You’ve probably already heard about acai and the many promises that have been made about what this superfruit can do for your health. Even though you may find it somewhat difficult to buy into all of the hype, it’s important to realize that many of the benefits stated are indeed accurate. In fact, many renowned health specialists have given acai their official stamp of approval; for example, take Oprah’s own Dr. Perricone: “[S]tudies have shown that this little berry is one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in the world….Acaí is packed full of antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids.” But exactly what does this mean for you?

Much of acai’s nutrients and minerals come from the skin’s deep purple pigment, including antioxidants (ten times more than red grapes), amino acids, essential fatty acids (omega 3, 6, and 9), and fiber. Within the fruit’s pulp can be found a long list of vitamins and nutrients, including iron, calcium, and vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C, and E.

There is catch though: the nutritional value of acai is largely based on how it is treated during its journey from palm tree to your kitchen. In other words, there are many ways that the berries can be preserved and prepared for consumption, but only a few specific ways that successfully retain most of the fruit’s goodness. Many products currently on the market may promise big results, but they simply cannot perform because what they offer retains very little of the things that make acai so nutritional. So how should acai be prepared?

The processing makes all the difference in the final quality of the product, and in order for consumers to be able to choose the best acai product, they must be knowledgeable on certain aspects of how the fruit is prepared.

• Frozen acai berry pulp retains much of the raw fruit’s goodness.
• Freeze-dried acai berry powder retains much of the raw fruit’s goodness.
• Everything else just doesn’t cut it.

Acai is a very temperamental fruit in its raw state, and unless it is properly prepared much of its rich nutritional content is lost. Thus, when searching for the right acai product for your own needs, be sure you know what you are looking for. When you do find a quality acai supplement, though, it will make all the difference in your health and wellness. Take advantage of acai today, and begin feeling better than ever before!