One or two decades back, the acai berry was little more than obscure fruit consumed in the forests of Brazil. But today, it is one of the most sought after and pricey fruits on the market. How did acai achieve celebrity status allegedly overnight?

As you would expect, the advent of acai berry to most Americans was on TV. In a 2007 episode of the Oprah Winfrey show, the legendary host extolled the advantages of the berry with expert guests who claimed the fruit couldnot only help folk shed the pounds, but also slow the process of aging.

The Acai Berry Today

An easy Google search on acai berries will yield hundreds and thousands of results and introduce you to numerous products, all of which claim that acai is a super, miracle food. Some people even posit the small berry can cure cancer.

The berry itself is dark purple in color and looks a lot like a red grape, only a bit smaller. It is indigenous to the Amazon rainforest where ithas been consumed for centuries by local Brazilian tribes. Actually, it is said that the acai berry is eaten with such frequency that it comprises over forty percent of their total consumption. These clans also harvest the berry to sell them to local fruit companies.

Coming to America

right after the fruit appeared on the Oprah show, requirement for the acai berry went thru the familiar roof. Supermarkets across the land reported that they were snowed under with requests for the tiny miracle berry.

With this fame, the market demand spawned countless acai related products. Currently, the hottest product is acai berry juice, which can be found in most supermarkets and health food stores. Many products can also be bought over the internet.

In the next few paragraphs, we shall try to separate the grain from the chaff, fact from fiction. We will begin by taking a look at some of the commonest claims of acai berry consumers.

The Claims

One of the commonest claims of sellers and purchasers alike is that acai can actually rev up your metabolism and cause your body to burn more calories. This has inspired the diet-crazed Yank public to snap up the juice and related products whenever and where ever they might find them.

Itis also said the fruit helps cure sleeping aberrations like insomnia and will even work as an aphrodisiac and increase sexual need and performance. Many folks also claim that it can improve psychological lucidity, very similar to Ginkgo Biloba.

What we do know

There is absolute confidence that acai is one of the most antioxidant-rich foods on the face of the earth. This is important because antioxidants help the body fight off free radicals that can cause damage to the DNA and can also block arteries. However , despite reports by many eager users the wonder berry can actually reduce the aging process, it has never been proved that serious amounts of antioxidants can reverse, stop oreven slow aging.

But we do know that antioxidants increase LDL, the good cholesterol, while reducing HDL, the bad cholesterol. And in lab tests, analysts have proven that the berry has 10 times the antioxidants of grapes and double the antioxidants of blueberries.

The fruit is also said to be the perfect mix of antioxidants, essential fatty acids and amino acids. This has assisted in making it an immediate success with sportsmen and other health-fixated people. Itis no ask why pro South Yank football players often snack on acai berries before any giant game.

But how do they taste? Many shoppers respond the berry reminds them of an exotic blend of berries and chocolate. Perhaps that it is why the fruit is used to flavor cocktails, make smoothies and as a topping for ice cream in its native Brazil.

The Hype Machine

like most things in abuyer society, people tend to get carried away, particularly when working with an effective product. It is clear the acai berry is indeed one of the healthiest fruits in the world today, and it can offer users an abundance of amazing health benefits. But nothing we have seen has shown that it is a miracle fruit, and claims this tiny berry can reverse or halt the aging process or maybe cure cancer is a touch more than wishful thinking.

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