Ringing in the New Year with New Year’s resolutions has always been popular, and the most popular resolution among women in the United States is that they’ll finally shed those extra pounds. Well, now you can actually honor that resolution you made by adding the acai berry to your diet. The acai berry is a small round berry which must be produced as pulp and juice in order to be shipped outside of Brazil because of its fast deterioration. Many people describe the acai berry as a cross between a raspberry and a chocolate bar. So what’s the big deal about a berry grown in Brazil and how can it help you lose weight? The acai berry is extremely high in antioxidants, amino acids, and essential fatty acids. It can help you lose weight because the Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids it contains help to increase your metabolism, thereby causing you to burn more calories. The fiber fills you up and it takes you longer to digest your food, so you’ll find that you’re not as hungry as often as you were before adding the berry to your diet. The acai berry has been around for ages in Brazil and has been consumed by the native South Americans as a regular part of their diet for well over a century.

Because the berries are extremely perishable, preservation techniques have just now made them available outside of the immediate area. This is good news for you, since you can now find acai products in your local supermarket in the forums of acai juices, pulps, powders, extracts, and supplements, for those who find they don’t like the taste of the juice or the pulp. Just as with any good food, the real challenge is finding a way to incorporate the new food into your diet without spending an arm and a leg to do so. If you can get your hands on some acai juice, here is a great recipe which you can make on a daily basis. Consuming this smoothie everyday at least once will have a positive impact on your quest for weight loss and you just might find that you get addicted to the wonderful taste!

Acai Fruit Smoothie:
1/2 cup acai juice
1/2 cup of yogurt
Mix in a blender with handful of your favorite fresh fruit and enjoy.

You can also blend acai pulp with applesauce, green tea, or sparkling water for a great treat when you’re on the go and don’t have access to a blender. The amount you should use depends on the powder or extract you decide on, as all acai products aren’t made the same. There have been no confirmed side effects from the acai berry, so while its not unusual for someone to be allergic to something, there are no long-term side effects so you’re safe to eat acai and find your way into those skinner jeans in 2010!