WHAT THE HEALTH IS AÇAI?
Instagrammable, delicious, and trendy are just a few words that come to mind when “açai” is brought up. From granola bars to açai bowls, it seems as though the açai berry is claiming more fame than T-Swfit’s new music video. Unlike the chart shattering “Look What You Made Me Do,” the açai berry is not clouded with motifs and theories, but rather health benefits and a fascinating history.
Originally, the açai berry was used by tribes in the amazon jungle as a sort of “miracle” berry. The açai berry was seen as a something that could not only fight infections, but it was something that carried an immense amount of health properties and helped to cure varying diseases and injuries.
Later on in the 1900’s, the açai berry was introduced to the modern world as a natural source of antioxidant properties including a cholesterol controller. Strangely enough, the açai berry was not used as a delicious element in a fruit bowl, but rather it was used and pulped to make wine. The açai berry is considered to be a “palm fruit,” which produces nearly 20kg of fruit per year. Due to this statistic, the açai berry became one of Brazil’s most financially beneficial products the country has seen. Needless to say, looking beyond the trendiness of the bowls and bars, the açai berry is full of health benefits. Here are just a few of all of the health benefits that the açai berry carries:
Promotes heart health
Aids in weight loss
Controls cholesterol
Helps digestion
Reduces irritation
Improves cellular health
But what can you do with it at home?
First off, the açai berry, being so rich in nutrients and packed full of vitamins to help fight diseases, was introduced to surfers in the early 1980’s as a natural source of energy after a long day on the water. This was also when the idea of freezing açai became popular. The reason for this, was because it was a way to refresh and not loose any nutrients. Later on, the açai berry became more and more popular. From juicery’s to bistro’s the açai berry has been found in dishes most popularly known as açai bowls and smoothies. As we are still in the midst of summer, açai bowls and smoothies are great ways to cool down and stay healthy. Here at Local Juicery we have açai bowls that are packed with all natural and organic honey, fresh fruit, fresh-mar granola and more, but if you're on the go and want to try a quick and easy açai recipe on the go!
▪ Chia Pudding
▪ 4 tbsp chia seeds
▪ 1 cup almond milk
▪ Pinch vanilla powder
▪ Acai Smoothie Layer
▪ 1 tbsp acai powder
▪ 1 cup fresh strawberries
▪ 1 ripe banana
▪ 1 tbsp almond butter
▪ 2 tsp unsweetened desiccated coconut
▪ 3-4 fresh mint leaves
▪ ¼ cup almond milk
▪ *Optional: 2 tsp bee pollen (use hemp hearts for the vegan version)
▪ Fruit Layer
▪ Fresh mixed berries, mashed with a fork to obtain juice and chunks (i used strawberries and blueberries)
▪ To Garnish: fresh fruits, bee pollen (*optional), coconut flakes, mint leaves