A Nutritional Powerhouse: 5 Reasons We Love Acai


 

Hopefully by now you’ve tried a tasty acai bowl at a local juice bar. If not, you need to get your butt to Greenhouse Juice Co or Nutbar if you live in Toronto and sample this bowl of health to see what all the fuss is about!

You may have heard that this purple superfruit is extremely healthy with many nutritional benefits, but are you still wondering to yourself - “what’s the big deal?!?! Why is acai so amazing for my health?”

Well, there are actually a ton of benefits to eating acai, which is why we want to raise awareness about this powerful superfruit with fellow Canadians. 

Below we have outlined our top 5 nutritional benefits of eating acai!

  1. Naturally Sugar Free

When it comes to allergens and food sensitivities, not many people think of fruit as being a trigger. However, a ton of recent research points to sugars (even the natural ones) being a key culprit for people suffering with digestive and many other health issues. Acai is one of the only fruits that contains no sugars and has 0g of net carbs. With a low GI, it is the perfect fruit for people with gut health issues, or for those following diabetic, low lectin, ketogenic or other low carb diets. Just add a touch of stevia or monk fruit to your acai if you prefer a sweeter flavour.

  1. Healthy Fats, Antioxidants & Polyphenolic Compounds = Brain Fuel

Acai is a great source of healthy fats, which help with overall cognitive function. Eating fats used to be taboo, but research is increasingly showing the importance of healthy fats for overall wellbeing – especially for brain health. With the possibility of preventing prevalent brain diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, it’s a good idea to incorporate healthy fats on a regular basis. What’s more, the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory polyphenolic compounds found in acai have also been found to promote brain health and improve memory.

  1. High in Fibre

Each serving of acai contains about 15% of your daily fibre intake, which is great for digestive health and for keeping you full long after indulging in that delicious bowl. And you can easily up your fibre intake even more by adding things like avocado, flax seeds or granola to the mix!

  1. Electrolytes + Amino Acids = Fitness Fuel

For those fitness fanatics out there, you’ll be aware of the importance of electrolytes and amino acids to athletic performance. Acai contains 19 different essential amino acids and most key electrolytes. Electrolytes are lost in sweat during exercise sessions, which can cause weakness/fatigue and affect overall health.  The high amount of potassium in acai is great for refueling those electrolytes post-workout. Acai also contains magnesium, phosphorus, and sodium, making it a complete electrolyte replenisher!

  1. High in Antioxidants

Acai is probably most known for being a potent source of antioxidants including polyphenols and anthocyanins. Antioxidants help to protect our bodies against the damaging effects of free radicals which make us more prone to diseases (like diabetes, cancer and heart disease) and aging. Acai is known to have much higher antioxidant amounts than other fruits like blueberries and grapes.

 

Tip: Look for Top Quality Açaí!

Some acai products on the market contain added sugars, fruits or emulsifiers/allergens like soy lecithin, which take away from the superior health properties of the berry. Look for a certified organic acai with nothing but acai, citric acid and water on the ingredients list for the purest, highest quality form. (HINT – our acai fits within these guidelines ;) )