Functional Food tip #1
Acai Berries!
Acai Berry - The açaí berry is a small, round, black-purple fruit similar in appearance to a blueberry. It grows in branched panicles of 500 to 900 fruits on açaí palm trees in Brazil, Belize and Peru. Since the 1990s, açaí juice, freeze-dried açaí and açaí extracts have been marketed globally for use in juice blends, smoothies and other beverages and as a dietary supplement. The açaí berry is high in nutrients important for optimal health.
The açaí fruit offers the highest phytochemical content of any fruit or vegetable. According to an article published in "Molecular Nutrition & Food Research" in February 2010, phytochemicals are plant compounds that offer disease-fighting properties and may benefit health in other ways. Powdered, freeze-dried açaí fruit pulp and skin is rich in two classes of phytochemcials: anthocyanins and phenolics.
A 50-gram serving of powdered, freeze-dried açaí fruit pulp offers about 26 g of dietary fiber, which is nearly 100 percent of the Recommended Daily Value (DV). Fiber comes from plant foods, is essential for a healthy digestive system and, according to a review published in "Current Atherosclerosis Reports" in December 2008, helps lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of coronary artery disease. Foods rich in dietary fiber enhance satiety and help keep you feeling fuller longer, which assists in weight control.
Add these beautiful berries in whatever form you like to smoothies, cereal, snacks, sweets, and desserts!
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