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
whole house cleaning Highland Park ..Finally, a positive solution regarding America's difficult and costly campaign... Read More
Cholesterol is an essential building block of every cell in... Read More
For all I prefer to buy my fresh produce at... Read More
Fibromyalgia is a chronic and potentially life-altering disorder with symptoms... Read More
While oxygen is the key to human survival, it is... Read More
Water is the single most important element for human existence,... Read More
The confusion about eating healthy and dieting will now be... Read More
First some terminology.Fructose ... a five carbon sugar that occurs... Read More
You may have heard that essential fats are an important... Read More
To research the health risks Sweet 'N Low and other... Read More
For the executive, maintaining the much-needed balance between career, family,... Read More
OK, no more excuses. Here's how to stop making everyone... Read More
In this fast paced world, good nutrition may sound very... Read More
The importance of protein in a healthy diet is well... Read More
How Can... Read More
You would probably think that I was writing a lot... Read More
The best weight training and cardio workouts will do very... Read More
Food in general has the distinction of being probably the... Read More
With so many people concerned about natural and organic foods... Read More
Looking for an easy and natural way increase your vitality... Read More
Who suffers from Eating Disorders?Eating Disorder sufferers are male and... Read More
Your healthOrganically grown fruit and vegetables are not covered in... Read More
Water is a vitally important component of any valuable and... Read More
Food addiction isn't a problem. Pretending like you can't live... Read More
I am going to share with you possibly the most... Read More
pet-friendly home cleaners Glenview ..Fire ElementAccording to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there are five... Read More
About 12.6 million Americans currently have heart disease.1.1 million Americans... Read More
Beans. Legumes. Pulses. Whatever you call this plant group, they... Read More
We all need fat in our diet on a daily... Read More
Do we really need a home water filter? Can't we... Read More
Fad diets have been around for more than 50 years... Read More
The importance of protein in a healthy diet is well... Read More
In parts 1-4 of this series of articles titled "Take... Read More
While there are many effective ways to get more energy... Read More
In a world where heart disorders and diseases are becoming... Read More
There are so many topics to discuss which affect our... Read More
Here is a continuation of the light and darkness metaphor:... Read More
Olive oil is a healthy choice over other fats such... Read More
In a new study published by the American Heart Association,... Read More
Today's tip is on hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).Hypoglycemia affects both... Read More
The first place that we cut corners when we are... Read More
Students might start thinking a little differently, once they learn... Read More
Whether you're concerned about cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or simply... Read More
Vitamin EThere has been a lot of controversy about vitamin... Read More
Last year I had a number of clients who started... Read More
Eating out when you are on a restricted diet always... Read More
Nutrition has everything to do with health. This isn't news,... Read More
You are what you eat is a simple, time tested... Read More
Summer is not too far away. It is almost time... Read More
Did you know that the food you eat when you... Read More
Nutrition |