14 ways Acai Berry Extract can boost health + 2 recipes

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Acai’s popularity has grown steadily, especially since many nutritionists and naturopaths placed the Acai berry at the top of their list of superfoods. Harvested in the rainforests of Brazil, Acai berries are packed with antioxidants, healthy fats, and essential nutrients, and offer a natural way to boost overall well-being. In this blog, we’ll explore 14 ways acai berry benefits your health, from supporting heart function to enhancing skin vitality. We’ll also share three delicious recipes to incorporate this superfood into your healthy diet.

What Is Acai?

Acai is a small, dark purple berry native to the Amazon rainforest, often hailed as a superfood due to its rich nutritional profile. The berries are packed with antioxidants, healthy fats, and fibre, which contribute to overall well-being. Acai is commonly used in smoothies, bowls, and supplements, offering a unique taste similar to a blend of berries and chocolate. Its high nutrient content and potential health benefits have made acai popular in wellness circles around the world.

Health Benefits of Acai Berries

With all the hype, you may be thinking, ‘Is Acai really that healthy?’ Acai remains a superb creation of nature, which provides many benefits to your health.

1. Helps Digestion

Acai can also help to maintain a healthy digestive system. These berries have powerful detoxification capabilities and are a source of important dietary fibre for the body. The fibres help to aid digestion and fight against constipation.

2. Acai Berry for Weight Loss

One of the keys to healthy weight loss is the body's ability to quickly dispose of the waste. Acai can help flush out waste compounds and toxins from your body, leaving you cleaner, leaner and happier. Acai berry juice or simply Acai berry extract helps to boost metabolism. Acai Berry contains fibres that can help in the process of weight loss by improving digestion.

3. Increases Your Overall Energy

Acai Berry has an internal cleaning effect. This fruit can also help you to sleep better at night, and wake up feeling more energetic and refreshed in the morning. Acai berries contain amino acids which can help your body rebuild after exercise, and allow you to increase your energy production, your performance and more generally your levels of endurance and energy.

4. Stimulates Blood Circulation

Acai Berry contains anthocyanin, a powerful antioxidant that promotes good blood circulation. It is due to poor blood circulation that many diseases related to blood clotting, premature baldness, and heart problems occur. When used in the form of extracts to lower blood pressure and improve circulation, it results in feeling better and healthier.

5. Better Heart Health

Essential fatty acids such as linoleic and oleic acids are present in acai berries. Oleic acid can prevent hypertension and also gives your heart the essential nutrients it needs to function properly and efficiently. In addition, it helps to lower bad cholesterol and maintains healthy levels of good cholesterol, HDL.

6. Improves Mental Clarity

Acai Berry contains Omega 3, which promotes better memory, not only for the older generation but for all age groups. The nutrients in the mashed berries, or Acai berry extract, allow the person to be more alert, which naturally facilitates concentration.

7. Reduces "Bad" Cholesterol

The berry has two essential fatty acids: one is known as Omega 6, (linoleic acid) and the other is omega 9 (oleic acid). Frequent studies have shown that these fatty acids play an important role in reducing and maintaining normal cholesterol levels.

8. Antioxidants

This fruit has the ability to protect the body from the attack of ‘free radicals’ which are produced as a result of the air we breathe, and the residual pesticides we ingest from fruits and vegetables. The antioxidants in Acai Berries help to detoxify the body from negative elements. Acai has been shown to have up to 33 times more antioxidant power than red wine and grapes.

9. Elevates Sexual Performance

For some, this may be the best benefit they can get from acai berry. When all of the benefits above are in effect, your sexual libido gets a jump start. The Acai Berry plays a direct role in blood circulation in the human body, which helps to stimulate libido in both men and women.

The health benefits of acai Berries are really remarkable! Try daily for 3 weeks, and see the results for yourself.

Benefits Of Acai Berry For Skin:

10. Anti Ageing Properties

Some manufacturers also claim to use Acai Berry extracts in their anti-ageing creams. With an extremely high content of many photochemical compounds, acai berries can slow down or even reverse the damage of oxidation, which causes the ageing process of the skin and the body in general. In fact, acai berries are one of the best sources of antioxidants; a berry has ten times more antioxidants than a grape, and twice as much as a blueberry.

11. Leaves The Skin Soft and Unblemished

Rich in antioxidants, Acai Berries can make your skin look younger, fresher and unblemished. Acai oil is a great natural alternative to chemicals. Currently, many beauty products contain acai oil because of its high content of antioxidants and rich source of vitamins & minerals. Once ingested or applied, the berries nourish the skin, giving it a healthy glow. Brazilian women are very familiar with this benefit and have been eating acai berries for centuries for this very reason.

12. Controls Acne

Acai can help to control acne - the scourge of every teenager's life! It owes this healing ability to its anti-inflammatory properties.

13. Face Mask for Dark Spots

If you are suffering from hyperpigmentation or scarring, ditch the chemical skin care products and try a mask of Acai Berry and avocados. If you can get your hands on fresh berries, just crush them and enjoy them as an indulgent facial mask! The antioxidant properties of Acai, when directly applied to the face, will help to fight against the damage caused to your skin by free radicals.

