Acaiberry is the latest wonder fruit to hit our markets. If you haven’t heard of this little berry then you’ve most probably been living under a rock; it has fascinated all our media outlets for quite some time now. Acai’s ascendancy looks like it will continue for some time yet.
Acaiberry has become so popular mostly due to its properties as a health food: not only does the berry contain a lot of the antioxidants and nutrients that our bodies require on a day to day basis, but it also encourages more efficient metabolism. It has also been shown to have a slight hunger suppressing property that makes it very useful for people looking to diet.
Acaiberry is a fruit – actually it’s a drupe but the distinction barely matters – that originates from the rain forests of Brazil and the Amazonian basin. The locals from that area have known of this fruit for hundreds of years, of course, and it is a staple part of their diet. The export into North America and Europe has done wonders for their economy, but some critics claim it has started the urbanization of an ancient and traditional civilization. Most acai farmers are actually from the communities themselves – who but they would know the best farming methods for a crop found so high in the air around their homes? – and the multinationals have been very careful to be sympathetic to all local cultures. It is difficult to claim that the critic’s fears are totally unfounded, but most people who look far enough into the industry agree that the most of the criticism is alarmist and exaggerated.
The Acaiberry has been turned into something of a fad by our mass media. In fact medical experts and health professionals agree that this is the real thing, that it really can help in so many ways. That the media has latched onto the fruit simply does not do it any favors, though. Don’t blame the berry, blame the media! No one who is seriously promoting the berry can say with conviction that this is a cure-all that will instantly make you thinner and fitter, but it can make this process a little bit quicker, and a little bit easier.