brazillian acai

The acai (ah-sigh-ee) berry has been around for thousands ofyears and not until the 1990's was it introduced to the westernworld. The acai berry was found to possess tremendous healthproperties. The acai berry was first used by the tribes of theAmazon jungle as a cure for various ailments. It is estimatedthat the indigenous tribes people routinely use up to 2,000 ofthe 3,000 known rainforest fruits for medicinal purposes.

The Amazon borders eight different countries and has the world'slargest river basin. Not only does the Amazon supply one fifthof the worlds freshwater, it has the highest diversity of birdsand freshwater fish. The Amazon is the largest rainforest in theworld where one third of all animal and plant species live. Theacai berry is just one of these fruits that has been discoveredin this vast region. The Shuar tribes are one of these Amazoniantribes that have for centuries, through tradition, kept the useof plants (acai berry) for medicinal purposes.

Shuar medicine men or women are called uwishin (oo-wee-sheen') ahealer that works with medicinal plants, somebody who knows allthe secrets of the rainforests. Uwishin, have a great deal ofknowledge of medicinal plants and their cures, they learn fromothers, and through experiments from the plants themselves. Oneplant removes snakes venom from the body. It is the work of theuwishin to research and find solutions to illness.

The acai berry was discovered to have natural antioxidantproperties, as well as being a natural cholesterol controller.When eaten it helps reduce the bad cholesterol in our blood andincreases the good cholesterol. The tribes of the Amazon knew ofthese properties and found out that it helped build the immunesystem, fight infection, protect the heart, and control prostateenlargement (nature's viagra). It was a great energy food forthe tribes-people. The acai berry, which is a palm fruit, wastraditionally pulped to make wine that was rich in minerals. Theacai berry was also discovered to fight schistosomosis, which istransmitted by snails. Schistosomosis affecting more than 10million Brazilians. The aca럢erry is also used to produce anantibiotic that helps to fight against 'Staphylococcus aureus,'a common infection contracted mainly in hospitals. A berry souseful but only known to the traditional tribes men and woman ofthe Amazon, a lost secret.

The aca럢erry comes from a palm that has a long thin trunk upto 25m high with a group of branches at the top from which hangsribbon-like leaves. Aca럢erries hang from these branches inclusters that look like groups of bluebottles. Traditionally theacai berries would be picked by hand and the tribe's men wouldshimmy up the tree and cut the branches from the top of the palmtree rich in acai berries. Now that the acai berry has beendiscovered as a highly sort after crop by the population ofBrazil it is mass produced, as it only has a 24 hour life spanin which the properties of the juice are still active. The acaiberries must be loaded into baskets and onto boats soon afterpicking. To get it to the markets in Belem's they would have totransport the acai berries over night.

Each acai palm tree produces round about 20 kg of fruit per yearand the wine produced by this fruit has become the mostimportant product in terms of finance after wood forestproducts. Belem in Brazil now employs over 30,000 people on adaily basis to keep up with its enormous demand.

So we know where it comes from, what about it's recent history?After being introduced

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into the western world it was realised bythe modern beach going Brazilian surfer as a natural way toregain energy. The acai berry was pulped and frozen to keep itfresh and became a natural additive to the smoothies drunk alongthe beaches of Brazil. It was known to help your prostate andwas seen as a natural viagra for the boys of the beach. It soonbecame a drink for the trendy, for the sand and surf brigade.

The researches soon got hold of this magic acai berry andrealised that it would be of great importance in the well-beingand health of the western world, our diets are often over filledwith fat and fast food, acai is naturally full with energy, ithas a vibrant taste of berries with a hint of chocolate, is richin proteins, fibre, vitamin E, minerals and essential Omega oilsto reduce our bad cholesterol caused by our western diets. Theacai berries fatty acid ratio resembles that of olive oil thisis thought to be a contributing factor to low incidence of heartdisease in Mediterranean populations. The acai berry containssimilar properties as red wine in controlling fats in the bloodand is a fair contributor to go up against the wine diets of theMediterranean people.

Known as the miracle fruit, acai berries also helps inpreventing cancer due to it's antioxidant properties that arefive times more potent than gingko biloba, a commonly usedherbal therapy product.

Acai berry juice has been introduced into other products likebars and health snacks to be sold at gyms and health spars. It'shistory is important as by studying the effects that the berryhas had on the tribesmen in the Amazon we have discovered thatit's traditional use as an energy booster for hunting and goodlibido has lead to acai berry juice to being a very commerciallyviable product.

It's most recent history is that it has been endorsed by suchtalk show hosts as Oprah Winfrey and has been seen as a featureon her show, a berry with star success. So lets say good bye toguranum and hello to the acai berry.