Acai berry for weight loss

The Acai berry (ah-sigh-ee) is an Amazonian superfood with high nutritious properties and an ability to support weight loss.

However beware as some 'scam' miracle diet products linked to the berry have led to a misunderstanding of the super food and caused consumer concern over legitimate trading and health claims.

In this article, I'll explain what the berry is, what are the nutritional benefits and how it can help the ongoing management of weight loss.

What is the Acai berry?

Related to that other highly nutritious purplish berry - the blueberry - the Acai is a reddish purple fruit of a South American palm tree. It grows freely along the organic Amazon River basin.

Brazilians, along whose country the berry has a natural habitat, have been long time lovers of the fruit, promoting all manner of claims to its libido enhancing, energy boosting and digestive benefits.

Acai is edible in berry form. It grows in tight bunches, is small (1cm) and can be juiced, pulped, dried and frozen.

What are Acai berry's health benefits?

Without doubt, one of the richest sources of food in the Amazon. It provides:

• Vitamin B
• Anthocyanins  - a powerful antioxidant that lowers the risk of heart disease and neutralises free radicals so your body's systems work efficiently
• Phyto-nutrients  - essential in sustaining life!
• Minerals - copper, potassium, manganese
• Omega 3 fatty acids - brain juice

Acai berry also balances the body's Ph levels which in turn promotes the immune system and helps to combat disease and ill health. The acid/alkaline ratio has been in the spotlight in recent years as modern diets tend to be acid rich, resulting in a clear increase in illness.

Antioxidant quota
According to the Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) the human body requires 2000 units of antioxidant activity per day to tackle the 'bad' oxygen and roaming free radicals we encounter throughout our daily environments & foods. The Acai berry provides almost three times the power of it's closet competitor food:

• Acai berry = 1026 units of antioxidants
• Wild black raspberry = 340
• Spinach = 150
• Green bean = 70

So - by chomping you way through just one small handful of the berry, you can obtain half your daily quota.

How does it help weight loss?
It's no secret that regular consumption of the Acai berry will help you maintain a healthy weight. And, if you're set on losing weight,  incorporating the fruit into your nutrition programme can accelerate your results. However, it's unwise to use the food as a fad diet. Simply add the superfood, in the form of smoothies, shakes, snacks and sweets, into your overall regime on a daily basis and you should see the pounds fall off, and stay off  - if you keep things in balance.

Is it good for Sports nutrition?
Yes. It is an excellent food for increasing and sustaining energy, enhancing mental focus, reducing muscle inflammation, reducing body fat and boosting the immune, therefore alleviating stress.

Again, use it wisely and regularly and you will soon see the benefits of the Acai berry in your overall health 


How do I get it? 

Widely available in health foods and online shops - the fruit quickly deteriorates once picked so it immediately dried or frozen at source - so we buy it as a liquid supplement, a mixing powder, a capsule or perhaps already incorporated into a snack or fuel bar, a yoghurt or other food.

Again, beware the free-trial internet offers promoting instant weight loss. Stick to reputable merchants and use it accordingly. I bought mine from The Guarana Bar  - an informative, trusted site with a good educational resource and online shop.