How Does This Ayurvedic Food Improve Wellness?

CLINICAL AYURVEDIC REVIEW

Acai berries offer luscious and refreshing relief. Frequently pureed, the electric purple berry is stunningly beautiful atop smoothie bowls. Acai's sweet taste gives an energy boost on any hot summer day.

The thirst quenching, nourishing berry originates from a palm tree growing along the Amazon. It grows through tropical Central and South America and is an important food source for indigenous people in those regions. Palms bearing the fruit are common along the Amazon river estuary. It is also cultivated on flood plains like those in the state of Para, Brazil. The name 'acai' comes from a Portuguese adaptation of the Tupian word iwaca'i, meaning the 'fruit that cries'.

The round, reddish-purple berries are 1-2cm in diameter, 80% of which is taken up by the seed! Healthwise, acai is very similar to blueberries. Its intense purple color comes from its anthocyanins, which act as antioxidants in the body. Like many berries, acai is rich fiber and antioxidants.

The cooling purple berry tastes slightly sweet, tart and astringent, like 'a cross between tangy pomegranate and raspberry'. However, acai also has a distinctly earthy undertone, more similar to cacao nibs. One taster described it as being 'like a blend of berry and chocolate'. This quality comes from the organic compounds (polyphenols) that also give cacao its distinctive bitterness.

Traditionally, a thick juice made from acai is used as a compliment for fried fish. It can also be combined with cassava flour and taken as a type of porridge. In indigenous communities, acai is given to children from a young age. Here it is commonly enjoyed in smoothie bowls.

Acai is a very perishable berry. Outside of Brazil, it is only available as a juice, puree or supplement. This is because it contains high amounts of Omega3 fatty-acids, which go rancid if they are not frozen or processed soon after picking.

Cooling Blood Tonic & Blood Cleanser

The refreshing sensation that comes with a bite of deep purple acai not only refreshes the mind, it also points to the fruit's healing qualities. The signature, dark violet shade of the acai berry is actually created by its antioxidant content (specifically anthocyanins which are a group of polyphenols). These naturally occurring antioxidants deliver those deep red, purple and blue colors we see blackberries, aubergine and red cabbage. They are also responsible for some of acai's greatest benefits.

When these antioxidants are eaten, they help to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress in the body (Pitta). During normal metabolic processes, cells produce oxygen-containing molecules called free radicals. Oxidation is a chemical process where free radicals (oxygen-containing molecules) react with other molecules in the body. Each time this happens, it damages molecules on the cellular level. Oxidative stress can occur throughout the body. When it occurs in the blood oxygen delivery is impaired, preventing the formation of healthy tissues. Over time, oxidative stress causes measurable damage to the system.

Antioxidant-rich foods like acai help prevent or slow oxidation by scavenging for these free radicals before these reactions can happen. In fact, studies on acai showed that the group that ate acai had blood-antioxidant levels 3 times that of the control group.

Certain compounds (flavonoids) found in acai also help reduce the production of reactive oxygen molecules. These are the molecules that go on to create oxidative stress, cell damage and, in turn, inflammation. So, not only can the cooling nature of acai help soothe current inflammation, it also supports the body in reducing future inflammatory reactions.

Kidney disease is a common condition that causes significant inflammation and oxidative stress. For this reason, researchers are looking at the benefits of acai for people with kidney disease. Research is ongoing, but studies are promising that the anti-inflammatory effects of acai could be helpful in this condition.

Along with these blood-clearing qualities, acai also contains blood-supporting iron. A smoothie bowl with 100g acai extract provides 1m iron. This supports the body in creating quality red blood cells which, in turn, allows for proper oxygen delivery to all the cells of the body.