Acai -- the Amazon's wonder berry

Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-EE), is the unassuming fruit of a jungle palm that has gone from Amazonian staple to global wonder-berry: a much-hyped ingredient in smoothies, sorbets, nutrition bars and countless trendy treats from L.A. to London to Tokyo, reports Patrick J. McDonnell from Belem, Brazil.

Acai's cachet derives not only from the berry's antioxidant traits and supposed Viagra-like powers of vitality, but also from its green pedigree: It has been acclaimed as a renewable resource that provides a sustainable livelihood for tens of thousands of subsistence harvesters without damaging the expanses of the Amazon. Because of acai, the jungle is more valuable standing than felled.

Click here for more on Brazil.

Comments

[Acai Gurl]

Wikipedia says Acai berries have one of the highest ORAC values of any plant. Lots of independant sites seem to support this claim too. I agree there is a lot of marketing hype, but there is some truth to these claims.

[acai berry diet]

Good post keep it going

[L Weiss]

Actually Mark, the life span of some poorer Brazilians would be lower due to poverty and access issues, not due to the consumption of an "over-marketed" berry.

I find it incredible that you do not know that healthwise, the U.S. is WAY BEHIND Brazil. Many people there do not suffer from the disease and obesity issues that "first world" U.S. does. You don't see lots of fat, unhealthy people like you do in the U.S. They are a very health-conscious society who place lots of importance on diet and excercise, more so than people in the U.S.

Acai is a great berry that has a distinct flavor. Marketing gimmicks are always exaggerated to draw new people in, but the fact that you have a new alternative for energy from a health conscious country is great. Nothing wrong with that. It does give you great energy.

[Mark]

Acai ranks lower than grapes and strawberries, as far as anti-oxidants go. Someone has done an amazing marketing job on this, so you can enjoy paying $20 a bottle for it. Before you do, consider the average lifespan of the natives where it comes from.