Overview
Acai berries come from the rain forests of Brazil, where they have been a dietary staple of the natives for centuries. This unique, nutrient-dense berry provides carbohydrates, amino acids, healthy omega fats, dietary fiber and free-radical-fighting antioxidants. While acai alone most likely will not cause weight loss, its use certainly can be helpful in a sensible exercise and diet plan. Acai may boost energy, increase fat-burning, control blood sugar, detoxify the body and suppress hunger. Available as powder, pills, juice and/or whole berries, acai can help to bring your weight loss goals within reach.
Energy and Stamina
One of the most frequent weight loss claims for acai berries is that they significantly increase energy and stamina. Everyone from Oprah Winfrey to intense endurance athletes have touted the benefits of acai products. Acai is nutrient-dense and contains several components that can give you a pick-me-up. Like other fruits, acai contains carbohydrates in the form of simple sugars, which are our bodies’ main source of fuel. Acai also boasts an impressive concentration of amino acids, the building blocks of protein, which also can boost energy. Few fruits contain as much healthy omega fats as acai berries. These polyunsaturated fats, numbered based on their chemical structure, are known as omega-3, 6 and 9. Omega fats also serve a very important role in energy production in the body. With more energy to burn, you can get out and exercise to burn more calories and reach your weight loss goals.
Fat-burning
Acai is purported to have a positive effect on fat-burning, although there is no research that shows this definitively. Many products have taken to combining acai berry extract with green tea, a natural companion. Both contain potent polyphenol antioxidants, which help eliminate free radicals from the body. Green tea, in particular, contains EGCG, which increases metabolic rate at rest, according to international best-selling fitness author Jeff Anderson. Acai alone may positively impact fat-burning by helping eliminate toxins, which can slow down or impair fat-burning. More research is needed to determine whether acai can increase metabolic rate; however, it cannot hurt.
Blood Sugar Control
Acai berries are said to contribute to weight loss by helping control blood sugar levels, which is essential for avoiding adult-onset or type 2 diabetes and avoiding weight gain. Repeated overeating of sugars and high-glycemic carbohydrates can produce insulin resistance and obesity over time. Although acai does contain natural fruit sugars, it also contains high amounts of amino acids and natural fibers. These nutrients help stabilize blood sugar, preventing the insulin hormone peaks and valleys that can cause fat storage, food cravings and mood swings. Not only can acai help to keep you from gaining fat tissue, but it also may help prevent diabetes and heart disease due to its natural fiber content.
Cleansing and Detoxification
The fiber content of acai also can help cleanse your digestive system. Dietary fiber acts like a broom that sweeps toxins and other substances out of the intestines and colon, eliminating unwanted waste from the body. On a cellular level, acai helps cleanse the body in a different way. It contains potent polyphenol antioxidants known as anthocyanins, which help eliminate free radicals from the body’s cells. Free radicals are unstable molecules, created by cellular respiration or from environmental toxins, that steal electrons from cells and potentially damage our DNA. Antioxidants, such as those found in acai, neutralize free radicals. When our cells are clean, they perform fat-burning functions more optimally.
Hunger Suppression
Hunger suppression is another potential weight loss benefit of acai berry and its extracts. The natural fiber content of acai helps us feel more full and less hungry because fiber expands and takes up space in the stomach. Eating a diet high in fiber allows us to consume fewer calories yet still feel satisfied. In addition, the combination of low-glycemic carbohydrates, proteins and healthy fats found in acai berries is the perfect recipe for naturally suppressing hunger. Acai berry juice and freeze-dried powder are delicious alone, or they can make great healthy additions to smoothies or snacks to prevent cravings for junk food.
Overview