5 Health Benefits of Acai Berry 🫐
5 minute read
The Acai Berry is one of the original superfoods – and for good reason. These deep purple berries harness a whole spectrum of amazing benefits which can help us to look and feel our best. Read on to learn more about this amazing Amazonian super berry.
What are Acai berries?
Acai berries are the fruit of the Açaí tree (Euterpe Oleracea), a species of palm tree which is cultivated mainly for its fruit. Acai berries have a tough deep purple skin, yellow flesh and a pit in the centre (similar to an olive).
Because of their tough skin, fresh Acai berries are usually soaked and mashed into a purple pulp before they are eaten. They’re said to have an earthy taste similar to very dark chocolate and unsweetened blackberries.
Where do Acai berries come from?
The Açaí tree is native to the hot and tropical countries of Central and South America, where it grows in rainforests and along floodplains. It is thought that Acai berries have been used by indigenous tribes for hundreds of years to cure various ailments.
Most Acai berries are grown in the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil. Once harvested, they have a very short shelf life and so fresh Acai berries aren’t usually available outside of the countries they are grown in.
Once their amazing health benefits became mainstream knowledge, Acai berries were made into juice, fruit puree, supplement capsules and freeze-dried powder for export around the world.
5 Health Benefits of Acai Berries
Acai berries are renowned for their incredible nutritional profile and associated health benefits. Here's our pick of the top 5 health benefits of Acai berries.
1. Acai Berries are a Nutritional Powerhouse
One thing which all superfoods have in common is that they’re incredibly nutrient-dense. Acai berries are an amazing example of this, packing a whole load of nutrients into a very small package. Acai berries are a great source of:
✅ Vitamins – Particularly A & C
✅ Antioxidants – Anthocyanins, Flavonoids, Polyphenols
✅ Healthy Fats
✅ Dietary Fibre
✅ Minerals & Trace Elements
Acai berries have a unique nutritional profile for a fruit, as they are relatively low in sugar and higher in healthy fats and minerals. Many of the amazing benefits of Acai berries come from plant compounds called anthocyanins, a type of flavonoid which acts as an antioxidant in the body. Anthocyanins also give Acai berries their rich purple colour.
The nutritional value of acai berries means that they are great for boosting energy levels, fighting fatigue and staying optimally nourished.
2. Acai Berries are Good for Skin Health & Beauty
Acai berries are renowned for their beautifying properties. In South America, the Acai berry is also known as the 'Beauty Berry' because of its power to keep skin healthy and youthful.
The berries have an extremely high antioxidant content which helps to defend skin, hair and nails from cellular damage. Studies have found that antioxidants from Acai make it to the gut, where they are easily absorbed. Antioxidants are important for skin health as they help to fight damage from environmental pollutants that can contribute to skin breakouts and the visible signs of ageing.
Acai berries also contain skin enhancing Vitamins. They’re a great source of Vitamin A which is a precursor to skin cell turnover, helping to refresh and replenish skin. They also contain Vitamin C which supports the body’s natural production of collagen, a key structural component in skin. In fact, many collagen supplements also contain Vitamin C for this reason.
Acai is just one of the 8 chosen beautifying superfoods in our Berry Beauty blend. Enjoying one teaspoon daily can help to nurture glowing skin, shiny hair and strong nails from within - reaching places where your cosmetic products can't!
3. Acai Berries are Anti-Ageing
Acai berries can help to combat some of the visible signs of ageing thanks to their protective antioxidant properties. Their influence on collagen production is also important, as natural collagen production declines as we age - so anything which helps to stimulate collagen synthesis is a bonus.
It’s not just what’s on the outside that counts either; Acai berries help to keep us healthy from within by reducing inflammation, balancing cholesterol levels, lowering blood pressure and improving brain health. These are all things which often deteriorate with age and so Acai berries can be useful in fighting back against the clock!
Overall, the powerful nutrients found in Acai berries help to promote health and wellbeing throughout the body, helping us to hang on to our inner and outer youth for as long as possible.
4. Acai Berries Support Immune Function
Studies have shown that Acai berry consumption can help to increase the production of T-Cells, a type of white blood cell which is essential for normal immune function.
Polysaccharides in Acai berries have also been shown to activate our innate immune response, with research suggesting Acai could be a potential natural treatment for Asthma and some infections - by empowering immune function.
Most of the immune boosting benefits of Acai are due to its incredible antioxidant levels, which work to protect the body from oxidative stress and damaging free radicals at a cellular level.
Clinical trials have consistently shown that antioxidants are crucial for immune response and preventing disease, so Acai is a great choice if you're looking to give your immunity a boost and promote overall health.
5. Acai Extract Can Help with Weight Loss
One of the benefits of Acai berries which brought it to mainstream attention was its potential to boost weight loss. Of course, there’s no miracle solution to losing weight but many foods have properties which can support your weight loss journey – and Acai is one of them.
It is suggested that Acai berries are helpful to weight loss as they suppress the appetite, as well as supporting the digestive system thanks to their high fibre content. Optimising digestive health is important for weight loss because it helps to absorb nutrients more efficiently, increasing satiety and promoting fat oxidation over fat storage.
As Acai berries are a source of healthy fats, fibre and other nutrients - whilst being low in sugar and calories - they're a great choice for anyone looking to lose a few pounds.
Even if you are not looking to lose weight, acai berries can help with healthy weight maintenance - helping to regulate blood sugar levels, lower cholesterol as well as reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart disease.
How to Use Acai Berry
Fresh acai berries are very perishable and so are rarely available outside of their native countries. However, here in the UK you can enjoy acai berries and their benefits in the form of acai berry juice, acai berry powder, acai oil and even frozen acai puree.
Berry Beauty Organic Superfood Blend
Their superfood reputation and vivid purple colour makes Acai berries the perfect ingredient to use in your smoothie bowls.
Co-founders Sean & Charlotte are obsessed with Acai and are always thinking of new smoothie bowl recipes to add a scoop of Berry Beauty to. Check out their top recipe picks below for some smoothie bowl inspiration.
🍓 Berry Beauty Protein Smoothie
🍓 Homemade Berry Beauty Granola
You can also add Berry Beauty to juice, shakes, plant-based milk, yoghurt, oats and even simply plain water. Just one teaspoon daily can help to elevate your beauty regime to the next level.
References:
Anthocyanins in Acai - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18693743/
Anthocyanins in Acai Make it to the Gut - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18693743/
Vitamin A and Skin Structure Formation - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6791161/
Effect of Acai Berries on Cholesterol Balance - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19640950/
Anti-ageing Impact of Acai Berries on the Brain - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24985004/
Acai Berries, T-Cells and the Immune System - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3046208/
Polysaccharides in Acai Berries Activate Immune Response - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3046208/
Antioxidants and Immune Response - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8227682/
