Super Fruit Hidden |
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Well, since Dr Nicholas Perricone appeared on Oprah to tell everyone about it, perhaps the Acai Berry isn't quite such a secret any more. For those not already in the know, Dr Perricone puts the Acai Berry right at the top of his list of 10 'Super Foods' and there are now statistics galore that prove to us just how incredibly healthy this grape sized berry is. Let's examine the case in more detail. The Acai palm (the letter c is pronounced as an s) is native to the Amazon region and has long been a popular part of Brazilian cuisine. The Acai has a lovely berry flavor, with a slight hint of chocolate in its aftertaste, and the Brazilians have used the juice and the pulp in blends, smoothies, sodas, ice creams and other drinks. It has also traditionally been served with tapioca or granola - either as a sweet or a savory. Although nutritionists have been aware of its value, the fact that the Acai is so perishable that it spoils within 24 hours of being picked has been a real deterrent for those people wanting to export it. But things have changed a bit since then. So what are the health benefits of this fruit that have caused such interest amongst American experts? Well, for starters, Acai has an amazing 10 times the antioxidant power of red grapes and twice that of blueberries. Even more promising is that the antioxidant components are 'slow-acting', which indicates that the antioxidant effect is more sustained. The Acai is rich in fatty acids, containing high levels of the monounsaturated fatty acid known as oleic acid, enabling it to reduce blood cholesterol levels. Studies at the University of Florida also suggest that the Acai contains polyphenolics which can reduce the spread of leukemia cells. To summarise, Acai Berries are at the top of the Super Food list because they can prevent and reduce inflammations; regulate your metabolism and burn your body fat; lower your cholesterol and blood pressure; protect against cancer and heart disease; promote good digestive health - and, just for good measure, give you energy! Eating these berries, let alone using them in dishes as the Brazilians do has been beyond the reach of people not living in the Amazon River basin. However, now the berry is being exported in the form of frozen pulp. This is why you may have started seeing Acai smoothies here and there at juice bars. These can be a bit expensive, however. Somewhat less expensive is Acai powder, made by dehydrating and freeze-drying the pulp of the Acai berry. The powder is easier (and cheaper) to ship abroad and can be used to give all of the health benefits of the whole fruit. When shopping for Acai supplements, always carefully read the list of ingredients - you want to be sure that they contain the skin and pulp of the berry. Some of these supplements only contain Acai seeds, which are largely devoid of nutrients. A word of caution, though. When you're choosing your Acai supplement, read the packaging to make sure that it's the genuine berry skin and pulp that has been used in the manufacturing process. Some of the products on the market use mainly the Acai seed, which has been crushed. The only value of the seeds is to make necklaces from them or burn them as a source of energy - nutritionally, they have little value. This amazing Acai fruit is one of the most nutritious foods in the world - and now it's within the reach of everybody, not just those who go to Brazil for their vacations.
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