Acai - Regarded by Amazon natives as the most nutritious fruit in the forest.The acai palm (pronounced ah-Sigh-ee), is a member of the genus Euterpe, which contains 7 species of palms native to tropical Central and South America, from Belize south to Brazil and Peru, growing mainly in floodplains and swamps.
The dark purple berries are almost an inch in diameter and for thousands of years the healers of the Amazon have used it to treat a variety of illnesses. The local tribes believe the berries have phenomenal healing powers. The genus is named after the muse Euterpe of Greek mythology. Euterpe are tall, slender palms growing to 15-30 meters, with pinnate leaves up to 3 meters long. Many of the palms that were once in the genus Euterpe have been reclassified into the genus Prestoea. The species Euterpe oleracea is usually called Acai Palm, after the Portuguese derivation of the Tupian word iwasa’i “fruit that cries or expels water’. Heart of palm, the soft inner growing tip of some palms is often consumed in salads. The fruit is similar in appearance and size to a grape but with less pulp. It is produced in branched panicles of 700 to 900 fruits. Two crops of fruit are produced each year. The fruit has a single large seed about 7-10 mm in diameter. The exocarp of the ripe fruits is a deep purple color, or green, depending on the kind of acai and its maturity. The mesocarp is pulpy and thin, with a consistent thickness of 1 mm or less. It surrounds the voluminous and hard endocarp which contains a seed with a diminutive embryo and abundant endosperm. The seed makes up about 80% of the fruit. The berries are harvested as food. In a study of three traditional Caboclo populations in the Amazon region of Brazil, acai palm was described as the most important plant species because the fruit makes up such a major component of diet (up to 42% of the total food intake by weight) and is economically valuable in the region. The juice and pulp of acai fruits (Euterpe oleracea) are frequently used in juice blends, smoothies, sodas, and other beverages. In northern Brazil, acai (or jussara, which is one of the fruit’s common folk names) is traditionally served in gourds called “cuias” with tapioca and, depending on the local preference, can be consumed either salty or sweet. It has become popular in southern Brazil where it is consumed cold as acai na tigela (“acai in the bowl”), mostly mixed with granola – a fad in which acai is considered an energizer. Acai is also widely consumed in Brazil as an ice cream flavor or juice. As acai deteriorates rapidly after harvest, its raw material is generally available outside the immediate growing region only as a juice or fruit pulp that has been frozen, dried, or freeze-dried. However, several companies now manufacture juices, health drinks, yogurts, and sorbets made from acai berries, often in combination with other fruits. Nutritional Content A powdered extract of freeze-dried acai fruit pulp and skin was reported to contain (per 100 g of extract) 533.9 calories, 52.2 g carbohydrates, 8.1 g protein, and 32.5 g total fat. The carbohydrate portion included 44.2 g of fiber. The extract was also shown to contain (per 100 g): negligible vitamin C, 260 mg calcium, 4.4 mg iron, and 1002 U Vitamin A, as well as aspartic acid and glutamic acid; the amino acid content totaled 7.59% of the total dry weight. Acai is one of the seven ingredients extracted and fused in a revolutionary product called Seven+ distributed by a company named eXfuze. eXfuze’s philosophy is two-fold. First, is to create synergy from the combination of ingredients. Second, is to approach each extract of seven+ as if it were the sole supporting nutrition of the drink. Each ingredient is either organically grown or wild-crafted for optimum purity and potency. eXfuze has combined the powerful nutrition of these seven super foods – also known as functional foods – with five other potent ingredients. These five are renowned in our society for their antioxidant and healing properties: As the final touch to the fusion of these amazing ingredients, eXfuze has used structured water as the foundation for seven+. Structured water is similar to the fluid found in healthy cells. With a higher pH, structured water can be more easily absorbed by your body. Return from Acai to All-Day-Energy
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The mysterious Amazon Rain Forest holds many healing secrets. One of these powerful healing botanicals is the acai berry. This berry has long been regarded by natives as the most nutritious fruit in the forest.
