Acai bowl, a superfood from brazil is now popular around the world because of its never-ending benefits. This dish has multiple health benefits and tastes great. After having this sweet treat you will feel full and satisfied and of course, you feel a little more happy about treating your body well.
Acai is one of those trendy foods because of its health benefits. The puree used in acai bowl is made from acai berries grown in Amazon and naturally very high in antioxidants. Many of the recipes are variations on the ever-popular bowl, but one can add their favorite toppings too.
The acai berry is a reddish-purple fruit that looks like a grape. It comes from the
acai palm tree which is native to South America. Studies have shown that acai fruit
pulp is even richer in antioxidants as compared to cranberries, raspberries,
blackberries or blueberries.
The seed takes up about eighty percent of the berry, but the flesh and skin pack
plenty of vitamins and other nutrients in the remaining 20%. It is important to note
that the berries are only about 70 calories a cup.
Do you have any Brazilian friends? If yes then certainly you must be knowing the
origin of Acai bowl. The history of this acai bowl traces back to a time before
memory. Throughout the Amazonian basin, the acai palm thrives. The edible palm heart
and berry are a vital source of food for most people in the region. Unlike the
contemporary incarnation of sweetened acai bowls, the acai berry pulp was (and still
is) eaten as a basic, unsweetened and alongside manioc, and perhaps with a major
course like fish. Here is the original acai bowl.
If you notice there is a deep history between acai berry and the Amazon. But have
you ever thought how did this acai make its way out of the Amazon? In the early
1970s, acai pulp began to travel from Amazon to the northern Brazilian cities. In
the ’80s, it was legendary Brazilian Jujitsu, founder Carlos Gracie who popularized
the acai bowl in southern cities of Brazil. As time passed Brazilian surfers and
fitness enthusiasts began partook in acai bowl trend. After that Hawaii and Southern
California became the first places where the acai bowls found a home.
Although the acai berry has been heralded for an array of health benefits, its strongest asset is its taste. Rather than explaining let us just look at its health benefits:
As we have already seen acai berries are high in antioxidants that help to clean free
radicals to prevent damage to your cells. Test tube studies show that acai berries
are especially high in plant compounds called anthocyanins, including cyanidin
3-rutinoside. In one study, consuming acai pulp and applesauce increased levels of
antioxidants in the blood in 12 healthy adults within 24 hours. Also, studies
suggest that acai berries could be linked to lower cholesterol levels and better
brain function
“You should look at açaí bowls as more of an occasional treat, not a thing you would
have as a meal,” says Ilana Muhlstein, R.D., a registered dietitian at Beverly
Hills, CA, who heads up the Bruin Health Improvement Program at UCLA.
Animal studies have indicated that acai could help enhance cholesterol levels by
decreasing total and LDL cholesterol and it might have a similar impact on
people.
A 2011 research had 10 obese adults consume acai smoothies twice daily for one
month. Overall, they had reduced total and “bad” LDL cholesterol at the end of the
analysis.
As more study is required, it's possible that the anthocyanins in acai could be
responsible for their favorable impact on cholesterol levels, since studies have
linked this plant chemical to improvements in HDL and LDL cholesterol.
The many plant compounds in acai could also protect your brain from damage as you
grow old. Several studies have shown this type of protective effect in lab rats. The
antioxidants in acai counteract the harmful effects of inflammation and oxidation in
brain cells, which can negatively affect learning and memory. In one study, acai
also helped improve memory in aging rats.
One of how the mind stays healthy is by simply cleaning up cells that are toxic or
no longer functioning, a procedure known as autophagy. This makes way for new nerves
to shape, improving communication between brain cells. As you get older, this
process works less efficiently. Nonetheless, in lab tests, acai extract has helped
stimulate this”housekeeping” reaction in brain tissues.
Anthocyanin ingestion has been closely linked to oxidative stress protection. A study
has found that regular consumption of anthocyanins may decrease the threat of heart
attack by 32 percent in young and middle-aged ladies. Several longitudinal studies
have reported a significantly lower cardiovascular disease risk and all-cause
mortality using high usage of fiber. Fiber intake also reduces LDL
cholesterol.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrative and Health (NCCIH) note that
consuming polyunsaturated berries may help reduce cholesterol and blood sugar levels
in people with excess fat.
So treat yourself with a delicious and healthy acai bowl near Miami beach at Nobe
Yoga studio. We help you harmonize your body, mind and inner self.