The tiny, little acai berry can offer you an abundance of health benefits. It is jam-packed with antioxidants, essential fatty acids and amino acids. It is also delicious with a taste described as a cross between a grape, a blueberry and a raspberry or maybe even berries dipped in dark chocolate.

The acai berry (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) that is only grown in the Amazon rainforest fits all of these categories. It is extremely nutritious, boasting one of the highest antioxidant levels on the planet; it has a synergy of healthy fats and a next to perfect essential amino acid complex. All in all it is one of the healthiest nutritional finds of this century.

Antioxidants are molecules that are instrumental in slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules. Oxidation is imperative to life but in excess it can damage our cells which in turn leads to many diseases, premature aging and even being overweight. Nature has given us an abundance of nutritious foods that are loaded with antioxidants. The acai berry has been proven to have one of the highest antioxidant levels of any food ever found.

Food can be measured by antioxidant capacity. This measurement is termed ORAC, or Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. The acai berry has 10 x the ORAC as red grapes, 2 x the ORAC of blueberries and even 10-30 x that of red wine. In fact, the acai berry has the highest ORAC of any other berry found so far.

Not only that the acai berry has a host of essential fatty acids. The fatty acid content in this berry is similar to that in olive oil, as it is high in monounsaturated oleic acid. Oleic acid makes the cell membranes more supple. By keeping the cell membrane supple, all hormones, neurotransmitter and insulin receptors work more effectively. This is important because high insulin levels have been linked to numerous diseases, most notably diabetes, but also heart disease and metabolic syndrome, which is believed to be a contributor to many different conditions, including obesity.

All of the research being done on acai berries point to the fact that this tiny little berry is a nutritional powerhouse. It has been dubbed a superfood. The term superfood is used to describe a food with a high phytonutrient content that is believed to confer health benefits as a result.

The acai berry definitely fits into the definition of a superfood as it has been proven to be beneficial in the prevention of diseases, weight loss and the protection against decline associated with aging.

The acai berry is extremely perishable so it is not available throughout the world in its fresh form but only in its processed forms, like juice or supplements.

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