ACAI
(pronounced Ah-Sigh-Ee)
The Acai palm is native to the tropical regions of Central and South America. They grow to about 15-30m (50-100ft) tall in groves along the banks of floodplains and swampy areas. They're prized for two things; (1) the palm heart which is as it sounds the heart of the palm, and (2) the grape like berries which can be harvested, pulped and juiced.
Harvesting the palm heart destroys the palm however they are prone to suckering and the suckers can be harvested without affecting the parent plant. The palm heart is a delicacy and the price limits those who can afford to enjoy it.
The berries, on the other hand, are a renewable resource. They grow in bunches of more than 700+ berries per branch and each berry is similar in shape and size to a grape except that it contains only one central seed. The reason they are so highly prized is for their richness in Vitamin B and anthocyanin, a flavoid antioxidant.
Unfortunately, the acai berries deteriorate quickly once they are harvested and so they will never appear in the fruit and veggie shop retailing as a stand-alone fruit. They can, however, be pulped and the fruit juice extracted and bottled.
These berries were first harvested by the Yanomami Indians in the Amazon rainforest prior to its discovery and have now been cast as a natural "Viagra" among it's other innumerable health benefits.
The acai berry is touted as a preventative against heart failure, assisting as a benefit against cancer, dementia and other age-related diseases. Other benefits of the Acai berry:
Boosts energy levels - Improves digestive function - Improves mental clarity/focus - Promotes sound sleep - Provides all vital vitamins - Acai has very high levels of fibers - Cleanses and Detoxifies the body of infectious toxins -Strengthens your immune system - Enhances sexual desire and performance - Fights cancerous cells -Slows down the aging process - Promotes healthier and younger looking skin - Alleviates diabetes - Normalizes and regulates cholesterol levels - Helps maintain healthy heart function - Minimizes inflammation - Improves circulation - Prevents arteriosclerosis - Enhances visual acuity.
