Acai has become a well known weight loss remedy. in recent years, global demand for acai berries has expanded rapidly.
Acai (Acai palm, Euterpe oleracea) is a palm tree in the genus Euterpe family. It is native to Central and South America. The fruit – acai berry is a small, black-purple drupe, smaller than a grape. The fruit is used as diet in Brazil. Today, acai is cultivated for the supplement demand. In Para, Brazil, one of the regions of acai production, acai palms have replaced sugar cane and other cultivation choices.
Acai fruit is used as food and beverage. There are many brands of acai products available in the market. Acai is sold as frozen pulp, juice, or used as an ingredient added to various products from beverages and foods to cosmetics and supplements.
Acai fruit contains carbohydrates, protein and other compounds, such as dietary fiber, sugar, vitamin C, calcium, iron, vitamin A, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, amino acid, oleic acid, palmitic acid, and linoleic acid. Acai also contains beta-sitosterol, polyphenols such as procyanidin oligomers, vanillic acid, syringic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid, and ferulic acid. The seeds are rich in polyunsaturated and saturated fatty acids.
Although acai has been promoted as a weight loss supplement, and the claim is suppored by some studies. But there are some experts believe that the fruit is more a phenomenon of Internet marketing than of scientific substance. More researches are needed to confirm its effects for weight loss.
According to a study published in 2006, acai seeds and berries have the antioxidant activities against peroxyl radicals. The seeds have a stronger antioxidant effect against peroxynitrite and hydroxyl radicals when compared to the berries. Scientific studies support that eating a diet rich in antioxidants can help the body fight free radicals and inflammation, and combat premature aging.
Various studies have been conducted to analyze the antioxidant capacity of acai juice, and found that its average antioxidant capacity is roughly equivalent to that of black cherry or cranberry juice, and is higher than that of orange juice, apple juice, and tea, but lower than grape and blueberry.
There’s no doubt that fruits and berries contain antioxidants, which are healthy diet promoting weight loss and helping fight premature aging. The issue is that whether acai is special and has more effects than other berries and fruits on weight loss and other health benefits.
Anyway, even acai might have no special ability to shed excess pounds, but you still can consume it, just like you eat other berries and fruits.
References
- Chemical composition, antioxidant properties, and thermal stability of a phytochemical enriched oil from Acai (Euterpe oleracea Mart.), Pacheco-Palencia LA, Mertens-Talcott S, Talcott ST, 2008, J Agric Food Chem. 56 (12): 4631–6.
- Total oxidant scavenging capacity of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (acai) seeds and identification of their polyphenolic compounds, Rodrigues RB , Lichtenthaler R , Zimmermann BF , et al. J Agric Food Chem, 2006, 54 ( 12 ): 4162-4167.
