A Tiny Little Berry with Super Powers: The Acai Berry

For hundreds of years the people in the Amazon region of Brazil have eaten a powerful little fruit called the Acai Berry. Growing atop 150 foot palm-like trees, the Brazilian people have found it worth their while to shinny up these trees to pick the berries and carry them back down in baskets.

The berries must be treated properly to preserve their natural properties. Only 10% of each berry is fruit. The rest is seed and has no nutritional value. Therefore it takes a substantial amount of these little berries to create a usable puree.

Although Acai berries have been eaten for centuries in Brazil, it has only been recently that it has come to the fore in this country. American doctors and nutritionists are now discovering the incredible health benefits of these berries. Their findings have been truly amazing.

Whenever their highly acclaimed soccer players frequently make the Acai berry the majority of their meals prior to a match, it is obviously evident that they are acknowledging the immense energy and stamina that the Acai berry can bring them! In fact, the Acai berries have an exceptionally high amount of antioxidants, which delivers a fascinating amount of greater energy to the human body!

Another major nutrient in Acai berry is carbohydrates. It is carbohydrates in the diet that helps store and deliver energy throughout the body. They also work to help the body process food and keep the body, tissue and immune system functioning well. It has been shown that a 40 to 65% of our energy source should come from carbohydrates.

The United Sates and other industrialized nations are susceptible to high levels of pollution, chemicals and additives that have begun to create health problems and an increase in serious disease and illness. The free radicals present in pollutants cause damage to our cells and healthy functioning of our immune system. Acai berries contain Vitamins and nutrients that have powerful antioxidant properties and help to rid the body of their negative impact.

The Acai berries have properties that have been shown to reduce cholesterol and help the body process nutrients, thus allowing it to function much more efficiently and effectively. The Brazilians are among the healthiest, most energetic people in the world. They have been able to avoid many of the illnesses that plague the western world. Scientists are beginning to think that this is a result of their Acai berry diet. Acai berry pulp contains Omega 6 and Omega 9, both found to powerful antioxidants. In addition the fruit contains essential fatty acids, proteins, fiber, iron, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin B1, B2 and B3.

The powerful health producing attributes of the Acai berry are helpful to lowering the risk of heart disease and heart attacks. The antioxidants combined with the amino acids, essential fatty acids and the naturally occurring plant phytochemicsl, phytosterols, Acai berries help the body burn fat more efficiently and process food more effectively. This is why it has been touted as a helpful addition to any weight loss program. Acai berry products also can reduce a individuals cholesterol as much as 15%.

The combinations of the essential fatty acids as well as the antioxidants battle LDL, which is the bad cholesterol in your body, and it simultaneously will maintain the HDL, which is the good cholesterol. Those essential fatty acids also help tremendously in aiding your body in the absorbency of such necessary vitamins such as Vitamin A, E, D as well as K.

The health benefits of the Acai berry extend to include anti-viral and anti-bacterial agents which will help your body resist disease and illness. The anthocyanins that help accomplish this also assist in maintaining good eyesight and ward off such conditions as glaucoma and macular degeneration.

Aiding the digestion, Acai berry has vital enzymes that aid the digestion process. If you suffer from digestive problems such as acid reflux, irritable bowel or the like, an Acai product may help cure this problem for you.

Amino acids play an important part in allowing your muscles to relax so that you can sleep properly. Acai contains this property, and along with its Vitamin B, the dopamine and serotonin in the Vitamin B will allow you long and restful sleep.

Acai berries have been shown to have such amazing health benefits, that they are an exceptionally good thing to add to your diet.