
Disclaimer: OWC does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Before implementing suggestions on this site, always seek advice from qualified health professionals. Everyone's bio-chemistry and life is unique. Expert assessment is invaluable. This site is for informational purposes only. Member contributed content is the opinion and viewpoint exclusively of the member publisher. Visit "Legal" for more information.
© Online Wellness Community Inc., 2010, 2011. All Rights Reserved. "DMR" is patent pending technology of Web 3 Network Inc.
Acai
As of yet, there really is no credible scientific evidence that açaí consumption affects body weight or could promote weight loss as has been claimed on Oprah. Nevertheless the acia berry fruit does have excellent nutritional benefits and it is a good ingredient additive to supplements and functional foods. [CLICK HERE FOR A SUMMARY OF ITS ANTIOXIDANT, VITAMIN, MINERAL, AMINO ACID AND OTHER NUTRIENT CHARACTERISTICS].
A powdered preparation of freeze-dried açaí fruit pulp and skin was reported to contain (per 100 g of dry powder) 533.9 calories, 52.2 g carbohydrates, 8.1 g protein, and 32.5 g total fat. The carbohydrate portion included 44.2 g of dietary fiber and low sugar value (pulp is not sweet). The powder was also shown to contain (per 100 g): negligible vitamin C, 260 mg calcium, 4.4 mg iron, and 1002 U vitamin A, as well as aspartic acid and glutamic acid; the amino acid (protein building block) content was 7.59% of total dry weight. While clearly nutritious, this analysis indicates the acia berry is no where near as nutrient dense a food as, say, spirulina.
The fat content of açaí consists of oleic acid (56.2% of total fats), palmitic acid (24.1%), and linoleic acid (12.5%). Açaí also contains beta-sitosterol (78–91% of total sterols). The oil compartments in açaí fruit contain polyphenols such as procyanidin oligomers and vanillic acid, syringic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid, and ferulic acid, which were shown to degrade substantially during storage or exposure to heat.