Often times, we are inspired to try a particular food after seeing several pictures on our Instagram feeds, or simply through word of mouth. The açai berry is a prime example of a popular trend that is on the rise. We’ve all heard about it, many of us have tried it in some form, but how many people know about the advantages and truths about the fruit?
The Benefits
The açai berry is a superfruit, which means that it is high in nutrients. They are packed with antioxidants, fiber, vitamins, and other nutrients that can allegedly help you live longer, look better, and even reduce the risk of diseases such as cancer and depression. Açai has ten times more antioxidants than red grapes, and up to thirty times the anthocyanins of red wine, which helps lower cholesterol. The berries are also rich in omega-3 which aid cognitive functions, as well as other fatty acids that are ideal for heart health. Not only that, but it gives you energy and boosts your metabolism, helping you stay awake and lose weight.
Some athletes in Brazil who frequently drink açai juice claim that they have more energy when they consume the fruit, and also believe it can increase weight loss and sexual potency.
The Problem
Difficult to Transport
As with any fruit or vegetable, we can get the most benefits from açai when eaten raw. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to do so considering the berry is 98% seed and loses most of its nutritional value just 24 hours after being harvested because it’s so perishable. Açai berries are also difficult to harvest since they are native to the Amazon Rainforest and grow on 90 foot tall palm trees, mostly in swamp land. To add to the problem, there are also Rhynchophorus palm beetles which lay their eggs on the trees.
Lost Nutrients
In order to avoid consuming beetle larvae and transporting the açai before they quickly perish, they must flash pasteurize the berries. Flash pasteurization is a method of processing food in a high temperature for a short time, which makes the food’s shelf-life longer and safer to consume, but on the downside, the berries lose most of their nutrients.
Sambazon, the leader in açai products, claims that you should be consuming 3,000-5,000 ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) units to get the full benefits of the superfruit. However, a recent nutritional study revealed that the average american is only consuming about 1200 per day, which is well under the recommended intake.
Potential Solution
Check the Units
If you want to benefit from the nutrients of this superfruit, check the ORAC units and make sure you’re consuming around the recommended amount. If there aren’t any listed, it is either not USDA Organic, and the preservatives will outweigh the nutrients that are left after the pasteurization, or the antioxidants are so little that the company deliberately chose not to disclose the information and it’s really not worth it.
Explore Your Options
Açai isn’t the only superfruit. Among the many, pitaya, or dragon fruit, is my favorite. Some say it’s even healthier than açai berries, and it’s no wonder why it’s increasing in popularity with its low sugar and high fiber. These fruits can also be found at your local grocery store, and can be eaten raw, or blended in a smoothie without any tampering, added sugars, or pasteurizing unlike açai berries.
Whatever your opinion may be on these superfruits, it’s important to have a balanced diet and exercise regularly instead of relying on anything for our healthiness and well-being.