lowering of LDL and the maintenance of HDL cholesterol levels. The high antioxidant content of acai berries also counteract the effects of free radicals in the body, and thereby slow down the aging process. The acai berry is also a great source of anthocyanins, of which flavonoids are the most prevalent. In fact, the ORAC value of the acai berry–and consequently acai berry juice–is higher than that of any other food product on the market. The high fiber content of acai berry also makes it an ideal dietary supplement.
One of the most attractive things about the acai fruit is that it is a rich source of vegetable protein, which unlike animal protein does not produce cholesterol during the digestive process. This type of protein is also handled a lot easier by the body and is more easily converted to muscle than animal protein. In addition to its superior protein and lipid content, the acai berry is also a rich source of carbohydrates, which is important for maintaining energy levels during work or play. It is for this reason that acai berry juice is popular in many gyms and sport clubs in Brazil.
Numerous studies conducted on the acai berries show that they have extraordinarily high antioxidants levels, which is beneficial in forestalling the effects of aging. They also show that the anthocyanins content of acai berries is as much as 10 to 30 times more than that found in red wine. (1)
Other studies have shown the existence of what is known as the “French effect”, in which the French have amazingly low incidences of cardio vascular disease in spite of their high fat diet. This effect is attributed to the large amounts of red win in the French diet. (5)
Acai Berries and acai berry juice are also known to improve the health of the cardio vascular system and digestive tract, due to its combination of monounsaturated fats, fiber and phytosterols.
Acai berries are excellent sources of fiber, with about 2 grams of fiber present in a typical serving. Not only does this fiber improve the health of the digestive system, it can also lower the level of cholesterol in the blood as well as reducing the risk of certain cancers. (5)
Along with all these nutrients, acai berries also contain amino acids and trace minerals, all of which are essential for proper muscle function and regeneration. The fatty acid content of the acai fruit is actually similar to that of olive oil, which has been shown to lower the incidences of heart disease in the Mediterranean regions. (1,5)
Acai berries also contain plant sterols in the form of beta-sitosterol. Sterols are coming under close scrutiny for their potential in the treatment of benign prostate dyperplasia. (6) Sterols are also though to reduce cholesterol levels in the body, and aid in the development of many important chemical compounds in humans. (7)
The Acai berry is truly a nutritional wonder of nature as evidenced by the presence of the following nutrients: Polyphenols, Anthocyanidins (of which it has 30 times the amount found in red wine), Phytosterols, Monounsaturated fats (of which it has a ratio similar to that of olive oil), essential omega fatty acids such as Omega 9, Polyunsaturated fatty acids such as Omega 6, Alpha-tocopherol, Vitamin E, copper, iron, calcium, cobalt, chromium and manganese, Fiber (of which it has 7 grams for every 100 gram serving), and protein.
A 100 gram serving of Acai berry has about 0.13% acid content, 45.90 g Brix, 6% protein, 16.9g of fiber, 0.40mg of niacin, 58 mg of phosphorous, 11.8mg of iron, 0.36 mg of Vitamin B1, 0.01mg of Vitamin B2, 9mg of Calcium, 9mg of Vitamin C, a ph level of 5.21, and 247 calories.
The Omega 9, Omega 6, and Omega 3 fatty acids in acai berry juice can help decrease LDL or what is known as the “bad” cholesterol, at the same time helping you maintain the “good” cholesterol levels or HDL. In this manner, acai berry concoctions can be said to be similar to olive oil. These essential Omega fatty acids help prevent heart disease by its action in the increase of healthy cell production. They are also crucial to the proper functioning and development of the nervous system, and they aid in the repair and rejuvenation of muscle tissue after strenuous activities.
Acai berries also contain what is widely considered to be a near perfect amino acid combination. Tremendously useful in muscle function and development, amino acids are beneficial in increasing endurance and strength.
Some other beneficial ingredients of acai berry juice are Vitamin E, theobromine, photosterols, and anti-oxidants. The Vitamin E content further helps guard against aging, and the theobromine serves to dilate the bronchial passages, allowing air to flow freely into the lungs. This results in an increase in your capacity to take in oxygen, which is crucial in aiding endurance, strength, and sports performance.
The photosterols in acai berry juice can be beneficial in the treatment of various symptoms of benign prostate hyperplasia, and they can also enhance the function of the cardiovascular and digestive systems.
Finally, the antioxidant content of acai berry juice can help counteract many of the effects of the aging process.