Acai: berries not only for losing weight.

Acai berries contain large amount of vitamins and minerals and plenty of antioxidants which can decelerate the aging process and can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Acai berries contain more antioxidants than red grapes which are generally regarded as the best source of antioxidants. Check other health properties of Acai berries. Acai (Euterpe oleracea)- also called the berry of Brazilian Palm – berries from tropical forests of South America. Its health properties were discovered by Amazon tribes in the 19th C who still use Acai against diarrhea, especially against parasites, hemorrhages and in ulcers treatment. The Peruvians use crushed seeds to fight against fever.

Acai can retard the process of aging and can inhibit the growth of cancer cells.

Acai can retard the process of aging and can inhibit the growth of cancer cells. Acai, which looks like blueberry and tastes like berry or chocolate, contains almost every kind of antioxidants which retard the process of aging and inhibit the process of cancer cells (eg. resveratrol, cyanidin-3-glucoside, ferulic acid). Acai has also a huge amount of polyphenols – ellagic acid- which also have antioxidant properties. Thanks to that Acai is on the ORAC list (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) - the list of high vegetable antioxidant food products. The effectiveness of antioxidants was estimated by the specialist as very high - 161 400 µmol in one ounce (29 g). This is much more than in red grapes (about 1800 umol in one ounce) which are regarded as fruit with highest amount of antioxidants.

Acai help your heart.

Acai berries are rich in fatty acids, such as oleic acid (unsaturated fatty acid omega-9 group) and linoleic acid (EFA omega-9 group) These compounds help to reduce “bad” cholesterol (ldl) and help to raise the level of good cholesterol (hdl) in our body that is why they are very important when it comes to prevention of arteriosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases. The acquisition of “bad” fats inhibits also fiber.

Acai and weight loss

Acai berries thanks to huge amount of fiber (16,9 g in 100 g), accelerate metabolism and the process of digestion. They provide a long-term feeling of bellyful and at the same time they help to control and gradually limit the amount of calorie intake. Despite the popular belief they are not a “medicine” for obesity, because, in contrast to other fruit, they are rather caloric (100 g = 80 calories.). So eaten in moderate amount they can only help the process of weight loss.

Acai Berries – side effects.

Eating too much acai can only cause gastric problems (diarrhea, flatulence)