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Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Don't Rule Out Acai Yet

By Russel Franklin

Like many of the other superfruits, the acai tree is native to hot, humid and tropical climates like those found in Central America, South America and Brazil. The purple berry that it produces has a berry-chocolate flavor to it. The inside of the palm, the soft part know as the heart of palm has been used in salads, eaten alone and in other dishes.

It has, for centuries been a staple food for civilizations in the Amazon, Brazilian, Central and other South American countries. All parts of the tree can be used for something. Nothing is wasted. The hearts of palm are harvested, eaten by the natives and exported as a delicacy to other countries. The leaves have been harvested and woven into mats, baskets, brooms and roofing thatch for years. The trunks of the trees have been chopped down and cut to use in building structures all through these countries.

The fruit has become very popular in nutritional circles, both for age-defiance and for simple, healthy dieting. Acai's proponents claim that it will help boost your metabolism while giving you all of the nutrients that your body needs. The natives of Brazil have been eating the hearts of palms and the fruit from this tree for centuries, as it has been a staple food for them passed down from generation to generation.

Many natives now grow the trees and make a living from the harvest by selling them to exporters to ship to other countries for the berries, hearts of palm, leaves and trunks. Brazil even incorporates the acai berries in soda, juice, ice cream, and other flavored drinks, including alcoholic ones. They are served chilled or at room temperature in pitchers made from gourds, and can be flavored with sugar or salt. They also provide acai now in freeze-dried and powdered forms. Seeds from the Acai Palm tree are harvested and replanted. It takes several months for seedlings to form. Extra seeds are also ground up and used to feed livestock and as organic additives for plant soil.

A couple of recent lab studies have indicated that the level of antioxidants once advertised for this berry is not as high as it was first stated. They had claimed it as being among the very highest in antioxidants, however the studies they have been performing lately in comparison to other fruits and juices, shows this berry as coming up short of the peak. It may not have as high a level of antioxidants when compared to several frozen fruit juices, red wine, strawberries, mangos, blueberries, dark-colored grapes and pomegranates. If they are correct, acai may only run on an even keel with cherries and cranberries, but is still higher in antioxidants than oranges and of course apple juice.

No matter if it has the most antioxidants or not, there are plenty of other health benefits from the acai berry to make it worthwhile. For instance, other research on acai berries indicates that it could likely help in the treatment of leukemia. The juice is already being used in some instances as a contrast in the gastrointestinal area for MRI's. Don't count it out yet, research on this tasty berry is still young and it has plenty of room left for surprises to throw at us all. - 17268

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