The acai (ah-sigh-ee) berry has been around for thousands of years and not until the 1990's was it introduced to the western world. The acai berry was found to possess tremendous health properties. The acai berry was first used by the tribes of the Amazon jungle as a cure for various ailments. It is estimated that the indigenous tribes people routinely use up to 2,000 of the 3,000 known rainforest fruits for medicinal purposes.
The Amazon borders eight different countries and has the world's largest river basin. Not only does the Amazon supply one fifth of the worlds freshwater, it has the highest diversity of birds and freshwater fish. The Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world where one third of all animal and plant species live. The acai berry is just one of these fruits that has been discovered in this vast region. The Shuar tribes are one of these Amazonian tribes that have for centuries, through tradition, kept the use of plants (acai berry) for medicinal purposes.
Shuar medicine men or women are called uwishin (oo-wee- sheen') a healer that works with medicinal plants, somebody who knows all the secrets of the rainforests. Uwishin, have a great deal of knowledge of medicinal plants and their cures, they learn from others, and through experiments from the plants themselves. One plant removes snakes venom from the body. It is the work of the uwishin to research and find solutions to illness.
The acai berry was discovered to have natural antioxidant properties, as well as being a natural cholesterol controller. When eaten it helps reduce the bad cholesterol in our blood and increases the good cholesterol. The tribes of the Amazon knew of these properties and found out that it helped build the immune system, fight infection, protect the heart, and control prostate enlargement (nature's viagra). It was a great energy food for the tribes-people. The acai berry, which is a palm fruit, was traditionally pulped to make wine that was rich in minerals. The acai berry was also discovered to fight schistosomosis, which is transmitted by snails. Schistosomosis affecting more than 10 million Brazilians. The aca?? berry is also used to produce an antibiotic that helps to fight against 'Staphylococcus aureus,' a common infection contracted mainly in hospitals. A berry so useful but only known to the traditional tribes men and woman of the Amazon, a lost secret.
The aca?? berry comes from a palm that has a long thin trunk up to 25m high with a group of branches at the top from which hangs ribbon-like leaves. Aca?? berries hang from these branches in clusters that look like groups of bluebottles. Traditionally the acai berries would be picked by hand and the tribe's men would shimmy up the tree and cut the branches from the top of the palm tree rich in acai berries. Now that the acai berry has been discovered as a highly sort after crop by the population of Brazil it is mass produced, as it only has a 24 hour life span in which the properties of the juice are still active. The acai berries must be loaded into baskets and onto boats soon after picking. To get it to the markets in Belem's they would have to transport the acai berries over night.
Each acai palm tree produces round about 20 kg of fruit per year and the wine produced by this fruit has become the most important product in terms of finance after wood forest products. Belem in Brazil now employs over 30,000 people on a daily basis to keep up with its enormous demand.
So we know where it comes from, what about it's recent history? After being introduced into the western world it was realised by the modern beach going Brazilian surfer as a natural way to regain energy. The acai berry was pulped and frozen to keep it fresh and became a natural additive to the smoothies drunk along the beaches of Brazil. It was known to help your prostate and was seen as a natural viagra for the boys of the beach. It soon became a drink for the trendy, for the sand and surf brigade.
The researches soon got hold of this magic acai berry and realised that it would be of great importance in the well-being and health of the western world, our diets are often over filled with fat and fast food, acai is naturally full with energy, it has a vibrant taste of berries with a hint of chocolate, is rich in proteins, fibre, vitamin E, minerals and essential Omega oils to reduce our bad cholesterol caused by our western diets. The acai berries fatty acid ratio resembles that of olive oil this is thought to be a contributing factor to low incidence of heart disease in Mediterranean populations. The acai berry contains similar properties as red wine in controlling fats in the blood and is a fair contributor to go up against the wine diets of the Mediterranean people.
