The History of Acai

The acai berry, just as with all foods, has a history of their own. The only difference is however, acai berries come from a region of the world which has for thousands of years been shrouded in mystery. These berries have played a significant role in the lives of those who have lived in the Amazon rain forest over the centuries, and even to this day acai berries of consumed by the indigenous populations, not only as a form of food, but also for health reasons.

Hundreds of years ago, the people who lived in the Amazon rainforest and the neighboring regions would use the berries in order to treat a range of illnesses since the berries have outstanding medicinal qualities. Of course, it wasn't only acai berries that the local populations used to treat ailments, but they certainly played a crucial role. Interestingly enough, it wasn't until the 20^th century that these "super berries" made it to our shores, but because the berries cannot be stored for any length of time, most of us will never have the pleasure of eating fresh berries, unless one travels to South America. Instead, we'll have to be satisfied with acai berry supplements, but at least we can also nowadays benefit from this amazing fruit.

Without the help of modern day science, those age-old populations living in the Amazon discovered that if they consumed enough of these berries, their immune systems became stronger, thus giving them more chance to fend off illnesses. They also discovered that acai berries could be used to fight infections, which in turn makes the berries a natural antibiotic. These were qualities that the people of the rain forests simply couldn't afford to ignore, considering medical treatment was unheard of in those times. As time progressed, man also discovered that acai berries strengthen the heart, and they can be used successfully to treat a number of prostrate related problems.

Another interesting fact regarding the history of acai is concerned, is the role it played in hunting. No, the berries were never used to trap animals, and neither were they used for making poison tipped arrows, but the hunters did rely heavily on the berries for energy. Also, certain substances within the flesh of the berries acts as an appetite suppressant, which means hunters could go for long periods of time without a meal, and without having to be concerned about hunger during the hunt. It's this specific quality that has nowadays resulted in so much interest within the weight loss community.

One can only but wonder what people would have thought all those hundreds of years ago if they had had any idea that one day the entire world would be rushing to get their hands on these small super berries? One frequently reads that the latest studies suggest acai berries can do this, or they can be used for that, but do we really need all these new studies? After all, ancient civilizations new about all these benefits thousands of years ago already.