The Benefits of Eating a Purple Berry
A purple berry is nowhere near as common as a red berry or a blue berry. Yet, you probably have at least a couple shrubs in your area which have purple berries, perhaps the elderberry or the chokeberry. These grow in many states across the U.S. However, the most popular purple berry in the world right now is acai berry.
There is plenty of controversy as to whether the purported benefits of the berry are true or hype. Like many other health and fitness fads, the “superfood” properties of the acai berry have been touted on shows like Oprah and the Today Show. When this happens, as with other products, scammers are always waiting in the wings to take advantage of people. This is one of the reasons that claims concerning certain products, like the acai berry can get out of hand.
While eating the acai berry may have some positive effects, it is not the total answer to good health that many companies advertise it to be. One of the most popular claims about this purple berry is that it aids in weight loss. Other people say it makes your heart strong and reduces your cholesterol level. Further claims include better circulation, healthier skin, more energy, and improved concentration. Some websites even say that your sexual performance will skyrocket by ingesting the acai purple berry. And, perhaps the biggest claim of all, you can delay aging with this berry.
Before you jump on the bandwagon, and spend your hard-earned money on any product, it is always best to look at the research and see what it says about the claims which are being made. The first thing you will learn is that the acai berry comes from the acai tree, which is a type of palm tree.
The only place the acai tree grows is in the rainforests of Brazil. You cannot eat a fresh acai purple berry unless you go to South America because they spoil quickly and cannot even make the trip to North America. On top of that, ninety percent of every berry is seed, leaving little to eat. While they have been a food source for Brazilians for centuries, now they are being discovered by the whole world.
But that means that if you want to eat the acai berry, you will have to find it in blended juices and supplements. By the time these processes have been completed, they have added much to the price of the acai berry. In fact, one pound of acai powder sells for around $59.99. Thirty-two ounces of juice or 30 extract capsules both sell for around $12.
The truth is that the acai berry, like many other colored berries, has antioxidants. Antioxidants have been proven in research to slow the growth of some types of cancer and to prevent heart disease. Antioxidants protect us from free radicals which do damage to our body’s cells. You can find the same antioxidants in blueberries, strawberries, pomegranates and many other foods. The acai berry has more antioxidants than other berries but eating the acai berry every day is not going to help you lose weight or live to be a hundred years old.
When you consider the cost, you would be better off to eat more of other berries. Of course, if you live in or near Brazil, eating the purple berry is much easier.
The benefits of antioxidants are numerous but no one food or supplement is going to transform your life. Don’t set your goal to be weight loss on an acai berry diet. You may lose weight because of calorie reduction but most of it will be water and it will not be for the long-term. The best advice as always is to eat a sensible, nutritious diet and exercise daily for good health.