The Importance of the Acai Berry
In today’s alternative health field the focus is on the Acai berry. Although this berry is new to the American market it has been used for centuries to provide people with numerous healthy benefits. However, before you can completely benefit from the health effects of the Acai berry you need to know what it is and how it works.
What Is It?
The Acai berry is a very distinct berry indigenous to the rainforest in the Amazon. The distinct purple berry is found in the large palm trees that grow in the thick rainforest and can grow as tall as eighty-two feet. The Acai berry grows similar to bananas in a bunch like formation. One palm tree can yield between three to eight bunches of these berries.
The Benefits
The versatility of the Acai berry is causing it to become known as a wonder food. The Acai berry has been found to be naturally rich in omega fats, amino acids, electrolytes, antioxidants, protein and Vitamins A, B1 and E. The Acai berry has long been used in many Amazon rainforest dishes including drinks and shakes. The Acai berry has been used by the Brazilian people as a flavor for meat and fish dishes as well.
In addition to being a delicious addition to food, the Acai berry has long been used by the Amazon people for a variety of health reasons. The Acai berry has been used to treat digestive problems, skin irritation, sexual dysfunction and even insomnia. For diabetics the Acai berry is perfect since it is also naturally low in sugar.
It hasn’t been until recent years that the North American medical community has noticed the energy and health benefits offered by the Acai berry. You might even find the Acai berry as an ingredient in your local smoothie shop. In addition to consumers, researchers are also starting to notice the amazing benefits of the Acai berry. In 2004, the Today Show did a feature story on the Acai berry and recently the University of Florida found in their studies that the Acai berry can actually destroy leukemia cells.
How You Can Take Acai Berry
While eating these berries may seem like a good idea you actually can’t just start picking and eating these berries. Instead the Acai berry must be harvested and processed. Today the pulp of the Acai berry is extracted and then sold throughout stores in South America. In the southern hemisphere you will often find that drinks made from the Acai berry are more popular than milk. This is because the individuals in South America know the Acai berry offers a pure and healthy drink that helps their alertness and overall well-being throughout the day.
Are There Side Effects?
All the research done to date hasn’t found any known side effects that you can get from taking Acai berry products. While the Acai berry has been around for awhile in South America it is still new to the United States and is still being studied by health professionals. However, the long testimony of those in the Amazon rainforest speak to the benefits of this distinct little berry.