The acaí is a small fruit of dark purple color that comes from the jungle of northern Brazil. This fruit comes from the Euterpe oleracea palm, which is of Amazonian origin. It produces the well-known acai berries, although they are also commonly called azaí, açaí, or even asaí.
This ingredient will be found mostly in recipes that claim to have a high energy supply, in which the well-known “bad fats” are avoided. And it is that the acaí is a fruit with many health benefits, both vitamins, as well as antioxidants, and anti-inflammatory drugs.
This small fruit is often confused with a blueberry. The fact is that they could be brotherly cousins, as both foods are very similar in terms of physical appearance: round, small, and dark purple.
Acaí berry is made up of 90% by seed and pits, and the remaining 10% of fruit is pulp. The flavor of the acaí is unmistakable and very different, as it is a mixture of raspberry and grapes, but with a small taste of chocolate.
Acaí is definitely a food that has many benefits and properties, as the indigenous people themselves used it many centuries ago as a natural medicine to treat some diseases, many of them related to digestive diseases.
Benefits and properties of the Acaí
The Spanish Nutrition Foundation (FEN) explains that consuming antioxidants can prevent or delay the onset of cardiovascular diseases. In addition, it can also prevent damage to cell DNA, which may precede the conversion of a cell to cancer. Later, a work by the University of São Paulo that was published in 2016, explained that these antioxidants can be obtained from acaí berries.
Thus, the acaí would have several benefits and properties:
– Prevents premature aging: This fruit has a high content of antioxidants. It is considered a superfruit because it has one of the highest ORACs. The Oxygen Free Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) is used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a system for measuring antioxidant potential. A study by Tufts University in Boston claimed that eating fruits or vegetables with high ORAC value can help slow aging, both in the brain and the body.
– Increases energy and resistance: acaí has a high concentration of carbohydrates, proteins, and fat, making it an ideal food for very active people, according to a study carried out by Professor Hervé Rogez, UCL Belgium, and UFPA Bélem in 2000.
– Benefit for diabetes: being a low-glycaemic food, Professor Hervé Rogez, UCL Belgium and UFPA Bélem, 2000 study indicated that it is a recommended food for diabetics.
– Strengthens the immune system: The International Journal of Sports Medicine published a finding that shows that acaí contains ellagic acid, a component that helps fight bacteria and viruses, making it ideal for strengthening defenses.
– Fighting cancer: A study conducted at the University of Florida showed that acaí berry extract reduces cancer cells, so research claims that there is a link between the consumption of fruits and vegetables rich in polyphenolic compounds and the decrease in the incidence of cancers.
– Help in cardiovascular diseases: according to a study carried out by Professor Hervé Rogez, UCL Belgium and UFPA Bélem, in 2000, the presence of dietary fiber, monounsaturated fat, and phytosterols promotes cardiovascular health, something that acaí contains.
And including acaí in food is a way to improve health. It is a fruit rich in antioxidants and nutrients, as well as in fiber, vegetable protein, and carbohydrates. This food would be favorable for people who are on a diet, to strengthen the nervous system, to improve the quality of sleep, and to reduce stress. Thus, acaí is a fruit suitable for everyone, even vegans and vegetarians.
How to take the acaí?
This meaty fruit is usually consumed in powder form, and it is very common to consume it in juices, shakes, or smoothies. In addition, it is also common to mix it with other fruits, consume it in ice cream, make energy bars, or even in the form of oil to dress salads.
Currently, a very trendy dish, already prepared in many establishments in large cities, is the açaí bowl. This is a combination of a kind of açaí yogurt with fruit pieces, chocolate chips, muesli, and nuts, which can also be seasoned with honey.
Açaí is a natural pigment that is sensitive to degradation, so, as our mothers would say, it’s important that once it’s prepared, it’s consumed quickly.
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