Known as the miracle fruit, acai berries also helps in preventing cancer due to it's antioxidant properties that are five times more potent than gingko biloba, a commonly used herbal therapy product.
Acai berry juice has been introduced into other products like bars and health snacks to be sold at gyms and health spars. It's history is important as by studying the effects that the berry has had on the tribesmen in the Amazon we have discovered that it's traditional use as an energy booster for hunting and good libido has lead to acai berry juice to being a very commercially viable product.
It's most recent history is that it has been endorsed by such talk show hosts as Oprah Winfrey and has been seen as a feature on her show, a berry with star success. So lets say good bye to guranum and hello to the acai berry.
Todd Levering is a raw organic health food advocate and owner of several health clubs around Seattle, WA. He's mostly known for promoting the health benefits of the Acai berry for it's natural antioxidant properties and the powerful beverage Xocai, which contains Acai. To learn more from Todd about this amazing new beverage, please visit: http://acaipro.com
no-contract cleaning service Mundelein ..According to the National Institute of Health, Magnesium is needed... Read More
Vitamin EThere has been a lot of controversy about vitamin... Read More
To many people, this may seem a simplistic answer to... Read More
The Zone Diet has been around since around 1995, when... Read More
Vitamins & Minerals are essential to sustain life. Its what... Read More
The Food Pyramid, first introduced to the US in 1992,... Read More
With the release of the new dietary guidelines, in the... Read More
How Can... Read More
As a low carb dieter, your diet is undoubtedly high... Read More
When I hear the word fat I usually think of... Read More
We sometimes hear about ways that we can take care... Read More
What if you could actually slow your rate of aging,... Read More
Most recipes end with instructions to "serve immediately." You could... Read More
Studies on whey demonstrate it's an even better protein supplement... Read More
Everyone can benefit from understanding how food affects our... Read More
Following a diet program of any sort can sometimes be... Read More
Modern life can be stressful. There are so many concerns... Read More
Eating orange mean absorbing vitamin C to our body, is... Read More
Detoxifying the body has become an apparent key preventative measure... Read More
Obesity is epidemic in this country for both children and... Read More
Meal sizes and frequency are very important. Over the years... Read More
AgingHow did aging appeared?If mechanism of Death was chosen by... Read More
Soy, and most soy-based products, are nutritional powerhouses. Soybeans are... Read More
"The physician who knows only medicine, knows not even medicine."... Read More
Quick Overview- I think the most important thing for people... Read More
maid service near Glenview ..When we think about the benefits of being ensuring a... Read More
The subject of health care itself often seems plagued with... Read More
Magnesium is an important mineral that serves numerous essential functions... Read More
Oats (botanical name Avena sativa)An oat is a grass that... Read More
Cholesterol is an essential building block of every cell in... Read More
For some people it is really hard to give up... Read More
The natural antioxidants in Oat Bran can significantly reduce blood... Read More
Summer is the time when we sweat highly and beating... Read More
Besides providing taste, color, and aroma, certain seasonings can also... Read More
For a considerable amount of time, nutrition has not played... Read More
Because I believe diet and exercise are so important, I'm... Read More
In this newsletter we will discuss the current controversy about... Read More
On average 30% of foods in our daily diet are... Read More
Weight loss plans are almost always trying to get you... Read More
Did you know the average American gains 5-7 pounds every... Read More
After WLS we must concentrate on eating nutrient rich food.... Read More
Great news on the chocolate front! Chocolate is good for... Read More
Your Non-Conscious Mind is 98% of your full power. Over... Read More
Here's a conundrum: While experts agree that high cholesterol and... Read More
ABC News has recently focused on the possible anti-aging benefits... Read More
Here's food for thought! Did you know the average restaurant... Read More
One way to combat the boredom many people complain accompanies... Read More
Are there any benefits to be obtained from drinking water... Read More
Did you know that the food you eat could be... Read More
As a low carb dieter, your diet is undoubtedly high... Read More
Nutrition |