04/09/2020
What is ACAI BERRY GOOD FOR?
The acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee1) berry is a small, dark purple drupe2 that looks like a cross between a grape and a blueberry. It's around an 3 inch in diameter, with a large seed inside taking up about 70% of its total mass. This seed should be removed before the consuming the fruit.
Acai is native to South America and has long been a staple food and medicinal plant in Brazil, but it's also gained popularity abroad in the recent years because of its antioxidant potential.5 Today, acai berries are still exclusively harvested from the tall, slender palm trees found around the Amazon River basin and in Trinidad and Tobago.6
Acai berries are highly perishable, which is why it's hard to get freshly harvested ones in the U.S. They're usually sold frozen, pureed, powdered or as a juice in supermarkets and health food stores. Frozen acai berries bought from the market must be immediately stored in the freezer to keep them fresh longer. Take them out only when you're ready to use them, and avoid refreezing, as it can deplete their nutrients and cause an unpleasant texture.
Compared to other berries, acai is less sweet. Its flavor is described as tart, earthy and reminiscent of raspberry and pomegranate.8 Acai bowls remain a popular breakfast item — this is a thick base of pureed acai blended and topped with other fruits, seeds and nuts. You can also use this fruit to make healthy smoothies or add it into baked desserts.
Health Benefits of Acai Berry
Acai is considered a superfood because it's loaded with health-boosting nutrients and compounds.10 One of the major contributors to its powerful antioxidant activity is the flavonoid anthocyanin, a natural purple pigment also found to help lower the risk for cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, obesity, microbial infection and neurodegenerative diseases.
Other free-radical-fighting polyphenols found in acai berry include ferulic acid, epicatechin, catechin and gallic acid. An analysis of its fatty acid composition also showed that it's rich in monounsaturated oleic acid,the same fatty acid found in olive oil revealed to help reduce the risk for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Acai contains high amounts of saturated fat, which may help increase your levels of HDL cholesterol (aka the good cholesterol) and reduce the risk for obesity-related Type 2 diabetes.
