Acai Juice

Acai Berries Are The New Superfruit

Berries and chocolate. Generally a great combination, right? What if there was a berry that had a cocoa flavor in it? Well as nature would have it, there is. This extraordinarily nutritious berry is called the acai berry (pronounced a-sigh-ee). Acai Juice is extremely popular these days. While it doesn’t exactly taste like pure chocolate, the bitterness of cacao is incorporated into acai’s intense flavor. The flavor is actually hard to pinpoint as some of its juices have been compared to bitter raspberries while others claim acai produces a salty aftertaste (like say, olives.) Ok, I'm the one that said that. But the flavor is not the only thing that makes acai so unique.

A comparative analysis reported that açaí had intermediate antioxidant potency among a variety of frozen juice pulps tested. Antioxidant potency was: acerola > mango > strawberry > grapes > açaí > guava > mulberry > graviola > passion fruit > cupuaçu > pineapple.

Through the researches conducted by the early medical practitioners in the Amazon region, the organic acai was found out to keep the natural power of the antioxidant properties and its ability to control the cholesterol levels. When taken in, it lessens the bad cholesterol and boosts the good cholesterol. Other benefits that they uncovered include the facts that the organic acai shields the heart from possible ailments, it fights off body infections, strengthens the immune system, keeps in control of the enlargement of the prostate, fights off the disease called as schistosomosis which is brought about by the snails; and it is a valuable component in the antibiotic that is administered on the infection known as Staphylococcus aureus.

But, if you're a juice producer looking for a new venture, many juice and smoothie producers have already jumped the gun on capitalizing on the healthful fruit. While the trend is still fairly recent, grocery store shelves are already well stocked with the likes of organic acai juices, yogurt drinks, smoothies, and even teas.

And the bottles of these products make many a pretty promise. I’m actually drinking an “Organic Acai Antioxidant Superfood Smoothie” right now that claims it’s sufficient for a meal replacement. Is that true? Well, it sure seems to satisfy my nutritional needs as the Nutrition Facts label shows sufficient amounts of protein, carbohydrates, fat, potassium and even omega-3 fatty acids! And…actually it’s the only thing I’ve eaten today so far and I don’t think I’m hungry! Maybe this stuff really does work (Don’t try this at home though folks, acai shouldn’t be the only thing you eat all day.)

Acai Juice has also shown promises of preventing heart disease, as it has 10-30 times the amount of cardiovascular-fighting phytochemical called anthocyanin found in red wine. You may have heard of these phytochemicals from the French Paradox that enumerates the oddity of heart disease’s rare occurrence in France despite their high fat intake. The concept bears the phytochemicals in the red wine responsible for their continued health.

With all these benefits filling the air, the fruit sounds perfect right? Well I'm not here to tell you that it isn't, but I am here to tell you to be cautious about how much acai you consume. There is such a thing as an antioxidant overdose that has adverse effects such as weakness, fever and toxicity. So, with a fruit so jam-packed with antioxidants, one must be careful. Experts suggest discussing with your doctor what your optimal dosage of antioxidants is.