Women’s Health Blog

Everyones seen the word, maybe heard it on the television, radio, and even on billboards. The acai berry and the diet associated with it. But what is it exactly and why is there a huge fuss about it?

First of all, the acai berry has been used for many generations by native Brazilians. It is a small round berry usually blackish purple in color, resembling a grape or blueberry but smaller. It has a large seed with minimal pulp and provides maximum juice. Its found in some palm trees that can reach heights of 82 feet in the Amazon rainforest and that is where it is largely grown and harvested. Unlike cherries and most other fruit however, it grows in bunches, much like bananas, instead of individually. Each tree, on average, can yield anywhere from three to eight bunches of acai berries.

Whats so great about this small berry and why has it become a huge name in the diet industry? The Acai berry has been labeled as an antioxidant. Its rich in omega fats, protein, electrolytes, amino acids, antioxidants, and vitamins A, E and B1. Its been known for the health benefits it provides including management of digestive problems, insomnia, skin issues and even sexual dysfunction. Especially as word travels about this amazing berry and its benefits, people are discovering new and exciting ways it has helped them in daily life. Consuming it has made people simply feel more energized and healthy. Not only that, but researchers have even revealed that in a study, Acai berries actually destroyed leukemia cells in a culture. It still remains to be seen that the Acai berry will destroy cancer altogether, but the studies so far have been promising.

Not only has the Acai berry become famous all over the world for ground breaking new researches, but its also great tasting. It has been incorporated into so many dishes since its discovery that its common knowledge to see it on menus in most places. Used as both the sweet berry it is on top of ice cream, in smoothies, shakes and even breakfast bars, it is also used as a great additional flavor in meat and fish dishes, along with various other entrees. However, the fact that most people find so surprising is that the berry itself should not be picked and eaten just as it is. The berry is harvested, processed and the acai comes from the pulp of the berry. Even more surprising to some people is the fact that the acai drinks and juice is more popular in the southern hemisphere than milk. This is due largely to the fact that the South Americans know theyre getting a healthy, nutritious drink that will give them energy and alertness throughout the day. One of the best benefits about this berry is the fact that there are no known or reported side effects. It hasnt been completely examined and being a relatively new product in the United States it is still being observed. But most reports back are that this is a very promising good.

Acai is available in all different forms all across the globe. The internet has become a fast hot spot to purchase the popular berry and its many varieties. It is in extremely high demand as more and more people become aware of the benefits, but when shopping for it, you must be sure that youre getting the real thing. Labels are very important and make absolutely sure to check them.

read comments (0)

Though the acai berry has been around for centuries, it wasnt discovered until the 1990s in the western world. It has been used for generations and generations among various tribes, especially around Brazil, for its medicinal purposes.

With the Amazon being the largest rainforest in the world and the acai being grown for the most part in this area, it is easily grown and harvested. Though it is among thousands of different fruits and plants found it the Amazon, it is one of the more prized fruits with its recent discovery of being a great antioxidant and numerous other benefits.

Many tribes throughout and around the Amazon have used the acai berry for both medicinal and sustenance purposes. One of the more prominent tribes, the Shuar, have been using the berry for centuries and are known for their traditions of using the berry for medicine. Shuar tribes have a healer or medicine man or woman known as uwishins who are very knowledgeable about the forest and its secrets. They have learned the different purposes of the plants in the rainforest through experimentation and learning from each other. Theyve even discovered a plant that removes snake venom from the body.

When the acai berry was discovered, tribes throughout the Amazon tested its properties and found out those which are most powerful in todays society such as lowering bad cholesterol, fighting infection, controlling prostate and even promoting a healthy heart. Not only this, but they also revealed that the berry increased energy and even fought off certain diseases that were plaguing Brazilians such as Staphylococcus and Schistosomosis, a disease transmitted by snails.

How did a berry so secluded and very little-known become so famous? It started when sufers along the Brazilian beaches started adding it to drinks and smoothies to help boost their energy when surfing. Soon enough, it became a trend and word started to spread. Researchers and scientists heard of its energy-sustaining property and immediately took it in for experimentation. It was from then on that they realized the acai berrys true potential. With many antioxidants, vitamins and soon-to-be-discovered cancer fighting characteristics, the acai berry became more sought-after by not only the populous, but also other scientists across the world.

Once word started to spread, companies requested to start using it in products such as bars and health snacks due to not only its energy-boosting property, but also the fact that it contained many vitamins and minerals. Not only that, but even incorporated the berry into dishes in restaurants, smoothies just as the Brazilians used them, and in shakes. Not only this, but more recently the acai berry has been capsulated and sold as a diet supplement in drug stores and pharmacies all across the world. Its complete potential may not have been yet discovered, as the acai berry is a relatively new discovery. Rest assured that in the future it might cause some dramatic changes in the way people think and eat, promoting a healthier society and possibly new, natural drugs to help fight off cancer and disease.

read comments (0)