Acai berries are among many of the fruits coined as “superfoods” as it is loaded with health benefits of acai that is Native to the Amazon region as a staple food. Today, this little fruit is gaining attention in different parts of the world because of its rich nutrient content. The Natives from the Amazon prepare the food by soaking it first in water to soften its hard covering or skin then mashed to create a paste that is dark purple. Its pigment is one of the main reasons for its nutritional value.
It has a distinct flavor between blackberries and bland chocolaty taste. It is important to know that acai has a very short shelf life that is why it is not being exported fresh instead, it is processed for acai powder benefits, pressed juice, or frozen purée.
1. Acai is a Nutrient Dense Fruit
Acai benefits are gaining popularity because of its amazing nutritional value. It has 5 grams of fat, 1.5 gm of saturated fat, and low in sugar content. If you will eat 100 grams, the fruit will give you 70 calories and 2 gm of fiber. It is loaded with Vitamin A and important minerals. The most beneficial about acai is the plant compounds which are the anthocyanins that come from its deep purple color.
2. Amazing Source of Antioxidant
Antioxidants found in foods serve as a neutralizer of free radicals. If these free radicals are not destroyed by antioxidants it will create great damage to the cell and can cause several chronic diseases. Studies make use of Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity or the ORAC to measure the antioxidant level in foods. Testing done with acai pulp shows an ORAC score of 15,405 while blueberries only measure 4,699. This is the reason why acai good for you because of this factor.
3. Decrease Cholesterol Level
Many studies are conducted with animals to acquire more knowledge on the health benefits of acai in improving cholesterol levels. This is the reason why health professionals also conclude similar effects on humans.
There is research done in 2011 using 10 participants who are overweight adults. They are given with acai smoothies two times a day for one month and the result shows an amazing reduction in LDL or bad cholesterol level. However, the data gathered were not convincing as it uses a very small group of people. However, acai powder benefits show a high level of plant sterols that are known to prevent the accumulation of cholesterol in the body.
4. Anti-Cancer Components
Up to this modern-day, there is no specific evidence that any food can cure cancer, but acai benefits people who are suffering from this dreaded disease by blocking cancer cells from spreading and developing. A study using acai pulp in mice resulted in the decreased incidence of acquiring cancer of the bladder and colon. Further tests and clinical researches are needed to support these claims but definitely acai good for you and your overall health.
5. Brain Boosting Effect
Neurodegenerative diseases are common as people age and it is good to know that one of the health benefits of acai is to safeguard the brain from damages caused by old age. One of the main functions of antioxidants is to counteract the bad effects of oxidation and inflammation in the brain cells.
There is a brain process called autophagy in which the brain cleans up damaged cells to give way for new nerve cells to develop, but as people age, this process is decreased. Acai benefits are found to boost this brain process using a laboratory test.
6. Promote Healthy Skin
Many natural skin care products boast the use of acai oil as it is a good substitute for chemically-based skin care products. Acai is not limited externally as acai powder benefits are also being utilized in the form of juice by women in Brazil for ages to maintain healthy glowing skin.