Acai Benefits For Hair:

The inner strength of your hair reflects on the outside. Berries do exactly that- strengthen every strand of your hair from its roots and help reduce protein loss! The hair and the nails get stronger, and more healthy, thanks to the regeneration of the cells. The protein content of acai berry (higher than in eggs) and omega-3, 6 and 9 fatty acids as well as vitamins such as A, C, E and B vitamins in acai berry, are necessary for hair growth and health. Acai berries also contain folic acid and zinc. If you have been suffering from hair loss at some point in your life, you would know that zinc helps to make hair roots strong and promotes good scalp health.

Acai Nutrition Profile

The acai berry boasts a remarkable nutrition profile, making it a popular choice among health enthusiasts. These small, dark purple berries are rich in antioxidants, particularly anthocyanins, which contribute to their vibrant colour and offer numerous acai berry benefits, including support for heart health and inflammation reduction. Additionally, acai berries contain healthy fats, such as omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 fatty acids, which can promote brain function and skin health. They also provide dietary fibre, aiding digestion and promoting a feeling of fullness. Incorporating acai into your diet can enhance overall wellness and help you experience these acai berry benefits.

How to Eat Acai Berry?

Acai berries can be eaten raw or processed into one of the following recipes:

• Shake it: Mix with milk to make a nice smoothie.
• Cream: You can buy the bottle over-the-counter, ready to apply on your skin.
• Supplements: The tablets and capsules can be simply swallowed.
• Juice: Crush the berries and chill, add sugar or honey if you want it sweet.

A small amount of the berry, in one of the forms above, is recommended because it boosts your body's metabolism, flushes out toxins in your body, and reveals younger and smoother skin! The results can take time. Acai berry supplements of different brands are readily available in pharmacies. Always be sure to check for side effects.

3 Recipes With Acai Berry Extract

1. Acai Berry Smoothie

Ingredients:

• 100 g pineapple (frozen)
• 100 ml of soy milk
• 100 ml of water
• 2/3 spoons acai berry extract powder
• 1 tablespoon of honey

Instructions:

• In the blender, mix all the ingredients. Add honey if you want to increase the sweetness of the smoothie.
• A fantastic add-on to your gourmet breakfast!

2. Vegan Berry Chiller

Ingredients:

• 1 cup of blueberries
• 1 cup of strawberries
• 200 ml of almond milk
• 1 teaspoon of acai berry powder
• Ice cubes

Instructions:

• Mix all of the ingredients into a bowl until the mixture has a creamy consistency. Then add ice cubes to make your mixture cool.
• Enjoy this excellent drink twice a week, it will give you an excellent complexion!

3. Acai Chia Pudding

Ingredients:

• 250ml almond milk
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• 1 tablespoon shredded coconut
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Maple syrup to taste

For the acai berry puree:

• 150g berries
• 1/2 ripe banana
• 2 teaspoons acai powder

Instructions:

Mix chia seeds, almond milk, maple syrup and vanilla extract (optional) in a bowl. Let it rest overnight.

In a food processor, blend banana, berries and acai powder.

Mix the chia pudding with acai berry fruit puree.

Decorate with berries, coconut flakes, nuts, or other toppings of your choice.

Possible Drawbacks of Acai Berries

While acai berries benefit your overall well-being, here are some drawbacks associated with these beneficial berries.

1. High Sugar Content

Some commercial acai products, like smoothies and bowls, often contain added sugars. This can increase calorie intake and overshadow the acai berry benefits. Opt for unsweetened options to maximise health advantages.

2. Medication Interactions

Acai berries, especially in extract form, may interact with certain medications, particularly anticoagulants or blood thinners. Consult a healthcare professional before adding acai to your routine if you're on such medications.

3. Digestive Issues

Consuming large quantities of acai may lead to digestive discomfort, including stomach upset or diarrhoea, particularly for those not accustomed to high-fibre foods. Start with smaller amounts to allow your system to adjust.

4. Nutritional Balance

Relying solely on acai for health improvements can result in neglecting other vital nutrients. It's essential to maintain a balanced diet, incorporating a variety of foods alongside acai to enjoy the full spectrum of acai berry benefits.

5. Allergic Reactions

Though rare, some individuals may have allergic reactions to acai berries. If you experience unusual symptoms after consumption, it's best to discontinue use and consult a healthcare professional.

By being mindful of these considerations, you can enjoy the potential acai berry benefits while minimising any downsides. It is important to talk to your doctor about the potential side effects you may experience when taking Acai Berry supplements, especially if you are on other medication, pregnant or breastfeeding. If in doubt, it is best to eat acai berries in the most natural and unrefined form possible.

Final Say

Whatever the reason you have for increasing acai berry levels in your diet, know that you will enjoy the benefits across your whole body, especially when you include them in a balanced diet, and do not consume them in excess. Acai berry recipes with chia seeds have been promoted by everyone, from health food bloggers to doctors to celebrities for their delicious taste and incredible health benefits. It’s time for you to try your favourite recipe with this nutritious berry and enjoy the amazing acai berry benefits!

FAQs

Sources

1. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/benefits-of-acai-berries
2. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1109/acai
3. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/305576
4. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/acai-berry-cleanse
5. https://www.mensxp.com/health/nutrition/131681-acai-berry-health-benefits-and-recipes.html
6. https://www.everydayhealth.com/diet-nutrition/acai-berries/guide/