Petrea Dishman runs through the many health benefits of the super superfood from the Brazilian rainforest, acai berries.

For many years, the acai berry (ah-sah-ee) has been a well-kept secret of the Amazon rainforest and it has only been on the market for about the last 5 years. The rainforests of the Amazon are thought to hold the key to treating many ailments and common diseases, and for thousands of years the indigenous peoples of the Amazon region have known about the many health-enhancing benefits of the acai berry.

The acai berry grows wild on top of many palm trees that are native to the rainforests of Brazil and the Amazon basin. Local farmers in the area harvest the fruit of the tree, and it is used to make a healthful fruit pulp. This fruit pulp is then quickly frozen in order to preserve its nutrient value.

The acai berry itself is a deep purple colour, and it is quite rich in a number of important nutrients, including many of the most valuable antioxidant vitamins.

Energy & Heart Health

The acai berry will give you a high energy boost. It is also thought to have a significant impact on heart health and on the health of the cardiovascular system. In particular, the acai berry contains a very high concentration of compounds known as anthocyanins. These compounds are the same ones thought to be responsible for giving red wine its widely reported health benefits. However the acai berry has 10 to 30 times more anthocyanins then does red wine.

Lowers Cholesterol Levels

In addition to these anthocyanins, acai berries are known to contain large amounts of protein and fibre, as well as both omega-6, which lowers cholesterol levels, and omega-9 fatty acids, which lower LDL cholesterol levels and maintain natural HDL cholesterol levels. These omega fatty acids have been studied for years as a way to protect the heart from damage and reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood, thereby providing possible protection from heart attacks, strokes and other common cardiovascular complications.

These anthocyanins are known to have significant health benefits and they are the subject of many studies. Many people are looking for ways to capture the many health benefits that have been associated with the consumption of red wine, but without the calories and other negative consequences of red wine consumption. The rich, delicious fruit of the acai berry may be able to provide these important health benefits.

Anti-Aging

Perhaps the most important health benefit of the acai berry, however, is its strong impact on the aging process. As a matter of fact, the acai berry is generally acknowledged to be one of the top superfoods for anti-aging. The amino acids and vital trace minerals found in the acai berry aid in proper muscle contraction and regeneration, thereby slowing damaging effects to the skin that cause signs of aging.

The fatty acid found in the acai berry is similar to that of olive oil and is high in monounsaturated oleic acid. This fatty acid combined with Omega 3 fish oils penetrates cell membranes and makes them suppler. This allows for hormones, neurotransmitters and Insulin Receptors to operate more efficiently, which greatly reduces inflammation, inflammation being one of the leading causes of aging.

High in Anti-oxidants

The antioxidant benefits of the acai berry, combined with the fatty acids it contains, make this one of the most important superfoods on the market. The acai berry is thought to have an antioxidant content which is a full 10 times greater than that found in grapes, and twice as high as those found in blueberries. As a matter of fact, the acai berry is widely acknowledged to have the highest nutritional value of any fruit in the world, and this has earned the acai berry the title of superfood.

These antioxidants destroy cancer cells. A study done by the University of Florida and published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry in January of 2006 did research that showed that the antioxidants in the acai berry trigger a self-destruct response in 86% of the cultured Leukaemia cancer cells tested.

Additional information

For such a tiny fruit, the acai berry seems to have a great many heart health benefits, and the secret that has been part of Amazon culture for thousands of years is slowly spreading to the rest of the world. The acai berry is a rich source of antioxidant vitamins, protein, fibre and heart protecting fatty acids, and it has an important role to play in protecting our good health.

Acai berries can be purchased whole and eaten as part of a healthy diet, but they are most often encountered in juice form. Acai berry juice is widely available both in health food stores and from many internet retailers. As with other kinds of juice, it is important to ensure that the acai berry juice you buy is made with 100% pure juice, and that it contains no artificial ingredients or added sugar.

As the popularity of the acai berry continues to grow, and as its value to good health continues to get out, it is likely that this little purple fruit will become more widely available.

When choosing between products made with the acai berry, it is important to choose only the highest quality products, and to look for products that have been frozen quickly after harvest. How the acai berries are handled after harvest can have a significant impact on their health benefits, so it is important to buy your acai berry juice from those who use the best manufacturing methods.

About The Author: Petrea Dishman owns the US based website Affordable Health, www.affordable-health.com