Rainforest Plants - Acai

Family: Arecaceaefight aging. The berries deteriorate rapidly after
Genus: Euterpeharvest, so outside its growing region it is
Species: oleraceagenerally only available as juice or frozen fruit pulp.
Common: açaí, acaí, acaizeiro,Acai is proven to help fight aging and is a natural
acaí-do-Pará, asai, ashaí, assaí, cabbageanti-inflammatory.
palm, cansinAcai berries have been consumed by humans for
General Description: Acai is a widely distributed,an unknown amount of time, even before the
prolific palm tree, very widely grown because ofarrival of the Europeans. Acai berries have
the properties of the Acai fruit and the use ofessential minerals like potassium, iron, phosphorus
the heart of the palm as a staple food in Brazil.and calcium. Acai Berry is also an excellent source
This palm tree is native to the Amazon region ofof dietary fiber, extremely rich in organic
South America. It is very tall and slender, growingvegetable protein that lowers bad and raises good
15 to 25 m in height. Acai palm thrive in seasonallycholesterol. Acai berries have Omega 6 and 9
flooded areas in soils often waterlogged forfatty acids. The fruit is small, round and blackish
months.purple. It shape, color, and texture are similar to a
Location: Acai Palm is a genus of 25-30 species ofblueberry. Acai juice, blends and pulp powder are
palms native to tropical Central and Southnow widely distributed beyond the Amazon and
America, from Belize to southern Brazil and Peru,are part of the neutraceuticals industry worldwide.
growing mainly in floodplains and swamps.Acai has been enjoyed for decades by the people
Uses: Although not quite the proverbial 'Fountainof Brazil. It is called the only super berry on the
of Youth', Acai berries, in the oleracea species,market that has everything that you need,
are considered to be one of the most nutritiousnaturally from only the berry itself. Acai has
and powerful foods on earth due to its greatcompletely changed the economic landscape in the
concentration of antioxidants, healthy fats, andAmazon Rainforest. Because it's grown organically
fibers. These berries are loaded with antioxidants,and marketed worldwide, it helps preserve the
about 20 times more than red wine, which helpsrainforest.