What exactly is açaí anyway? It is a berry that grows on acai palms, a plant native to the Amazon region in nothern Brazil. For several years the fruit has been widely popular in Brazil, being used in a variety of drinks, juices and even ice cream.

Since the 1930s and 1940s, there have been studies done on the health benefits of açaí berry (often spelled as acai). But not until recently has the fruit been more heavily analyzed for it’s nutritional/phytochemical properties. It has been lauded as one of the most nutritious foods in world. The acai berry is: high in protein, high in dietary fiber, high in heart healthy essential fatty acids, contains large amounts of cholesterol lowering plant sterols, is loaded with vitamins/minerals and an abundance of several antioxidant phytochemicals found in the berry’s anthocyanins (pigment). In short, the acai can simply help you slow down the aging process, and help you stay fit.

Oprah Winfrey even quoted that “açaí was one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in the world. Acai is the high-energy berry of a special Amazon palm tree. Harvested in the rainforests of Brazil, acai tastes like a vibrant blend of berries and chocolate. Hidden within its royal purple pigment is the magic that makes its nature’s perfect energy fruit. Acai is packed full of antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids.”

Açaí can be found in most local health foods story or specialty health shops. Consumers can expect to pay anywhere from $30 to $60 upwards for this product. There are also several internet distributors offering the açaí supplement. But you can now get a free trial of the acai supplements bottle from Opa Health, by just paying seven bucks for shipping. Here is a chance to get the best natural antioxidant at a fraction of the cost.

Give Acai Berries Extract A Try – You Have Nothing To Lose

The Açai (ah-sigh-ee) Berry is found in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest. This little dark, purple berry boasts an ORAC (antioxidant) score of about 10 X the power of red grapes and up to 30 X times the anthocyanins of red wine! Its incredible power pack of antioxidants produce high levels of anthocyanins and polyphenols. These antioxidants are the substances that protect the cells against the damage from oxidation caused by “free radical” molecules. In addition to the anthocyanin’s potent antioxidant capabilities, anthocyanins are reported to have strong anti-viral properties.

Did you know that the antioxidants in the Açai Berry destroyed cultured human cancer cells in a recent University of Florida study? According to Stephen Talcott, an assistant professor with UF’s Institute of Food and agricultural Sciences, the study showed extracts from Açai Berries “triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells tested.” (Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, January 2006). “In this type of experiment we look for two things. We try to see if the cancerous cells are dying, and we try to see if the cells release an enzyme known as caspase-3.” Caspase-3 is an enzyme released by cancerous cells as they die.

On the Oprah Winfrey Show, special guest Dr. Nicholas Perricone, author of the best-seller, The Perricone Promise presented Açai as number one of the Top 10 Superfoods on the planet. He called it, “…one of the most nutritious and powerful foods in the world!”

It’s no wonder people are going nuts over this amazing fruit from the Amazon. The Açai Berry is also loaded with vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12, as well as beta-carotene, calcium, potassium, phosphorus, fiber, protein and amino acids. It contains anti-inflammatories, anti-mutagenics and anti-bacterials. This berry is packed with phytonutrients which have been found to have potent antibacterial and anti-viral effects. Its phytosterol elements are made up of sterols which are components of plant cell membranes providing numerous reported benefits to the human body, namely the reduction of blood plasma cholesterol.

Unlike other fruits, the Açai Berry also contains essential fatty acids with a ratio that resembles that of olive oil. It has about 60% Omega 9 (Oleic acid) and 12% Omega 6 (Linoleic acid). Research shows that Omega 9 fatty acids can help to lower LDL and maintain HDL (beneficial cholesterol) levels, while Omega 6 can help lower both LDL and HDL levels.

Fruit juices are often avoided by diabetics and people watching their sugar intake. Yet, another unique quality of the Açai Berry is its low-glycemic factor, high protein and high fiber content. In The Insider’s Guide to America’s Worst & Best Supplements, Dr. Juliann Whitaker never thought he would ever recommend drinking a fruit juice. Nevertheless, when he discovered the Açai Berry’s contents, he gave it a “thumbs-up!”

Buyer beware! Consumers must be careful when shopping for Açai, because this little gem has to be freeze dried within 24 hours or it loses its active properties. Spray drying the berries also destroys most of its nutrients. To make matters worse, most Açai products contain non-organic ingredients, fillers, stimulants, water or chemical preservatives, as well as added sugar, artificial sweeteners, fructose or lots of other fruit juices. When buying Açai, be sure to only purchase products that have passed the 10 Acai Product Quality Tests.

Free Acai Trial Offer