Acai and Weight Loss

If you have been doing any reading whatsoever on Acai, the acai fruit / berry, or anything related to acai and your diet, you know that acai is an amazing natural food and a great source of nutrition and health. It is included on the list of ten "Super Foods" on Oprah's website and is recognized by doctors, researchers, and nutritionists as one of the best foods of any kind that you can include in your regular diet to provide energy and get antioxidants, amino acids, and essential fatty acids. But is acai a powerful weight loss food as well? Well, while acai has been linked to successful weight loss efforts, researchers are still busy proving a link between acai and weight loss. However, because of the fact that it is a healthy, nutritious addition to your sensible diet, and on top of that, provides loads of energy, we think it's a great way to help you lose weight!

Think about it -- any weight loss or nutrition expert will tell you that you need to include lots of fruits and vegetables in your daily diet if you want to not only lose weight and keep it off, but if you want to live a healthy lifestyle in general. Acai is not just any normal fruit; it truly is one of nature's super foods because it provides benefits that more common fruits do not: anti-aging properties, incredible amino acid and fatty acid levels, and gives an incredble natural energy boost that will get you ready for whatever you need to do. Many people drink energy drinks or, worse yet, very unhealthy and unnatural energy boosters before they go off to exercise. These supplements and products usually contain lots of sugar, caffeine, or unnatural sweeteners that are actually counter-productive to efforts to lose weight or build lean muscle. Rather than resort to these things for energy, you can prepare a natural, tasty, and healthy smoothie, shake, or energy drink of your own using fresh acai or acai powder. The result is the same, a boost of energy that will drive you throughout your workout, but on top of that you get all of the other amazing health benefits of this wonderful fruit and avoid having to put unhealthy products and supplements into your body.

Check out our selection of acai products and recipes to get you going with your weight loss plan that includes this healthy and nutritious fruit. You can read more about acai and its many benefits in our other articles and the rest of our website.

About Acai

With the growing popularity and use of acai for nutritious purposes, many want to learn more about this fruit that has been hailed as nature's "superfood." In an effort to spread both knowledge about acai and the very beneficial use of its fruit, the acai fruit or berry, here is some of the basic information you might want to know about acai:

The acai (pronounced asa'i) palm is part of the genus Euturpe, which contains seven varieties of palms found in tropical Central and South America. They grow mainly in floodplains and swamps and are tall, majestic-looking palm trees that grow between 15 and 30 meters, with leaves reaching up to three meters long. The acai fruit itself is small, round, and of a black-purple color, growing to a mere 1 inch in diameter. The fruit is similar to a grape in many respects, growing in bunches of up to 900 of the small berries. Its seed, about seven to ten millimeters in diameter, makes up about 80% of the fruit.

Recent studies and research has revealed that the acai fruit, or berry, has become a major source of food for traditional Cabolco populations in the Amazon region of Brazil. Furthermore, with the proliferation of its use in various products in the last few years, it is economically valuable to that region as well, being used in a wide variety of nutritious foods and products including juice blends, smoothies, with granola, yogurt, or otherwise. Additionally, research has found that the acai has quite a nutritional resumé, boasting a comparative advantage in almost every way over even other fruits. It contains a high amount of protein, strong antioxidant levels, and the important and hard-to-find fatty acid omega-6. Among the many benefits it is said to possess, it boosts energy levels and has been found to possibly have cancer-fighting potential. Research has shown that antioxidants are an important factor in our body's ability to fight off disease and the antioxidants found in acai contribute heavily. Antioxidants play help in strengthening cellular walls and decreasing cholesterol-related disease.

In its various forms, acai is a great compliment a healthy diet, there are many acai recipes that will give you ideas on how to include it in your menu, and more detailed information on the nutritional benefits acai provides is easy to find as it is being constantly studied and written about. Check out AcaiRoots.com for more information as well as a great selection of acai products.

Acai Berry (AcaiRoots)

The acai berry is a small fruit that looks similar to a grape. It is round and black-purple in color, measuring around one inch in diameter and growing from the acai palm native to tropical regions of central and south america -- most notably Brazil. These little fruits, which we now know are one of the most nutritious foods available in the world, grow in what are called panicles (similar to a bunch of grapes) that contain seven to nine hundred fruits. While this may seem like a lot, only two crops are produced per year, and the demand for acai berries and the products into which they are made are under more and more demand with each year as the news of their tremendous and amazing health benefits spreads.

