Healthy fats in Acai

Common name - Acai berry, palm berry, acai palm, jussara, cabbage palm are some of the common names in which Acai is known by.

Origin - They are known to originate from Amazon rainforest in Brazil.

Scientific Name - Euterpe oleracea

Appearance - Acai is a small, round, blackish purple fruit, looks alike in appearance but smaller than a grape with lesser pulp and a single big seed at the center.

Nutrients in Acai

Acai has an amazing antioxidant quality. It is very rich in antioxidants such as Vitamin C and polyphenols. Acai also haves an ample amount of iron, calcium and vitamin A with amino acid.

Fatty acid helps in the movement and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins like A, D, E and K. Acai has high caloric values and fats when compared with other berries and fruits.

Note: The content given in the table is fixed according to our calculation; hence it may not be accurate.

Healthy fats in Acai

Acai berry is very rich in healthy Omega fats. Nearly 50% of the Acai berry is fat - with 74% of the fat coming from healthy unsaturated fats such as

• Omega 3
• Omega 6
• Omega 9

19 different amino acids have been identified in Acai. Since amino acids are the basic building blocks of protein, over 8 grams of protein is there in every 100 gram of Acai. Acai berry is an excellent source of Plant Sterols. Three plant sterols (or photosterols) present in acai are

• B-sitosterol
• Campesterol
• Sigmasterol

Photosterols have numerous health benefits for maintaining healthy heart and digestive function. Acai contain as much Vitamin C as blueberries and has over 1000 IU of Vitamin A in every 100 grams.

In addition, potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper and zinc are all found in Acai. Acai has a strong fiber profile. Around 14 grams of fiber is present in every 100 grams of freeze dried Acai powder.

Acai health benefits

1. High level antioxidants in acai promotes overall body health and fight free radicals.
2. It boosts up energy levels.
3. It helps to add luster to skin and nails.
4. It strengthens our IMMUNE SYSTEM and provides greater energy and stamina.
5. It Provides better sleep and anti-allergenic support.
6. It also improves digestion and sexual function.
7. It Promotes better circulation and aids in preventing blood clots.
8. Helps in prevention and treatment of Alzheimer (brain disorder) and arteriosclerosis (stiffening of arteries).

Acai Berry Facts

• Acai palm also grows in the rainforests of South America.
• It has been used as a weight loss supplement.
• Acai berry contains plenty of omega oil substances which help to keep the blood pressure (BP) level under control.
• Acai fruit is very low in sugar content.
• Acai berry contains high levels of essential amino acids, fiber, plant sterols (controls cholesterol) and anti-oxidants.
• Acai pulp contains 10 to 30 times the anthocyanins found in red wine by equal volume.

Notes on Acai

One of the most important acai studies, conducted by the University of Florida, tells us that acai fruit has caused a “self destruct” reaction in Leukemia cells.

Antioxidants are one of the best ways to lower the chance of getting cancer and there is no other better way to get them than through acai berry juice or pills.

The fatty acid proportion of Acai looks like olive oil, which many experts believe that it might be the contributing element for the low occurrence of heart-related problems.

Fiber and Omega fatty acids are two of the biggest weapons highly used in preventing diabetes and heart diseases by lowering the blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Acai berry is one of the most powerful anti-aging super foods. Acai fruit's anti-aging effect is a combination of high level anthocyanins and strong antioxidant vitamin content.

Acai berry is known to contain ten times as many antioxidant vitamins as grapes and twice as many as blueberries and thirty three times more antioxidant power than both red grapes and red wine.

In addition to the high levels of omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids, acai fruit also haves a protective effect on the heart and cardiovascular system. The omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids in acai berries play a vital role in lowering cholesterol level in the blood.

Avoid : If you have pollen allergies or have a known hypersensitivity to acai or similar berries, please avoid this fruit.

An extra tip : To get benefit out of your acai berry diet, you should be able to spot the difference between a low quality brand and a high quality brand.