The Acai berry tree is found mainly in swampy area in the rain forests of South America. It is a member of the monocotyledonous genus graceful palm trees native to South and Central America. Acai tree is a tall, slender palm tree which can grow up to 25m in height. The mature wild fruit tree has 4-8 well-developed stems, the tree grows slowly under the shady rainforest canopy and take 4-5 years before producing fruit. Each developed stem can produce on average 24kgs fruits every year.
Acai Berry Diet Benefits
Acai berry was unknown to people outside of the Amazon rainforest for many century. The berry has been gaining popularity from day to day after the diet was featured on The Oprah Show and The MSNBC News. Oprah Winfrey has personally mentioned that the Acai berry is one of the most nutritious and powerful foods - "Number 1 Superfood in this world". Most of the health benefits of the fruit actually come from its pigments. The pigments contain Anthocyanin an antioxidants which helps in anti-aging, lower bad cholesterol, increase good cholesterol and reduce enzymes leading to inflammation. Before we dive into this amazing berry let us have a look on the various reported health benefits of this superfood:
- Acai Berry is One of The Highest Antioxidant Fruits in The World - The fruit contain 10 times the antioxidant level of grapes and twice the amount of blueberries. Antioxidants speed up the process of cell division which reduce wrinkles and give you a healthier skin.
- Rich in Healthy Fats - Loaded with essential fatty acids. These healthy fats can help to control the bad LDL cholesterol and maintain the good HDL cholesterol in our body.
- Great Source of Amino Acids and Protein - Scientist has discovered and identified up to 19 different type of amino acids in Acai berry, the fruit is said to have over 8 grams of protein per 100 gram serving.
- An Excellent Source of Vitamins and Minerals - Vitamins and minerals found in the fruit include, Vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, C, E, calcium, potassium, magnesium and zinc.
- Boost Immune System.
- Rich in Anthocyanins - Anthocyanins are cholesterol regulating compounds, which can lower the risk of many cardio vascular diseases.
- Detox and Cleanse The Body from Harmful Toxin.
- Increase Energy Levels.
- Improve Vision.
- Rich in Dietary Fiber - The freeze dried Acai berry powder contain 14 grams of fiber in every 100 grams. Fiber is know to help in lowering blood cholesterol and promotes a healthy digestive system.
- Fight Cancer, Diabetes and Heart Disease.
- Rapid Weight Loss - Combine with proper diet, Acai fruit provide effective weight loss even in the most stubborn cases.