Typical berries are generally loaded in antioxidants yet devoid of the chocolaty tease that acai berries possess. This added earthy flavor may be a reflection of the Brazilian rain forests where acai has been harvested by the people of the Amazon for hundreds of years. Acai is considered by traditional and alternative doctors to be a fruit of credible power and a "superfood" with outstretching health benefits.
Energy Fruit
In a 2005 article of O magazine, Dr. Nicolas Perricone lists acai -- pronounced "ah-sigh-ee" -- as one of 10 superfoods with advanced nutritional benefits. The deep purple pigment of acai skin contains an army of essential amino acids, or the building blocks of protein that help to regulate metabolism and burn body fat. Acai's amino acids give an additional boost of energy through their partnership with trace minerals that rejuvenate muscles and regulate their contraction.
Vitamin C
Acai's abundant supply of vitamin C contains 10 times the amount of antioxidants found in red grapes and 10 to 30 times of those in red wine. Antioxidants have a pivotal role when it comes to protecting your body from the effects of free radicals that damage your body via environmental toxins. In particular, antioxidants help to prevent cancer, heart conditions and other degenerative diseases that rely on the body's ability to heal and regenerate damaged cells.
Essential Fatty Acids
The plethora of healthy monounsaturated fatty acids in acai rivals that of olive oil, Perricone says. Acai's monounsaturated fatty acids contain oleic acid -- a.k.a. "Lorenzo's oil" -- a fatty acid which shields the brain from the negative health effects of long-chain fatty acids. Oleic acid is also essential for keeping insulin receptors, neurotransmitters and hormones functioning properly. High insulin levels can create inflammation and accelerated aging.
Vitamin E
Eight additional antioxidants are available in acai berry juice via vitamin E. In addition to environmental toxins, the human body creates its own breed of free radicals as the digestive process converts food to energy. Vitamin E works to prevent this form of cellular damage by halting the production of free radical production that occurs during fat oxidation. Additional roles of vitamin E include immune system support and the prevention of blood clots and toxin buildup in blood vessel walls.
Fiber
Choosing an acai berry juice blend that contains the pulp of the fruit will add soluble fiber and a list of health benefits. Soluble fiber in acai binds with water, creating a gel-like substance that lowers LDL cholesterol and glucose levels in the blood, according to MayoClinic.com. This is especially beneficial in maintaining diabetes and preventing heart disease. Soluble fiber also aids in removing toxin buildup from the digestive tract by normalizing bowel movements.
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