The acai palm tree, scientific name Euterpe oleraceae, is native to northern South America. The tree bears bunches of round fruits that resemble large blueberries. Gathered primarily for its juice, acai fruit is fragile and for many years was used only locally. Recent interest in the nutritional value of this fruit has thrust acai into the spotlight and it is now exported internationally, largely in freeze-dried form to preserve the fruit.
Contents
A 100 g measure of freeze-dried acai fruit provides 53 g of carbohydrates; 33 g of fats, of which 8 g is saturated fat; and 8 g of proteins, according to a nutrient analysis published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry. The remaining portion consists of dietary fiber and other nutrients.
Caloric Value
The total caloric value of 100 g of freeze-dried acai fruit provides 525 calories. About 210 calories of the 100 g measure comes from carbohydrates alone. Fats make up about 300 calories and proteins deliver the remaining 15 calories in that serving.
Vitamins
The nutritional analysis also indicates that several essential vitamins are available within the measure of acai fruit. The highest of these is vitamin A at 1,002 International Units or 670 mg, providing 85 percent of the recommended daily intake within a 100 g measure. According to Vanderbilt University, the fruit is also high in vitamin B and vitamin C.
Minerals
Several essential minerals are also in acai fruit. The same 100 g measure of fruit is particularly high in calcium at 260 mg or just more than 25 percent of what is required of this mineral per day. Acai also provides iron, potassium and phosphorus.
Health Benefits
A separate report in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry says that acai fruit has a "significantly high antioxidant capacity" and may provide certain health benefits. According to the National Cancer Institute, antioxidants scavenge harmful chemicals within the body. These chemicals, referred to as free radicals, can damage cells and affect their DNA structure, triggering the formation of certain cancers. A diet rich in antioxidants may help reduce the risk of some cancers.
References
- "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry"; Phytochemical and Nutrient Composition of the Freeze-Dried Amazonian Palm Berry; Schauss, A.G..; Wu, X.; Prior, R.L.; et al.; 2006
- "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry": Antioxidant Capacity and Other Bioactivities of the Freeze-Dried Amazonian Palm Berry..., Schauss, A.G..; Wu, X.; Prior, R.L.; et al.; 2006
- Institute of Medicine, National Academies: Dietary Reference Intakes
- Texas A&M University: Acai
- Vanderbilt University: The Acai Berry and Its Effect on Weight Loss
- National Cancer Institute: Antioxidants and Cancer Prevention Fact Sheet
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