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Acai Berry and Weight LossAcai Berries have gotten a lot of attention focused on the fact that they have the highest antioxident level of any natural food substance. But equally important is the fact that the Acai fruit is nearly 42% fiber, and contains a high level of Omega 3,6, and 9 fats, both of which are very effective in helping to suppress appetite and prevent snacking between meals. Not only is it a great appetite suppressant, the high fiber content helps keep blood sugar levels low. It also increases energy levels and acts as a metabolism booster, which is why Brazilian MMA fighters use Acai extensively.- more - Acai SupplementsSupplements are more convenient than juices, smoothies, or frozen berries, and can be an excellent source of nutrition, but only if the fruit is properly processed. Freeze drying immediately after harvest is far superior to any other methods such as drum drying, as it is the only method that doesn't use extreme heat that destroys much of the nutritional benefits of the Berries. There are many brands that advertise very low prices for Acai pills, but none of them use freeze dried berries. On those cheap brands, instead, you will probably see the term "extract".- more - Acai Berry Side EffectsMany people are curious about the possible side effects from the Acai Berry, without realizing that it is just a very nutritious fruit. The side effects are the same you would get from eating apples, oranges, grapes, or pretty much any other fruit - usually just a slight case of diarrhea if you consume to much, but not much more. The only exception found so far is a possible increase in reaction to bee stings, reported here. Note that we are speaking here of PURE Acai Berry products. There may be some side effects if you use products that mix other active ingredients with the Acai. This is sometimes done to specific purposes, like adding caffeine or green tea to increase fat burning properties, or diuretics to colon cleansing products.- more - Benefits of Acai BerriesNational news has been giving a lot of attention to the Acai Berry recently as a diet and weight loss aid. But the natives of Brazil have been using Acai Berries for centuries for many different health benefits, such as
- more - Nutritional InfoAcai Berries are unique among fruits in that it contains extremely high levels of , omega fatty acids and other good fats, carbs, fiber, amino acids and other nutrients. This nutritional profile is reason the Acai fruit provides so many different health benefits. Much of the attention lavished on acai has been due to its extremely high level of antioxidants. However the fiber, "good" fats, amino acids and phytosterols also play a big roll in the benefits.- more - Acai Berry ScamsThere are hundreds of web sites popping up that offer free trials of Acai Berry pills, promising that you only have to pay for shipping. But these websites are very nasty scams that will steal hundreds of dollars from unsuspecting victims. The customer is unknowingly signed up for a monthly subscription (or autobill) for an crappy product at an outrageous cost. Their hidden terms state you must cancel within 14 days, but often times THEY DON'T EVEN SHIP THE PRODUCT UNTIL 14 DAYS ARE UP. So you get hit with an $80-150 charge. Then, they make it very difficult to contact them, and often will VERBALLY tell you they subscription is cancelled, but you have no proof and GET HIT AGAIN THE NEXT MONTH! You can read more about these scams, see the latest tactics that they employ, and see the stories of others who have been ripped off.- more - Acai JuiceFor most of the world that does not live close to the Amazon where the Acai Palm trees grow, pure Acai Juice is the best way to get all the benefits of the Acai Fruit. That is because it requires the least processing and the nutritional properties are virtually unchanged. The first step in processing the Acai Berries is to separate out the seed from the fruit of the berry, and mashing it into a puree. This Puree retains all of the nutritional benefits of the fruit. Unfortunately, most manufacturers will then clarify the puree. Or, they will freeze-dry the berries to a powder and then reconstitute it with water. This is done to increase the shelf life of the juice so it can sit on the store shelves for months or years. But either way, virtually all of the good Omega fats, fiber, and some of the antioxidants are lost in the processing. Even worse, most of the big supermarket brands will then mix this highly processed juice with several other, less expensive juices. They often claim this is done to increase the synergistic effects of the finished product, but is really done just to cut cost. The finished juice will often be 10-20% (overprocessed and ineffective) acai. Of course, these mega brands do have lots of marketing muscle, so they can spend a LOT OF MONEY advertising these super cheap "Acai Juice" products and still make money, but you should be aware that they will not have nearly the same benefits of a 100% Acai puree.- more - What is Acai BerryA small purple fruit that grows at the top of the Acai Palm in the Amazon Jungle. It has been used by the locals for centuries, but only recently discovered by the outside world. It deteriorates rapidly after harvesting so must be processed immediately into a more stable form before transporting. In Brazil, the native have been using Acai products in many forms for hundreds of years. For example, the oil is used to treat diarrhea; the root is ground and made into a tea and used for jaundice and to build the blood; the grated fruit rind is used to treat skin ulcers; and, the seeds are crushed and made into a tea to treat fevers. In the Peru, a the root is used for malaria, diabetes, hepatitis and jaundice, hair loss, hemorrhages, liver and kidney diseases, menstrual pain, and muscle pain. In Colombia it is called naida and the fruit is used in a popular drink.10% of the Acai berry is the edible pulp and skin, while 90% is the seed. Although the natives in these countries use many different parts of the Acai berries, most of the nutrients come from the pulp and skin and the seed is normally not eaten. It is said that the fruit tastes like a mix of berries and chocolate. The berry is extremely rich in antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids. With 15-20 times the antioxidants as red grapes, it is one of best sources of antioxidants of any food. Despite being extremely popular in Brazil, the acai berry has been relatively unknown in other parts of the world. With rich nutrients and great taste, and the recent media attention after it was featured as a superfood on the Oprah Winfrey show it is not surprising that this fruit is finally becoming well known to the rest of the world. Unfortunately, the explosive media coverage has prompted many crooked companies to enter the market for acai with exaggerated claims. The bottom line is that scientific evidence has proven acai is an excellent source of nutrition and contains ingredients that suppress appetite, increase metabolism and help build muscle. - more - |
