Be Healthy and Relax

Here I am, back with some more good information about that magical fruit, the acai berry! Yesterday’s post, The Super Juice: 23 Reasons Why To Drink Acai, showed a vast number of reasons why drinking or consuming the acai berry in any form proves very beneficial to your health. If you have no clue what this Ah-sci-EE berry is all about, then here’s your chance to gain a little knowledge on a very popular becoming fruit!With its roots settles deep in the Amazon jungles of South America, the acai berry is a very tropical fruit. These purple, almost grape-looking berries grow on massive palm trees. They are just under an inch in diameter and grow wild in strings on the trees. Acai berries have been a staple to the diets of the people of the Amazon for hundreds of years. Researchers have noted that the fruit has been sought after by young and old people, and those of all economic classes. This berry does not discriminate! With modern science’s discoveries of the life-enhancing benefits of the acai berry, there’s no wonder why these people have thrived on it for centuries.A Few Good to Know Qualities…

• High Antioxidant Levels. With such a high number of naturally-occurring antioxidants within, the acai helps heal metabolism in cells. When these cells are repaired to tip-top shape, there is an increase of energy in the body because these cells are able to fully carry out their functions properly. These micronutrients then help improve detox the body, which can help fight heart disease, strokes, and high blood pressure.
• High Fiber and Amino Acid Content. Fiber + Amino Acids = A healthier heart! These elements help aid the digestive tract by raising the levels of calcium, vitamins A and E, and phosphorus. While it keeps the stomach and intestines in good shape, the amino acids also help the contraction and regeneration of muscles.
• Overall. As acai does its work in the body, be assured that it is improving energy in cells and cell communication, improving detoxification, reducing insulin resistance, and decreasing clot formation. All of these qualities ultimately lead to a better heart, brain, and arterial health.

Serving Suggestions…

• Many times people see acai as something you take in “doses”. This is not true, and in fact, acai is a superfruit. So if you enjoy it as much as I do, you can sit around all day sipping on a bottle. Acai is better to be consumed in the morning before food because the beneficial effects will have a higher effect. This allows the acai to move around and digest in your stomach before any solid foods come near.
• As the old saying goes, “If you need more nutrition, you need to consume more of a food like acai berries”.
• When just starting out, try drinking around 2-4 ounces per day. Whatever amount you drink is just fine, so get to lovin’ the taste!

Look for this great acai berry in juice form, frozen puree, Jamba Juice smoothies, yogurts, and many more. It’s becoming more and more popular, so keep your eyes open in any grocery stores around you!

Many of us have not heard of the Brazilian superfruit, Açai, but it’s making a statement rather quickly in America these days. I have been working in natural food stores for the past two years and have seen a massive grown interest in this Amazon fruit. I am going to introduce this fruit in a little different way, by giving it’s extensive benefits and reasons why you should pick up a bottle or frozen puree today! (I’m not getting any commission on this stuff, I just absolutely love it.) If you don’t already know the rundown and history of this soon-to-be berry that overtakes America and the world, just wait until tomorrow. After tasting this berry and reading all of the endless benefits, just say goodbye to those blueberries–there’s a new, better, and more flavorful antioxidant in town!!!First, for us not so literate in Portuguese, Açai is pronounced: AH-sci-EEGreat for the body:

• Stress relief- the acai berry helps regulate stress levels and repairs the body.
• Detoxifies and cleanses the body- For centuries, Brazilians have used the berry to cleanse the body of contaminants.
• Increase of stamina & energy- Acai’s vast amounts of nutrients have helped provide athletes and surfers in Brazil with the energy and stamina that’s needed for such strenuous activities.
• Builds a strong body with lots of protein- Acai helps the build build itself up with the essential protein that keeps us ticking. It also has much more protein than an average egg.
• Anti-aging berry- The berry holds some of the highest amounts of antioxidants, so it keeps the body’s cells in tip-top condition.

Skin Care:

• Defends from wrinkles- With its high levels of anthocyanins and phytosterols, acai helps protect connective tissues.
• Improves skin tone- The high naturally-occurring amount of phytosterols helps protect the skin’s protective coating, leaving its natural beauty!

The digestive system:

• Improved digestion- Its high fiber levels help improve the digestive tract, along with the colon, leaving it nice and healthy.
• Helps with acid-reflux disease- All of its antioxidants help reducing the acidity of stomach contents and help repair and protect the esophagus.

