Found in the Amazon Rainforest of Central and South Amercia, the acai palm is a tall, slender palm of the Euterpe genus that produces a fruit that resembles the blueberry. The fruit is mostly made up of seed, 80% to 90% of the berry consisting of its inner pit. The remaining 10% to 20% of the berry is acai pulp, which after being removed and made into a puree, becomes the basis for the acai products on the market—each boasting in the health benefits gleaned from the wholesome fruit. The nutritional benefits of the acai berry were first discovered after it was noticed that a number of Brazilian tribes used it as one of their main sources of food. Among the nutrients that the fruit offers are omega fatty acids (healthy fats found in many fish), amino acids, iron and fiber, as well as a number of other important vitamins and minerals that aid in cardiovascular health, aids as an anti-inflammatory, and aids as an antioxidant.
As stated by a number of medical research studies concerning the effects of consuming acai berries, the high levels of antioxidants present in the fruit (antocyanins) aid in combating premature aging and cardiovascular disease. Antioxidants have been promoted for years as a key element in red wine that aids in promoting a heart healthy diet, but the amount of antioxidants present within the acai berry are approximately twenty-times more that those present in wine. Additionally, the fatty acids present in the fruit provide the same health advantages as consuming olive oil, another key factor to a heart healthy diet.
For those needing a boost of fiber in their diets, acai berries provide a large dose of dietary fiber, as much as three grams, to aid in healthy, natural digestion. Also, exercisers and active movers can appreciate the energy boost that the acai berry provides, as well as the muscle regeneration benefits of amino acid complex combined with the fruit's trace minerals.
With its concentration of omega fatty acids, iron, fiber, calcium, vitamin C, and vitamins B1 and B2, the acai berry has began to be known as the healthiest fruit known to man. Also, because it is available in a variety of forms (liquid, capsule, powder, etc), it offers a flexible form nutrition for the needs of those wishing to lead fit, trim, and heart healthy lives.
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