All the gifts of nature have a certain value for the human body. Recently, the Brazilian Acai berry has gained worldwide popularity. For its useful properties, it has received many names: "Amazonian pearl", "royal supergrade", "fountain of eternal youth", "Amazonian Viagra" and others. Unfortunately, this "magic" berry can quickly deteriorate, so everyone can not try it. Most often, it is available in the form of dietary supplements. Let's find out what this berry is and whether it really is that useful.
Description
Residents of the Brazilian Amazon are familiar with Acai for a very long time. They actively consume these berries and grow palm trees on which they grow. For them, it is not only a dessert, but also one of the main foods. 
The rest of the world learned about the miraculous acai in 2004, after the results of studies of the unique composition of these fruits were published. Since then, the media in the United States and other countries have often discussed their usefulness; these fruits have been given the title “superfood.”
And nutritionists recommend including the Brazilian berry in your diet.
Did you know? Brazilians from the Caboclo ethnic group eat very much Acai: it makes up almost half (about 42%) of their daily menu..
Famous berries grow on high palms (20 m) with long leaves, which are also called acai or euterpe. Trees are common in the northern part of South America, and more specifically in the valley of the Amazon River. For the fruit and the edible core, they are cultivated in Brazil, mainly in the state of Pará. 
Berries look very similar to grapes with large bones. And the clusters are more like long garlands hanging down with dark purple balls instead of light bulbs. Berry pulp is very tender and perishable, during the day loses its properties.
It is difficult to describe taste in one word, since the opinions of those who have tried the Brazilian "grapes" are divided. Some say that the euterp fruits are sweet-sour, like blackberries or red grapes, others have tasted them with a nut-chocolate flavor.
Delicious juices and smoothies, various desserts and other dishes are made from the berries.
Composition
Compared to other berries, acai is very high in calories: about 100 kcal is contained in 100 g of the product.
Sunberry, figs, grapes, black raspberries, dried gooseberries are also considered high-calorie berries.
Nutritional value of "supergold":
- proteins (3.8%);
- fats (0.5%);
- carbohydrates (36.6%).
A rich set of chemical elements makes the fruits of euterpe especially unique:
- vitamins: group B, E, C, D and beta carotene;
- macronutrients: potassium, calcium, silicon, magnesium, sodium, sulfur, phosphorus, chlorine;
- trace elements: aluminum, boron, iron, iodine, cobalt, manganese, copper, rubidium, fluorine, chromium, zinc;
- essential and partially replaceable amino acids: arginine, valine, histidine, leucine, lysine, methionine, threonine, tryptophan, phenylalanine;
- interchangeable amino acids: alanine, aspartic acid, glycine, glutamic acid, proline, serine, tyrosine, cysteine;
- fatty acids: Omega-6 and Omega-9;
- anthocyanins, which provide berries with color and possess antioxidant properties.
Did you know? In terms of protein content, acai is equal to cow's milk, and the presence of beneficial omega-acids puts the Brazilian "superfood" on a par with olive oil.
Beneficial features
Due to the presence of such a multitude of vitamins, minerals and other valuable components, acai can have a therapeutic and preventive effect on many organs and systems of our body:
- cardiovascular system: the heart is strengthened, blood circulation is improved, the amount of “harmful” cholesterol is reduced, thanks to which the blood vessels are cleared from plaques, ischemic heart disease is prevented and pressure is normalized;
- oncological diseases: antioxidants actively fight free radicals, preventing the appearance and growth of cancer cells;
In order to prevent cancer, they use edible cassava, Kale cabbage, daikon radish, Chinese pear, Lespedeza, onion peel, white mushrooms, garlic, and watercress.
- Vision: prevention of glaucoma and night blindness, reduction of the yellow spot, slowing down the process of vision loss in diabetic retinopathy;
- immunity: T-lymphocytes are activated, which increases the body's defenses;
- gastrointestinal tract: digestion is normalized and the metabolism improves, which prevents the appearance of excess weight;
- brain and nervous system: cognitive abilities are improved, it is easier to cope with stress and insomnia;
- skin becomes healthy, smooth and clean, slows the aging process;
- increases male potency.
Important! According to different sources, if you do not process acai within 2-5 hours, they will lose 70-80% of their useful properties..
Application
Brazilian "supergoda" has a wide range of applications:
- in dietetics: as an additional tool for weight loss;
When losing weight, they also recommend eating cilantro, swede, flax seeds, broccoli, apples, zucchini, white radish, Beijing cabbage, and persimmon.
- in alternative medicine: for the manufacture of bioactive additives;
- in cooking used for alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, added to ice cream, pastries and sauces;
- in cosmetology: as one of the component creams and lotions for the face and body, shampoos and hair balms.
Important! Do not take Acai as a magic diet pill. Without physical exertion and diet effect may be completely opposite..
Contraindications and harm
The use of fresh fruits eutepy has almost no side effects. An exception may be isolated cases of individual intolerance. But an excessive amount of berries or products based on them, for example, dietary supplements, can be harmful to health.
- People who are prone to allergies may have an allergic reaction to an exotic product.
- Those who want to lose weight should be careful with this high-calorie berry.
- A large amount of protein contained in Acai, can lead to complications from the nervous system, kidneys and liver.
- Excess carbohydrates, which is rich in this miracle berry, can increase blood sugar levels, which increases the risk of obesity.
- Excessive consumption can increase cholesterol and provoke problems of the cardiovascular system.
As you can see, the Brazilian Acai berry is really very useful. But, like other gifts of nature, the “Amazonian pearl” should be consumed correctly and in limited quantities.
Feedback from network users
I drink juice from acai berries - for more than 2 years ... it actually works, but provided that you follow a diet ... it just helps the body! But this is not the elixir of youth and not a panacea for everything in the world !!Oksana
//www.woman.ru/health/medley7/thread/4142553/1/#m34799816
