Every few months, research shines a light on a certain superfood that has been shown to pack a nutritional power punch to health. From blueberries to green tea, the medical community and health magazines are overflowing with information on the wonders of the fave-food of the season.
One of the latest superfoods that have garnered rave attention is the Açaí berry. Pronounced like “ah-sigh-ee” this berry originates from the Amazon Rainforest where it has been a staple source of nutrients and energy for the native Amazonian community for hundreds of years. In fact, this small, grape-like berry is extremely important to the Amazon region of Brazil. The fruit makes up to 42% of the total food intake by natives of this region.
Açaí’s Nutrition Profile
Açaí is such the darling of nutrition and health experts because it contains a host of disease-fighting antioxidants as well as amino acids, which are necessary for muscle development and essential fatty acids. It also contains calcium, iron and Vitamin E. It packs quite a nutritional punch in such a tiny berry.
Products Containing Açaí
It seems like everywhere you look, you will see products containing Açaí or Açaí extracts. From smoothies to energy bars to juices, Açaí is quickly becoming ubiquitous in scores of health foods.
But like with any nutrient, the more it is processed, the less nutrient dense it becomes. Therefore, Açaí is best consumed in a raw or unprocessed form. But since most of us can’t get to the Amazon forest anytime soon to go Açaí-picking, a few products have done the hard work for us while preserving the exceptional qualities of this super food.
Two such products are AçaíRaw™ and AçaíTwist. Both are raw Açaí pulp but AçaíTwist™ has the added bonus of guaraná, a natural energy booster and potential appetite suppressant. Both products can be easily added to juices, smoothies, drinks or even cereals.
You know these products are the real deal when you either have to consume them as soon as your shipment arrives or quickly store them in the freezer to maintain their freshness.
Notable Praise
If you’re still not convinced at the wonders of this tiny berry, keep in mind that Dr. Perricone named the Acai berry as the #1 Superfood in the world and the power of the Açaí fruit has been featured on Oprah, The Today Show, The CBS Early Show, in the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times.
Those are some pretty laudable endorsements that just might be worth listening to.
- Heather Ashare, MPH