acai

the aphrodisiac power of

In recent years, a buzz word of the food biz is acai , a berry grown in the rainforests of South America. It is the fruit of the acai palm tree and is a very popular breakfast food in Brazil, particularly when it is served at the end of a long night of partying. Until about the 1980’s, shipping of the fruit from the fragile Brazilian rainforests was close to impossible, but communities in close proximity to the palm’s growing regions have been enjoying the fruit for centuries.

But what made acai suddenly hit the big time?

Acai is rich in anthocyanin, an antioxidant known to reduce cholesterol and has the potential to prevent blood clots. Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that some of the biggest names in American medicine, including Dr. Perricone, have dubbed it a “Superfood.”

Best of all, in addition to its ability to aid circulation, etc, acai is considered one of South America’s hottest aphrodisiacs. One of acai’s most notable effects on the body is a marked increase in stamina – heaven knows we could all use that! It is low in calories and high in fiber, the perfect snack for keeping a long, lean, sexy self. And as far as antioxidants go, acai has 10 times the antioxidant potency of red wine (the foodie’s favorite “health” food).

Acai is most commonly used in a juice or puree form. The berries are close to 90% pit and skin and stain as badly as pomegranate, so serving whole fruits isn’t exactly practical.