Nutritional Benefits of Acai

Up until sometime during the 20^th century, the vast majority of the world's population had never even heard mention of acai berries. To the contrary, the inhabitants of the Amazon Rainforests, and the floodplains of South America have long since exploited the many health benefits that are to be had by consuming what can only be described as a "miracle" berry. Nowadays however, the secret is out, and popularity of this little berry has quite literally exploded as more and more health related facts surface. Apart from the seeds, the entire berry is perfectly safe to eat, and it's crammed full on nutrients.

So, the nutritional benefits of acai are many and varied;

Everywhere you look nowadays, you see mention of acai berries, and just how beneficial they are to your health. So, let's go ahead and take a closer look at these berries from a nutritional point of view.

Taste - Unfortunately, unless you go on holiday to South America, and to the regions where these berries grow, you're not very likely to find out what fresh berries taste like. The berries ripen rapidly once picked, and they start going bad after just one day, so in essence, shipping them around the world in their fresh state is virtually out of the question. With all that said, if you were to go and try some fresh berries, the chances are you may not like the taste at first, but eat a few, and it's a taste you'll fall in love with. Some liken the taste to that of chocolate, while others says there's also a mild raspberry flavor in the mix.

Antioxidants - When compared to other fruits, the acai berry, and particularly the purple variety, is approximately ten times richer in terms of antioxidant concentrations. One of the reasons why it is often recommended that people drink red wine is because red wine has a fair concentration of anthocyanin. Astonishingly enough, the concentration found in acai berries is thirty times as much. The reason these figures have drawn so much attention is that science has long since determined that antioxidants play a crucial role in reducing the risk of cancers, they help to repair damaged cells, and they are also believed to slow down the aging process.

Dietary Fiber - the acai berry contains significant amounts of dietary fiber and of course, fiber is essential in order to maintain good digestive health.

Other Nutritional Highlights - Acai berries are rich in mono-unsaturated fats, which are incredibly beneficial to the heart and cardiovascular system. They also contain impressive levels of oleic acid, a substance that is required by the body so that omega-3 fatty acids are able to penetrate cell membranes. This process is crucial, in order for neurotransmitters and hormones to function as they should. Oleic acid has also been linked to the way in which the body processes insulin.

Acai Berries and Disease Prevention - While many more studies will still need to be carried out, there is growing evidence to suggest several diseases and illnesses can be offset by consuming an adequate amount of acai berries, or by taking acai berry supplements. Such illnesses would include cardiovascular problems, high cholesterol levels, certain neurological disorders, etc. It is widely believed that these benefits are likely due to the high concentrations of antioxidants found in acai berries, and due to the presence of theobrobine, which is also found in chocolate, and which is known to positively affect a person's mood.