Even before becoming popular among people among the world, the acai berry made up a large portion of the diet of a the local and traditional Caboclo populations in the Amazon region of Brazil. The acai palm and its nutritious fruit were described by many such people to be the most important plant species to them, not only because of the health and healing attributes of the fruit itself, but because the stems and other parts of the palm were used as well.

Even the local consumers of this berry found and used creative techniques for including it in their diet. It is traditionally served in gourds with tapioca, but quickly became popular to eat mixed with granola and even used to flavor ice cream and juice. With the ability to freeze dry and otherwise keep the pulp fresh (thereby preserving its many health benefits) many more options have become available, including having it made into health drinks, yogurts, sorbets, and even powder and capsule supplements.

Now that you know a little more about the amazing acai berry and where it comes from, you can appreciate how important this little fruit has been to local people of the Amazon and how important it is becoming to people around the world as a source of energy and natural antioxidants. Unlike many of the "miracle" foods marketed today, acai does not come and go because its ability to boost energy, the immune system, and general health is not an advertising ploy; it is a true and noticeable result of including this real superfood in your diet. Check out our selection of acai products and recipes and find out how acai can help you feel better and be more healthy.

Acai Powder

For many of us, procuring fresh or even frozen acai roots or acai berries is not a simple task. But the fact that nutritious acai seems out of reach should not stop you from being able to include this incredibly healthy and delicious fruit in your diet, so that you too can experience the amazing benefits it offers. If you are one of these people, someone who finds it difficult to find and keep fresh acai, acai powder is the perfect solution.

Acai powder provides all of the same health benefits of fresh or frozen acai berries or pulp. It is made using the highest quality organic freeze dried acai and made into a convenient powder form. It retains all of its amazing properties, including being a super natural antioxidant, promoting healthy skin, and naturally boosting your energy.

Acai powder is made from genuine organic acai that is squeezed and pulped to produce a mush that is then freeze-dried. The resulting puree is turned into a powder. From here it is either packaged as a powder or put into capsules so that you, the consumer have a choice of how you want to take it.

Whether you buy acai juice powder or organic acai caps, taking it is easy and, in the case of the juice powder, tastes great. In powder form, it is as simple as putting a couple of scoops of the acai juice powder into four ounces of water and shaking (it is better to shake than use a blender in this case). If there are lingering clumps, placing the drink in the refrigerator for a few minutes should dissipate them.

Taking the caps is just like taking any other supplement; simply swallow with water! AcaiRoots.com offers acai powders in both forms. Our acai roots caps and organic acai juice powder is 100% organic, contain no caffeine, sugar, carriers, or preservatives. We are proud to offer the highest quality and purest acai powder that preserves all of the antioxidants and nutrients that make acai nature’s “super food.”

Smoothies and Frozen Yogurt Using Frozen Acai

In order to be sure that you preserve the many healthy benefits that come with genuine acai, you can buy it in frozen form. Since acai is a perishable fruit, be wary of buying it in other forms unless you can be sure it is fresh and will still retain its many nutritious qualities. In most areas you can find frozen acai in your local Whole Foods market, health store, or in some cases, in your regular grocery store, but buying it online is the best option for most people so you can be sure you are getting fresh acai shipped directly to you. Just like other frozen foods, you should get it home and keep it frozen until you are ready to use it.

Over and over you have heard about the amazing benefits acai can have when included in your diet. You have heard it not only from us, but surely from nutritionists, doctors, and health-conscious people from all walks of life. Here are some more great ideas for how to incorporate acai into your diet in fun and delicious ways:

Use frozen acai as a topping for frozen yogurt!
Next time you decide to enjoy a frozen snack or treat yourself to a frozen yogurt on a hot day or just because, try adding a fruit topping that includes acai. Simply pick up some of your favorite fruits at your local market, including grapes, raspberries, cranberries, or whatever you can think of, mix them all together into a delicious fruit topping, and for a healthy kick add in a serving of healthy, genuine frozen acai. It’s the perfect treat for you and for your health.

Use frozen acai in a smoothie or shake:
There are many recipes out there for fruit smoothies or shakes using acai, just take your favorite fruits like bananas and berries of all kinds and throw in a healthy serving of frozen acai to boost your energy and give you essential vitamins and fatty acids that your body needs and craves. Nothing can be more nutritious and the taste is great.

Check out http://www.acairoots.com/ for frozen acai and a great selection of other acai products, recipes, and information. We are dedicated to bringing you quality acai and acai products so you can enrich your diet and your life with this wonderful natural food.

