It started in the rainforests of the Brazilian Amazon and has slowly migrated to the shelves of local health food stores, leading some to claim it as “purple gold.” It has been endorsed by health specialists across the globe and was even featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show The Açaí fruit is quickly catching on in the U.S., finding its way into a number of juices, smoothies, and nutrition bars Is acai worth all the hype, some ask.
The acai berry cures a number of ailments, provides energy, and increases the libido, Amazon tribes have said. Recent scientific studies agree, indicating that the acai berry is one of the most nutritional foods in the world The acai fruit starts as the fruit of Amazonian palm trees. The berry is filled with antioxidants, amino acid and fatty acids, and natural energy, and has a subtle chocolate taste. Researchers find that this combination creates a “superfood” that helps prevent high cholesterol, heart disease, and cancer Recent studies show that the Açaí fruit can help destroy some cancer cells in the body, making it a leading ingredient in many alternative medicine diets
The acai fruit is new to supermarket shelves in the U.S., although it’s a daily staple in the Amazonian diet. Sambazon, a company that began to feature acai in its products after its co-founders discovered the acai fruit on a surfing trip, is credited for bringing the phenomenon to the U.S.
The acai fruit is featured mostly as a main ingredient in other food products like protein bars and juice because it spoils too quicly to be distributed in its natural form. A higher concentration of antioxidants is found in pulp form rather than acai juice products and is now showing up in some health food stores as an unsweetened pulp form.
Acai offers is appealing to a society focusing more and more on sustainable development Thousands of harvesters can harvest the acai fruit without destroying the Amazon rainforests. New concerns arise, however, as the popularity of Acai juice products increases, requiring more of the acai fruit to be harvested
As Acai juice products are distributed in food chains like Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s, the acai fruit’s popularity will only increase. Americans can now embrace the acai fruit now that researchers have provided evidence that it is worth the hype.
