You may have heard about the acai berry, a South American fruit that’s said to have a number of health benefits, from reducing the effects of aging to providing your body with essential nutrients. But unless you've been consuming acai regularly, you may be wondering whether or not this exotic fruit can do you any good at all. Let’s take a look at the benefits of acai, and what it can do for you. Does acai really work? Well, find out by reading below.

Acai berries are dark purple fruits, about an inch long, that come from the acai palm, a palm tree native to South and Central America. It has a lot of the same antioxidants as other dark fruits, like the cranberry, blueberry, and concord grape, but in larger quantities. In addition to the antioxidant content, acai also contains monounsaturated fats, a lot of fibers, and phytosterols, all of which are important for digestive and heart health. The amino acids and trace minerals in acai can also help with contraction and regeneration of muscles. Research about the acai berry has been focused and most entirely on the antioxidants, which could theoretically prevent the kind of diseases caused by oxidative stress.

Acai Berry Works With The Help of Antioxidants

Acai berries may be good for you, but they’re not a magical, cure-all solution. They do have some real benefits, including a high anthocyanin and flavonoid content, as well as vitamins, omega fatty acids, and other nutrients that are beneficial to the body.

Anthocycanins are the substances responsible for the hue of the acai berry. The darker the fruit, the richer it is in anthocyanins. These substances, along with flavonoids, are powerful antioxidants that help defend us against the most stressful things in life. They also help protect our cells from what are called free radicals - byproducts our bodies produce that can cause cell damage. Antioxidants help get rid of these substances, and help reduce the risk of certain disease.

Some studies show that the antioxidant content of acai berry pulp is even higher than other antioxidant-rich berries like raspberry, cranberry, or blueberry. These studies are still ongoing, but if this is true, they could be a rich source of healthful substances and nutrients.

So, can acai help you lose weight? Unfortunately, studies to determine the benefit of acai in weight loss are thin on the ground, so we have to look at other evidence to find out. There has been no direct relation to acai berry and weight loss, but diets rich in antioxidants have definitely been shown to be part of a healthy diet.

The Bottomline - Acai Does Work!

Acai comes in many different types, and its oftentimes difficult to find fresh in the US and most similar countries. This is because of the difficulty in transporting it. The benefits of this useful fruit start to deteriorate quickly, and fresh acai needs to be eaten within twenty-four hours of harvesting. Fortunately, there are a number of methods of processing that can preserve the antioxidants in this food. These include freezing and drying, as well as expressing the acai oil. In fact, the oil is now being used instead of other tropical oils in many different cosmetic applications.

If you decide to use acai, you will want to make sure that you get the purest form you can. Freeze dried acai powder is the form that has generally been studied. Many products include other juices and even sugar, which could dilute the effectiveness of this superfood. If you’re thinking about using acai berries to improve your health, look for products with a high concentration, so you’ll get the greatest benefit. Acai may not be able to magically cure diseases, but it does have a lot of health benefits that we shouldn't dismiss.