Acai Benefits

The benefits of the acai berry are as varied as they are numerous. The natives of Brazil have used the fruit for many generations, not only for its nutritional value, but also for its many health benefits. For more on the acai berry history, check our website. Research continues to reveal new and amazing benefits to including the Brazilian fruit in our diet, and this article looks at some of the most notable of those benefits.

Chiefly, acai boosts energy levels, improves digestive function, improves mental clarity and focus, and promotes sound sleep. It also provides many essential vitamins and minerals and strengthens the immune system. Additionally, acai is a dense source of a particular class of flavonoids called anthocyanins (red-blue phenols with potent antioxidant properties). Anthocyanins are also found in red wine and have been shown to be the source of the health benefits associated with its moderate consumption, most importantly the reduction of the instance of heart disease. Acai pulp contains between ten and thirty times the anthocyanins of red wine per equal volume.

The acai berry is also a rich source of protein and dietary fiber and contains high levels of the fatty acids omega-6 and omega-9, which are known to have a protective effect on the heart and cardiovascular system. These may also play a role in lowering levels of cholesterol in the blood says some recent studies. Also, the acai berry has been shown to have an anti-aging affect, due to the high levels of anthocyanins described above, as well as its strong antioxidant vitamin levels.

The many acai benefits above, in addition to many others not discussed, is why the acai berry has been affectionately dubbed nature’s “super food” and become a sought-after addition to healthy diets. You can include acai berries or pulp in your regular diet by making shakes or smoothies, or simply adding it healthy fruit.

Luckily acai berries and acai products are much easier to find and obtain now than they have been in the past. While they can be difficult to find even in health food stores and grocery stores, sites like ours, http://www.acairoots.com/, are one of the best way buy acai and to get it affordably and conveniently so you can start enjoying it in your day-to-day diet. We offer a wide range of products from supplements to acai roots bowls and smoothies.

Acai Recipes

More and more people are looking to add a kick of health into their diets. Our fast-paced world makes it increasingly difficult to sit down and have a healthy meal at home or on lunch break. As a result, people are looking to supplements, multi-vitamins and other things to make up for less healthy foods that comprise most of our diets. Because of its noted nutritional values, the Acai fruit, be it the acai berry itself, the pulp, or the roots, has become immensely popular and is used in a wide variety of recipes for different kinds of meals, as well as being used as traditional remedy for many aliments. When eaten, the acai berry provides a great source of protein, healthy fats, and many important vitamins and minerals. Moreover, the acai contains fibers that help sooth and protect the digestive system.

One important thing to note when using acai in cooking is that it must be kept cold in order to preserve its healthy benefits. Many acai recipes call for frozen pulp of the naturally healthy berry in order to avoid losing its health benefits. As compared to raw cow's milk, a staple in most diets, the acai fruit pulp contains three times the lipids, seven times the carbohydrates, one hundred and eighteen times the iron, and close to ten times the amount of vitamin B1 and C. Additionally it has been shown to help fight cholesterol. Truly these properties justify its earned nickname of "super food." Check out our site to read more about acai benefits and nutritional value.

There are many resources online that offer acai recipes - including our own. Here are some examples:

Traditional Smoothie using Acai Juice

* 7oz Acai Juice
* 1/2 cup Soy Milk or Juice
* Fruit (you can choose your favorite, examples include one banana or half an apple)

Just as with any regular smoothie, blend the above ingredients and add fruit, granola, or any other desired ingredients. Enjoy!

Tasty Chocolate Acai Shake

* 1 cup of milk
* Splash of acai juice or puree
* 2 Tbsp of lowfat cottage cheese
* 1 scoop of chocolate protein powder
* 1 banana

Blend all ingredients using a blender to desired consistency. Add the banana last and blend again then drink!

Acai Breakfast - Botafogo Style

* Acai Roots
* 1 banana
* Orange Juice

Pour 3.5 Oz of Acai Roots into a blender with 1 banana and a splash of Orange Juice. Blend until smooth and serve. This is a vitamin and antioxidant rich healthy breakfast that will get your day going.

Acai Juice Blend

If you are looking to add a healthy kick to your every day diet, you can simply mix up a juice blend using acai puree or juice and your favorite fruit juice like guava, apple, grape, or cranberry juice. Take some with you in a bottle to work and get energy and nutrition all day long!

As more and more people discover the health benefits of the acai fruit, new recipes using its roots, pulp, or berries are appearing every day. Check back on http://www.acairoots.com to find new ways to use this super food in your daily diet and to buy acai products.