The Shuar are one of many tribes in the Amazon that have employed the acai berry for medicinal purposes. The Shuar medicine men or women also called Uwishin (oo-wee-sheen) a person that uses plants as medicine, used acai to fight infections, build immunities and control enlarged prostates. Acai was later used to fight schistosomosis (a disease related to snails affecting over ten million Brazilians). Acai is present in antibiotics used to cure Staphylococcus aureus, more commonly known as Staff infection. Carlos Gracie discovered the wonderful weight loss advantages of acai berries in 1922 when he moved to Rio de Janeiro. When he learned about the natural energy boost, he had his jujitsu students using the magic elixir as well. When the surfers from the local beaches were seeing the martial arts students with these modelesque bodies, they started paying attention to what they were doing. The answer was as simple. More recently it was introduced as a health food supplement as an additive to smoothies for an energy boost and to control prostate growth it quickly became discovered as a natural libido enhancer often referred to as the """"Amazons Viagra"""".

Acai berries and juice have been known to reduce bad cholesterol levels, increase good cholesterol levels, reducing the number of men and women at risk for heart attacks and strokes. Acai juice has been linked to retarding or even stopping, a very generous number of diseases and ailments. One example would be osteoporosis. This is a reflection of the high levels of cisplatin, which aids the membranes responsible for holding joints together.

Acai berries are a very rich source of anti-oxidants also called anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are a type of phytochemicals that are found in red wine. These phytochemicals (anti oxidants and anthocyanins) are what some people believe to be the reason behind what is referred to as the """"French paradox"""": The reason why people can maintain a low level of heart problems in light of the high cholesterol and saturated fat diet as well as habits such as smoking. The anti oxidant levels in an acai berry exceed fifty times more than mangos, three times more than blueberries, and twice as much as pomegranate. There are also a generous amount of various minerals and vitamins such as vitamins A, B complex, C and E.

Some doctors believe that acai berries are one of the healthiest foods in the world. Research is currently looking into the effects of acai on cancer cells. A study conducted at the University of Florida, in Gainesville discovered that some chemical extracts of acai were found to have killed from as low as thirty five percent to over eighty percent of leukemia cells. The acai may have given us a chance for a better and healthier tomorrow. Only time will tell.