Acai berry
What we know about acai berry
Its botanical name is Erpe Oleracea and it looks a lot like a cross between a grape and a blueberry. It is a small reddish-purple fruit with a stone that contains seeds and only about 15% of the acai berry is edible.
The fruits are harvested from tall palm trees that grow around the Amazon River basin, but spoil very quickly. Acai berries have high nutritional value when eaten fresh.
The fruits are traditionally used to treat diarrhoea, parasitic infections, haemorrhages and ulcers. And as food, the tribes along the Amazon river valley mix the acai berry with cassava and consume it as oatmeal.
They often describe the taste of these fruits as reminiscent of wild berries and chocolate.
What are the properties that make it useful for health
Acai berry has been found to have higher antioxidant activity than strawberries and blueberries. The measured free radical absorption capacity of the skin and pith of Erpe Oleracea is the highest among all fruits and vegetables, or 10 times more powerful antioxidant than red grapes.
Acai berry is low in sugar but an excellent source of iron, calcium, fiber and vitamin A.
Fruits also contain compounds from the anthocyanin group such as resveatrol and cyanidic and ferulic acid, which not only give fruits and vegetables a more specific color, but also in synergy with flavonoids protect the body’s tissues from the harmful effects of free radicals.
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In fact, the acai berry contains 10 to 30 times more anticyanin than red wine.
Useful fatty acids such as oleic acid, which is part of olive oil, and ballast substances are also the reason why these fruits have an extremely high nutritional value.
The nutrients in acai berry can help prevent various diseases such as arthritis, inflammation, obesity, erectile dysfunction, neurological diseases and allergies.
The results of laboratory studies show that these fruits also have a positive effect on clinical conditions related to oxidative stress, as well as on cardiovascular diseases and even cancer.
The acai berry should be consumed in moderation because it still contains sugar, albeit at significantly lower levels than other fruits.
Nutritional value of acai berry (100 grams)
- Calories – 240
- Vegetable fiber (Fiber) – 15 grams
- Carbohydrates – 4 grams
- Sugar – 2 grams
Additional ingredients
- Vitamin A
- Vitamins C
- Omega-6 unsaturated fatty acids
- Omega-9 unsaturated fatty acids
- Iron
- Calcium
- Flavonoids
- Glutamic acid
- Aspartic acid
- Oleic acid
Scientific studies conducted with Acai Berry
The results of A study published in 2011 shows that these fruits are not only good for health as a strong antioxidant, but also suppress biological activity that destroys the integrity of cells.
A study on mice with induced bladder cancer published in September 2012 found that after 10 weeks of acai berry treatment, the proliferation of tumor cells was significantly slowed and the extent of DNA damage was significantly reduced.
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The study authors conclude that this effect is likely due to the strong antioxidant properties of these fruits.
Until a decade ago, the fruit Acai berry was unknown to anyone outside of the Amazon forests. Literally overnight, they become a sensation thanks to the Internet, as they promise a significant reduction in body weight.
After some time, however, serious scientific research began to cast doubt on this claim, especially after the appearance of extremely expensive nutritional supplements for weight loss, developed on the basis of Acai berry.
