Acai Berry Products Up Close

Super foods of the world, stand aside – the newcomer in this particular area of healthy living and lifestyle changes will surely give you a run for your money.  Acai berry products are the newest members to the super food community and as such are becoming the subject of many conversations in relation to nutritional qualities and health benefits.

Acai Berry Origins

Acai berry products can be found globally and come in many forms, but the fruit itself from which all of these products originate can be found on some of the highest plains of South America.  For centuries the natives of South America have been using the Acai berry for its health benefits as well as its healing powers.   It is only in recently that the global community has taken notice and begun using the amazing Acai berry for the same reasons.

According many health insiders and resources, we have Dr. Nicholas Perricone to thank for the introduction of the Acai berry to mainstream society.  The doctor and anti-ageing expert is responsible for emphasizing and promoting the benefits of this berry so much so that many Hollywood celebrities began endorsing it after which the rest of the world has begun to follow suit.

You can find Acai berry products in local drugstores, supermarkets and health food stores in many different forms.

Acai Berry Supplements

The first and most common is the supplement in capsule form.  The Acai berry, once it has been harvested, immediately undergoes a freeze-drying process to seal in the nutrients and compress the entire berry enough to fit the beneficial contents into a tiny pill; which can be ingested with water.  Freeze drying is a method used in making pills and capsules of Acai berry because it does not make use of any heating properties as heat is the number one enemy of this berry.

When you are buying Acai berry pills and capsules, make sure you get the freeze-dried kind and not the kind that comes with extracts.  The most beneficial parts come from the entire fruit itself, so settling for extract means little improvements in terms of health benefits.  Furthermore, the freeze-dried Açaí berry is a single processing step which means it retains all the natural benefits – unlike in extracts wherein the berry is mixed with other chemicals that break down its efficacy.

Acai Berry Puree & Energy Drink

Acai berry can also come in a refreshing puree form, to the delight of many health drink enthusiasts.  The rich purple berry comes in smoothie form made from the pulp of Acai berry which retains most of the natural benefits one can get from it.  It has been flash pasteurized and transferred into containers; you simply mix a couple of teaspoonfuls with crushed ice and blend.  The process of flash pasteurizing is ideal because it enables the preservation of the fiber as well, which means you get all the benefits of healthy digestion.  It is stored in glass bottles because plastic ones will cause leeching. For sip n’ go individuals, making yummy Acai berry shakes is the ideal way to go – with the bonus being that the Acai berry tastes great!

Acai berry also comes in a frozen puree form and can easily be purchased from many natural health food stores. The frozen puree has no extra sweetener or sugar at all, and usually comes in one serving size. You simply take one from the freezer and pop it into the blender with some other fruits if you like as well as milk or yogurt. Since it is also a fruit and is natural in its own right, it goes well with most things you might put in your smoothie or it enhances the flavor of it.

Apart from purees both room temperature and frozen, you can also get Acai berry in energy drink form.  It comes in small glass bottles; which you can easily tote around and gulp from for an energy boost.  These energy drinks have high concentrations of the antioxidants compressed and packed into these tiny bottles, very ideal for individuals who need energy boost without needing to consume so much piqued like in shakes.  Many athletes and people who have active lifestyles can attest to the fact that the Acai berry energy drinks provide them not just with the stamina and energy they need to perform their work out, but also an increase in mental alertness and surprisingly, a libido boost.

Acai Berry Preserves

And what if the active lifestyle is not for you? People who like to “keep it homey” can still benefit from the many health properties of Acai berry by trying out yet another form of this berry, which are the Acai berry preserves.  This is much like your yummy orange marmalade or blueberry preserve – only this time it is jam packed with so much good stuff in it.  Spreading preserves on your toast is a great way of getting the Acai berry benefits without sacrificing your routine.

The preserve contains pure Acai berry enhanced with natural sweeteners to regulate the pure acidity of the berry and controls the hint of tang.  The preserves are also made using the same method any home kitchen would do in order to make it, thereby resulting in unprocessed Acai berry goodness.  This means the preserves have full antioxidants in it; in a spreadable and tasty form.

Aai Berry: Products for Everyone

Indeed, there is no excuse not to try Acai berry given that it comes in so many different forms.  From supplements to purees and preserves, there are many ways you can benefit from the nutritional values of this fruit.  Some even get several kinds of products to try out as the fun can be found in mixing it up and getting your Acai berry fix in different forms.