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The Acai palm can be found in almost all of Central America as well as in the northern part of South America. It is a tall and slender tree that grows in shady tropical areas, reaching a height of 15 to 30 meters. The palm is characterized by a beautiful crown in the shape of a plume made of long green leaves. The palm reaches the ability to produce fruit with excellent nutritional value only after 4-5 years.
The plant itself has become extremely popular thanks to the nutritious fruit it produces, commonly called acai berries. These fruits are gathered in bunches and look like our native grapes, but they are smaller (approx. 1.5 cm in diameter), contain one large seed (approx. 7-10 mm in diameter) and very little pulp. They appear as green berries and ripen to a dark purple color. The harvest time of “Black gold” (also called this berry) falls on the dry season, from July to December. The tree bears fruit twice a year and produces several (4-8) or a dozen clusters, each containing from 500 to 900 berries and weighing almost 6 kg. The Acai berry obtained from the plantation is a very delicate and short-lived fruit, so it falls quickly after reaching ripeness and must be consumed or processed within 12 hours.
The obtained pulp is used in traditional Brazilian cuisine. In the Amazon regions, it is number one in the diet of jungle inhabitants, accounting for almost 40% of the meals consumed.
Why are Acai berries considered a “super food”?
The incredible popularity of Acai berries is closely related to its extensive and above-average health-promoting properties and nutritional values. The fruit is considered a “treasure of the Amazon forest”, and local tribal shamans have used it for centuries to treat many diseases. So far, no raw material has been found in the world that could compete with the Acai berry in terms of nutritional value. In difficult times, the indigenous Indians (Anomabi) used the Acai fruit as their only source of food, and its nutritional value allowed them to survive while maintaining energy and vitality.
Due to its health-promoting properties, the Acai berry was recognized by Perricone as “superfood No. 1”, and scientists call it a super berry, also called the “secret of longevity”. It is worth noting that the fruit has a low water content – fresh fruit about 60%. Compared to other fruits, the Acai berry is an extremely rich source of nutrients and fiber (Table 1). What makes it special is that it contains a protein of high biological value, as it contains all exogenous amino acids in the recommended proportions. By consuming the Acai berry, we provide an almost exemplary amino acid composition (table)
Ingredients
Content (in 100 g DM)energy value
Total fat
Total carbohydrates
Dietary fiber
Simple sugars
Protein (F = 6.25)
Vitamin A
ß-Carotene
vitamin c
Calcium
iron
Ash
533.9 kcal
32.5 g
52.2 g
44.2 g
1.3 g
8.1 g
1002 IU
< 5.0 IU
< 0.1 mg
260.0 mg
4.4 mg
3.8 g
Contents
Contents %
Aspartic acid
Threonine
Serine
Glutamic acid
Glycine
Alanine
Valine
Methionine
Isoleucine
Leucine
Tyrosine
Phenylalanine
lysine
Histidine
arginine
Proline
Hydroxyproline
Cystine
Tryptophan
Sum
0.83 0.31
0.32
0.80
0.39
0.46
0.51
0.12
0.38
0.65
0.29
0.43
0.43
0.17
0.42
0.53
<0.01
0.18
0.13
7.59
Acai berries as one of the largest sources of antioxidants.
Numerous studies conducted so far show that Acai berries are the richest fruits known so far, characterized by a higher richness of antioxidants than cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries or blueberries.
Among them, we can distinguish compounds phenolicincluding anthocyanins, as well as bioflavonoids and three
phytosterols. Acai berries contain approximately 0.44 mg/g DM ß-sitosterol, 0.04 mg/g DM sigmasterol and 0.03 mg/g DM campesterol. These compounds are similar in structure to cholesterol and help maintain its appropriate level by regulating its absorption in the intestine. Plant sterols also support the entire circulatory system and support the immune system
The total content of phenolic compounds (antioxidants) in Acai fruits is also high and amounts to 328 mg/100 g. In the case of anthocyanins, we note a higher level of cyanidin-3-glucoside than in other fruits (the content in the pulp is approximately 1040 mg/l).
Active compounds belonging to polyphenols protect every cell of the body against the harmful effects of free radicals, which attack and damage many morphological structures, from lipids and proteins to genetic material (DNA). Free oxygen radicals produced in excess in stressful situations, polluted environment and consumption of highly processed food. They are one of the main causes of many inflammations (allergies), accelerated aging and carcinogenic processes.
Polyphenols also provide excellent support for the proper functioning of the circulatory system. They help prevent blood clots and atherosclerosis and strengthen the walls of blood vessels.
The total antioxidant content of Acai is almost 33 times higher from that in red wine or red grapes used for its production. For comparison, the antioxidant power of cranberries, previously considered the highest, is only 30% of the value tested for Acai fruit. The antioxidant potential of the Acai berry itself is 1026 µmol TE/g (102,600 µmol TE/100g) ORAC units. This is one of the highest levels of ORAC ever found in a natural product (fruit). Additionally, according to some authors, the Acai berry is a source of over 50 yet unknown substances that cannot be found in other fruits.
Health benefits of drinking Acai juice:
The inhabitants of Central America use the berry primarily in the treatment of gastrointestinal diseases and skin diseases. Due to their amazing nutritional properties and excellent amino acid composition, the berries were given to infants of mothers who could not breastfeed. It is known that our health, apart from other factors, is directly influenced by food. According to the maxim – We are what we eat. It is worth enriching our daily menu with food full of antioxidants and other substances of plant origin. Many studies have shown that food rich in antioxidants plays an important role in the prevention of lifestyle diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, cataracts, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and many others. Every topic and publication describing the health-promoting and positive effects of antioxidants and flavonoids on our body can be applied to the Acai berry.
The Acai palm grows in some of the most fertile soil on Earth and does not require spraying or other processes to improve yields. The fruit contains a lot of antioxidants, a balanced complex of unsaturated fatty acids, amino acids, phytosterols, vitamins and minerals.
More about properties You can read about Acai juice in a separate publication: Acai juice – a great way to feel good