Men and women hot points:

• Helps prevent prostate enlargement (Men)- Once again, the high level of antioxidants help fight the possibility of an enlarged prostate. This is a growing concern in males, so this wouldn’t be a bad prevention method.
• Menstrual cycles (Women)- Acai’s very calcium-rich, which helps protect the stomach’s and uterus’ lining, which also helps reduce the pain of cramps and bloating.

Healthy heart and diabetes:

• Controls weight- The low glycemic index level helps controls the body’s appetite and delays hunger. This helps those trying to lose weight, who also get cravings to eat snacks throughout the day.
• Reduced bad cholesterol- Acai’s high fatty acids help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and supports HDL (good) cholesterol, which also leads to better overall circulation.
• Resistance to disease- Acai’s a great fruit to have around during flu season! All of the vast amounts of natural nutrients in acai helps strengthen the body’s natural defenses.
• Glucose and lipid levels- The very low glycemic index improves lipid and glucose levels in people with diabetes.
• Fends off free-radicals- Antioxidants in the berry help to rid these free-radicals which causes immune weakness.

Disease Fighting:

• Fights arthritis pain- Natural anti-inflammatory properties offer relief for people with arthritis.
• Beats up asthma- Acai is packed with vitamin C, which is an antioxidant that serves as an anti-inflammatory to those with asthma.

Other great facts:

• Helps with sleep- Acai’s vitamin B’s help reduce stress and helps enable brain cells to communicate much easier.
• Improves clear thinking- Its Omega-3 fats are essential to get the brain’s mental functions and alertness to it’s top peak.
• Aids with vision- The natural beta carotene and vitamins promotes eye health and other degeneration in diabetics.
• Maintains good looking teeth and gums- The high calcium level helps strengthen and whiten teeth, along with preventing gingivitis and other gum diseases.
• It’s just oh so awesome!

Hopefully at least a few of those acai benefits sparked your attention enough for you to drive down to the store and pick some up. It comes in many forms: juice, berries, powder, frozen puree, and more!Tune in tomorrow to get the overall rundown of the acai berry to see exactly what it’s all about.Check out the banner link I’ve provided below, this is a simple and free way to get some acai right away!  There are also some other offers that they throw in for free as well.

Halloween has arrived, or past for some, and has left its remnants of candy all over.  This day felt like heaven for many of us when we were younger and did anything we could to get a hold of some good sweets!  Now (imagining that most of the reader group are creeping out of that stage) we are less likely to scour for that candy.  Although most of the candy out there is pure sugar, sugar, and more sugar, there are some very healthy goodies you can get your hands on.  If you are a chocolate lover, life has never felt so good…Dark chocolate has proved itself to be a very beneficial candy, according to many studies.  The reason why dark chocolate is better than the rest, sugar and milk chocolates, is because it is the most natural, if not, organic.  Dark chocolate is made with more cocoa solids than the milk or white chocolates.  The cocoa bean is the foundation of chocolate, and dark chocolate is only bringing it right back to its natural state.  With these great natural qualities within, dark chocolates have shown to have even 8 times more antioxidants than strawberries!  These antioxidants, just as I mentioned in yesterday’s post, help the body get rid of its harmful toxins and protects itself from possible heart disease and cancers.

For those out there that worry about consuming dark chocolate because of the calorie count and other nutritional qualities, you can stop now!  Dark chocolate, on average, have less calories, more fiber, less carbohydrates, and less chlorestrol.  Studies have shown that dark chocolate limit LDL (bad chlorestrol) and help increase HDL (the good chlorestrol) because of its natural high cocoa butter level.  Within each bar, there are also trace amounts of vitamins A, B1, C, D, E, and a naturally high level of magnesium, which helps protect us from heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes.  If all of these great qualities weren’t enough, to see these benefits, you only have to eat about 60 calories of dark chocolate.  I don’t think this will break the calorie bank of most people, so why don’t you just grab for the nearest dark chocolate bar and take a bite, just don’t overindulge!  Fight the urge!!!

More and more tests are being done to see the benefits of dark chocolate.  This is a hot topic in health and candies these days, so keep your eyes on the news.  Dark chocolate isn’t the most appealing type of chocolate, (it wasn’t for me) but there are tons of variations out there to choose from.  Become an addict of dark chocolates and see what good will come of it!