The Mighty Dog and Açai

What is Acai Berry and what is it's Big Nutritional Benefits Although relatively unknown to the Western world, this little fruit has been harvested in the Amazon for centuries. It is prized by the natives of that region for its medicinal benefits, and is used by them to treat a variety of conditions. Research in recent years has revealed a surprising fact about this obscure little berry- it turns out that it is one of the most nutritionally powerful foods on earth. It is, in fact one of the world’s superfoods. The acai berry grows on the acai palm tree in the Amazon rainforest. The process of harvesting and processing this berry is time-consuming and expensive, as only 10% of the fruit is edible and must be separated from the seed. Acai berry is also extremely perishable. It only lasts about a day unless frozen or processed into powder or liquid beverages. Thus, you will not see fresh acai berries at your local grocery store. You will, however, find acai in a variety of juices and supplements. So what makes this little berry so popular with the medical and health food community? Acai is densely packed with antioxidants, anthocyanins, omega fatty acids, amino acids, protein, plant sterols, vitamins, minerals and fiber. It is hundreds of times more potent in fighting free radicals than blueberries or cranberries. Free radicals cause many of the most common diseases and signs of aging in humans. Everything from skin wrinkles to cancer can be attributed to the oxidative process which produces free radicals. Acai berries absorb free radicals at a phenomenally higher rate than any other known food. Thus they can also be used as a preventative measure against inflammation, infection and other precursors to serious health problems. What else makes acai berry special? Fifty percent of this powerful little fruit is omega 3,6 and 9 fatty acids, essential for cardiovascular health. Seven percent of the berry is made up of amino acids. In fact, at least 19 different amino acids have been identified in the acai berry. Why is this important? Amino acids are the building blocks of protein, the main cell builder in the human body. Other nutritional components of the acai berry include plant sterols for heart health, large amounts of vitamins and minerals, fiber for digestive health and weight loss and anthocyanins, which are flavonoids that fight free radicals. Anthocyanins are found in high amounts in red wine. Acai berries contain about 20 times more of these protective compounds than red wine. OtConsidering how much nutrition can be found packed into this little fruit, it’s no wonder that the humble acai berry is being referred to as a “superfood” by doctors and nutritionists around the world. Superfoods are some of the most nutritionally perfect foods known to man. One look inside this tropical berry reveals why it has gone to the top of the list of superfoods, and is recommended for anyone looking to improve health and prevent disease. Benefits of Guarana: Guarana in itself is kind of like a coffee bean on steroids. It contains a little more caffeine than coffee but the caffeine is released more slowly into the body so you don’t get as much of a high and then a crash. It has been used for centuries by the Amazonians in Brazil, of which it gets its origins, for endurance and physical stamina. It is a natural product, little red berries that climb the big Amazonian rain forest trees, and is completely legal to use, being approved by the FDA. Guarana is popular in soft drinks, energy drinks, powder, capsules, syrup, chocolate bars, and gum. The best form, of course, is the pure guarana berries, but you would have to live in Brazil to get those. Anyone have any frequent flyer miles to use? Guarana will also temporarily increase your metabolism, resulting in fat loss. This is where is gets its real popularity. Many fat burner pills are substituting plain old caffeine for the new guarana as their metabolism booster. It is becoming a highly desired product. The moderate use of guarana, on its own, can have a positive effect on your body and help you to lose belly fat. Guarana also helps to reduce migraines, intestinal gas, and cellulite. It can also help cleanse the blood through detoxification. Guarana is also a type of appetite suppressor called an adaptogen and when used with a well planned exercise regime and low calorie diet, it can be very beneficial for your weight loss. It even helps with the symptoms of long-worded and scary sounding medical problems like dysentery, rhematism, neuralgia, dyspepsia, and arteriosclerosis. Guarana has even become as popular with bodybuilders as isometric exercises. It is now in many sports nutrition products such as protein or creatine shakes. These products help them to build muscle and keep their body fat percentage low. I know, I know. Lots of bodybuilders will do drastic things to transform their bodies, but as far as guarana goes, there have been no scientific evidence of any negative consequences of its use in moderation. Guarana can be a good tool for weight loss just like losing weight with high fibre foods. Those who have any history of cardiac problems or high blood pressure should definitely not use guarana. Pregnant or lactating women should not use it on account of their fetus or baby. Children should not use guarana. (They have all the energy they need!)

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