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The berry comes the from the acai palm, where it grows in strings. The palm itself is 15-25 meters tall with multiple trunks. The average palm has four to eight trunks, each one four to six inches in diameter, but palms with as many 25 trunks aren't uncommon. The fruit itself is under an inch in diameter, with a single large seed inside. The palm grows best in low-lit swampy areas, such as are found in the Brazilian rain forest, but it has been spread by animals throughout the Amazon basin. Each trunk produces four to eight bunches of berries throughout the year, with the dry season seeing the largest fruit production. An acai palm generally doesn't start producing fruit until it is about four to five years old.
The acai palm was originally harvested for its palm hearts, taking the place of another palm that had been harvested almost to the point of extinction. The multiple trunks of the acai palm can be removed, and the palm's trunks will grow back. Acai palms now provide most of the world's palm hearts, but over-harvesting is becoming a problem. However, as the palm hearts aren't as profitable as the acai berry juice is becoming, and as palm heart production is sustainable, the palm's berries may save the trees in the long run.
From the acai palm (euterpe oleracea) comes both its berries and the palm heart (a cluster of new leaves, also known as "cabbage). It grows quickly in the swamps of Brazil, Guyana, and Suriname. Not only is it used for food; the fronds themselves are used to thatch homes as well as for weaving.
The juice of the acai berry is also used in the preparation of patients for MRI scans of the gastrointestinal tract as a contrasting agent. Another use is as an astringent, an agent that contracts or shrinks tissues, which decreases secretions and controls bleeding.
The locals use acai to create creams, and in a porridge with manioc meal, bananas, or even fish. The seed makes an excellent fertilizer (it has even started to be used for this in the United States), and can even be seen in local handicrafts (most notably necklaces). Specific parts of the plant can be burned to produce an insect repellent. The palm hearts are used for salads, creams, stuffing, and even the feeding of domesticated animals, and the roots are used in herbal remedies for maladies such as bleeding and worms. Different parts of the acai palm have been used to cure a wide range of diseases such as anemia, diarrhea, fever, liver diseases, malaria, and muscle and menstrual pain.
Most important is the acai berry. Besides being used for juice, it is also used as a flavoring and colorant in wines and liqueurs. The berries are an excellent source of essential fatty acids (Omega-3 and Omega-6) plus oleic acid (Omega-9), which are good for lowering low-density lipoprotein levels. The berry also contains phytosterols (compounds of plant cell membranes), which help reduce blood plasma cholesterol.
The berries contain amino acids and vital trace elements vital to muscle contraction and regeneration, and they also provide dietary fiber (excellent for dietary tract health). Acai berries possess high levels of calcium, vitamins a and e, and phosphorus, as well as high concentrations of polyphenols, making them an excellent source of antioxidants. In fact, it's a much better source of antioxidants than foods such as blueberries, oranges, and even red wine.
Studies show a link between the use of antioxidants and increased longevity, and antioxidants also help in the fight against premature aging, cancer, cardiovascular and ophthalmological diseases, and other age-related degenerative problems. Acai may also help boost brain activity, support healthy cholesterol levels, make the skin healthy and supple, and provide natural energy.
Acai berries may be a proverbial "Fountain of Youth." Comparing them to milk, the berries contain 3 times as many lipids, seven times as many carbohydrates, 118 times more iron, nine times as much Vitamin B1, and eight times as much Vitamin C. They also have the same amount of protein and calcium as milk.
Acai juice is popular among the locals where it grows, and is seen as a "poor man's juice." In a single day, 400,000 pounds of fruit is sold daily in just one city. The juice is served in plastic bags, and goes for about $2 per liter in some areas, making it very affordable for even the poorest families. The fruit itself is also a staple in the diets of many locals, especially when mixed with manioc to create porridge.
In short, the acai palm is used for a number of things from art to repellent to medicine, and its berries are starting to a find their way into a number of dietary supplements. The berries have definite value as part of a healthy diet.
Todd Levering provides no-hype facts about the health benefits of the acai berry. To get unbiased information about the acai products visit his acai berry website at http://acaipro.com
About the Author
Todd Levering is the publisher of a website that provides no-nonsense information about the acai berry. To get more info about acai berry research and products that are made with the acai fruit, visit http://acaipro.com
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