All Acai Facts

We’ve all heard, at one time or another, celebrities endorsing certain nutritional and weight loss supplements and swearing by them as if they’re a new religion. But more often than not, they’re roped in by crash diets that can wreak havoc on their health, never mind all the poundage they’ve lost seemingly overnight. But when it come to two particular celebs, specifically talk-show host celebs, a lot of people regard what they say and endorse as gospel truths. And rightfully so, especially when it comes to heaping praises over the acai berry diet.

In the case of one Oprah Winfrey, the acai berry way became her choice for very specific reasons. All the fatty acids, fiber, vitamins, antioxidants, and amino acids found in this superfruit are great for weight loss, targeting belly fat. The way the Omega fatty acids (also found, albeit in a different level, in deep-sea fish) work is they jumpstart your metabolism. Acai berries have both Omega 6 and Omega 9 fatty acids, which help suppress appetite and speed up digestion. They also help lower the blood’s glycerine level, and combined with all the fiber within the berries, actually help curb hunger pangs and process calories that much faster.

Rachel Ray, on the other hand, is all over the great nutritional makeup of the acai berry. Its pulpy innards are made up of 19 different amino acids, the building blocks of protein. It also has more Vitamin C than its seemingly close relative the blueberry, and is a good source of Vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, and E. So if you’re wondering where Rachel gets her glow and pep, well, wonder no more! This yummy superfood has stolen the hearts (and diets!) of two of America’s most popular talk show hosts, and they can’t be happier and healthier for it.

Native to South America, the acai berry is a blackberry-looking fruit blossoming from panicles of the acai palm thriving in swamps and floodplains of Brazil, mostly. Its initial role after harvesting, of course, was that of food. Acai berries are popularly served with tapioca as pudding, ice cream, and as smoothies and shakes, because they’re a very versatile produce.

Then along came marketing geniuses who recognized the health benefits of the acai berry, and nobody can look at the it the same way again. Foremost among the promised advantages of introducing acai as a health supplement would be weight loss, because of the berry’s high fiber content. With that come all the other sought-after “fringe benefits” such as improved skin complexion, better cholesterol, and an overall felling of well-being. One claim, which has yet to be fully researched, has to do with the supposed improvement of sexual performance among men and women. While arguments are rampant with regard to proof of this (including apparent penis enlargement), people who swear by the acai berry can attribute it to the aforementioned general well-being by virtue of the berry being a proven antioxidant, as is the case of most fruit and berries in one’s daily diet.

Now, what makes the acai berry unique from other berries is where it gets its rich color. Grapes and black- and blueberries have it too, and it’s called anthocyanin, which is responsible for the purplish and reddish tones some fruits and berries have. The stronger the color, the more anthocyanin is present in the fruit. Anthoycanin fights free radicals the same way flavonoids and other antioxidants present in other food do. And, judging by the very purple color of the acai berry, it’s practically swimming in anthocyanin, which is a huge antioxidant treasure trove if you’re on the hunt for it!