How Acai Berry Became So Popular
Posted on 10. Aug, 2010 by admin in MonaVie EMV
The Acai Berry can no doubt be called the ‘queen of all berries’ because its anti-oxidant properties can put any other fruit to shame. Found in the deep dark forests of the Amazon, this wonder of a fruit is every health conscious person’s delight. What is so special about this fruit that has made the world go crazy about it? We have seen a boom in Acai Berry products recently. Any product that remotely mentions the word ‘Acai’ will find immediate takers. The deep purple fruit enjoys phenomenal popularity and there is no dearth of celebrities ready to endorse it. Let’s delve deep in to the history of this fruit that has made it to the headlines in recent past.
The inhabitants of Brazil have known the benefits of Acai since time immemorial. It has always been a part of their staple diet. The Acai berry has lived an anonymous life for a very long time. Probably because the tropical forests in the Amazon, where it grew in abundance, were cut off from modern civilization for a really long time.
The western world remained ignorant about Acai Berry until the 1990s. Moreover, it has a very short shelf-life due to its high fat content. It would be a waste to eat the fruit after 8 hours of its being plucked from the Acai palm on which it grows. The nutritional value would become nil. It completely decays after 24 hours of picking and so, carrying it out of Brazil was out of question.
However, as Brazil embarked on a path of progress, the visiting scientists and the western community heard of the marvelous berry from the locals. Based on what they heard from the natives, they began their research and were delighted to find that the claims of the natives were indeed true. Later the Acai Berry was found in the South American forests as well. So, the Acai Berry research gained momentum.
The observations confirmed that the berry had a high anti-oxidant content and thus had important anti-ageing, colon cleansing and anti-cancer properties. It was found to be beneficial for a number of ailments including sleep disorders, sexual performance related problems, stamina issues, weight problems etc. Its protein content is as high as 9/100 grams which makes it an ideal diet for muscle builders. Its high vitamin C content makes it an ideal cure for gingivitis and other teeth related problems. Its vitamin E content helps the brain to function properly and prevents Alzheimer’s disease.
As these benefits of the Acai Berry became known to the people, the demand for it increased. Thus the Acai came to be cultivated commercially. The problem of short shelf life was solved by modern methods of preservation like freeze-drying and pulping.
Today, the berry boasts of an amazing number of followers and has assumed the proportion of a fad-diet for weight-loss. It has found mention in the Oprah Winfrey Show. So, what can we say about this stomach soother cum anti-oxidant cum aphrodisiac? ‘Berry’ well indeed!
