THE BENEFITS OF THE ACAI BERRY FOR HEALTH

Acai berries are medium-sized, dark purple berries that look like a mix between blueberries and grapes.
They May Help Protect Your Heart
A supplement of acai pulp was shown to reduce “bad” LDL cholesterol in mice who had been fed a high cholesterol diet.
This makes sense because the berries contain plant sterols — cholesterol-like compounds found in fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains. They prevent the absorption of dietary cholesterol by the body.
In 2011, a very small study done on 10 overweight adults suggested that acai may also have similar benefits for humans. Researchers fed each participant 100 grams of acai pulp two times a day for one month. After 30 days, the participants had lower insulin levels and fasting blood sugar levels than when they started. Additionally, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and the spike in blood sugar they had previously experienced after eating were reduced.
A slightly larger human study was published in 2018 in Clinical Nutrition. Researchers gave forty healthy women between the ages of 21 and 27, 200 grams of acai pulp daily for four weeks. Eating acai boosted the women’s “good” HDL cholesterol metabolism, which protects the heart. Additionally, they experienced an increase in antioxidant activity.
Antioxidants are powerful compounds found in plant foods. And they can be protective against cell damage that can lead to diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, and type 2 diabetes.
Other research has found that acai berries improve the flow of blood through the body.
How does this work? The polyphenols in acai can boost nitric oxide production in endothelial cells (the ones found on the inner lining of arteries and blood vessels), which helps to relax the arteries. This can have a positive effect on blood pressure, which is good for the heart.