Over the Holidays, my family traveled to Brazil. We spent countless hours lounging on the beach, hiking through jungles and just plain relaxing. It was amazing! Every beach was filled with vendors selling delicious food, drinks and treats and the best one was acai bowls. I know these have been around for a long time, but I had never tried one. It was delicious!! You could get it loaded with honey, granola, condensed milk and other toppings but my favorite was just plain with a little granola added for crunch. After eating so many of them, I decided to investigate the super food status of these berries.
The acai is a small deep purple berry that is loaded with fiber and antioxidants. Acai are harvested from acai palm trees and are native to South America. They can be enjoyed in smoothies, bowls and have been made into supplements.
Anthocyanin, an antioxidant abundant in acai berries, has been shown to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, which can be important in fighting Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. This same antioxidant has been found to relieve post exercise soreness and to help in the fight against cancer.
Acai can also be helpful for heart health. Their inflammation fighting properties can reduce the risk of heart attacks and their heart healthy fatty acids help lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol.
They are rich in fiber to aid with regularity and help keep your cardio vascular system running in good condition.
These small little berries are an excellent antioxidant powerhouse addition to any diet.
