35 Reasons to add Acai berries to your diet today

1. Acai is a good source of protein. Protein is one of the building blocks of the human body, especially bodily tissues like the organs and muscles. Protein is also a component of the skin, hair and nails; and ounce for ounce, acai contains more protein than eggs!

2. Acai has been used for centuries as a natural agent of detoxification – it helps to clear impurities from your body.

3. Acai enhances muscle function and recovery following workouts thanks to its mineral and amino acid content. Which makes it a great supplement for those that exercise.

4. Acai’s lipid content boosts your energy level – whether you play sports or just have a busy life, acai has the extra energy you need.

5. The acai berry can help to regulate stress levels.

6. Acai is good for sexual health. The antioxidants in the acai berry and its anti-inflammatory properties can improve fertility by reducing stress and countering the actions of pollutants and free radicals on your body.

7. Acai contains a wealth of vitamins and minerals which help your body to resist illnesses.

8. Acai’s high nutritional value and antioxidants can reduce the physical effects of aging, keeping your cells healthier.

9.The antioxidants in acai can also help to prevent prostate enlargement.

10. Acai supports bone health, helps prevent fractures and reduces the risk of osteoporosis because of its high calcium content.

11. Acai’s calcium content also helps reduce menstrual pain and associated menstrual bloating – welcome news to women.

12. Acai supports heart health by reducing stress on your heart (this is because if acai’s anthocynanin content, especially 3-glucoside, which stimulates circulation easing nitric oxide production by endothelial cells). Acai also contains polyphenols – antioxidants which are especially good for your heart.

13. Acai’s essential fatty acid content helps reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) levels, while boosting HDL (good cholesterol) levels.

14. The sterols and anthocyanins in acai help to maintain circulatory health, strengthening arteries and veins and regulating blood pressure.

15. Acai’s benefits to the circulatory system include strengthening the capillaries, which can help to prevent diabetes related retinopathy, which can lead to blindness. Acai is also beneficial for diabetics in that it is a low GI food which can improve the glucose and lipid levels in diabetics.

16. As a low GI food, acai also helps to control appetite, making acai a great food for people trying to lose weight.

17. A study which was recently reported in the Journal of Sports Medicine has shown that the beta-sitoserol in acai helps boost immune function by regulating lymphocyte activity and fighting against immune suppression.

18. Acai’s antioxidant properties also help support your immune system by preventing damage done to cells by free radicals.

19. Acai’s anti-fungal, anti-viral and antibacterial properties help to prevent disease.

20. Acai can help to prevent damage to DNA from mutagenic compounds and carcinogens.

21. Acai contains plenty of dietary fiber, which helps to improve digestive function.

22. Acai can help to treat GERD (acid reflux disease). This is due to the antioxidant properties of the acai berry, which assists in repairing and protecting the lower esophagus from the damage caused by GERD and its ability to reduce stomach acidity.

23. Acai even helps to heal ulcers by killing H. pylori, an ulcer-causing bacteria.

24. Acai can keep the symptoms of Chron’s disease under control thanks to its anti-inflammatory properties.

25. Acai helps keep your skin looking smoother and more youthful – acai’s anthocyanins and phytosterols protect skin and connective tissues like collagen from wrinkles and damage.

26. Acai cocntains lots of antioxidants, which reduce your risk of certain cancers, such as skin, breast, stomach and lung cancers.

27. Acai can even help reduce the pain and inflammation of arthritis.

28. Acai’s anti-inflammatory properties can also help to alleviate the symptoms of asthma.

29. A 2004 Archives of Neurology study found that a diet containing ample vitamin E and vitamin C lowers the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Acai contains a significant amount of both vitamins.

30. Acai’s vitamin C and beta carotene help support eye health and can reduce the complications of macular degeneration, especially in diabetics.

31. Acai is also healthy for your teeth and gums. Acai’s calcium content whitens and strengthens your teeth, helps to prevent gingivitis and other gum and tooth diseases.

32. The omega-3 fatty acids in acai help maintain mental clarity and alertness.

33. Acai’s B vitamins help you to get a better night’s sleep, lower stress and produce the appropriate levels of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.

34. Acai Promotes overall good health and wellness.

35. Acai might not be the cure to disease, but by supplying your body with all of the nutrition it needs, it helps your body to heal itself.

All About Goji

Goji berry, which is also called wolfberry by English speakers, is the name of a whole family very closely related berries, including Lycium barbarum and Lycium chinense. Theser are all species of the boxthorn plant from the family of Solanaceae, which also includes tobacco, eggplant, tomato, potato, and chili pepper. The goji is actually native to southeastern Europe and southwest Asia, but is found mainly inside the country of China. It is also known by many other names such as Chinese Wolf berry, goji berry, barbary matrimony vine, bocksdorn, Duke of Argyll’s tea tree, murali (mainly in India), red medlar, or matrimony vine. Tibetan goji and Himalayan goji are the major types used in the health food market.

The small, lavender goji flower will appear as one to three flowers on each stem. It has long stamen in the center, and the oblong leaves are nothing out of the ordinary to look at, however, the berry is a bright red square looking oblong shape. The main area that you find these plants is in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and Ningxia province in the west of china and the north central areas of China, respectively.

Although advertised as Himalayan and Tibetan Goji berries, they are actually grown in the Ningxia area and the Tian Shan Mountain region. The Himalayan mountains do not support their growth as the climate in this frigid area will not support this plant.

In the early 1700′s, the goji plant was brought to the United Kingdom. That is where it got the nickname of Duke of Argyll’s tea tree. It has been growing wild in the the UK for over three hundred years now, and has been naturalized as an ornamental and edible plant for that area. Near Ipswich, and in surrounding areas of Suffolk Sandlings, Hadley, Walberswick and Bawdsey, this plant can be found growing wildly in hedge rows, although its nutrients are suspected to be reduced from those of its Chinese cousins.

Goji berries are usually exported in the dried form, very similar to dried raisins because they cannot be shipped fresh. There is just no way to ship them from China to the west in their fresh form, as they would rot too easily. The Chinese use their fresh berries in a large variety of main dishes, mixed with rice, other Chinese vegetables and fish, chicken or beef, and they make healthy any meal. They are also use goji in a variety of teas and drinks there.

The New Belgium Brewery uses them in the making of their famous ale. They are also used in goji berry beer and flavored coffee in China. The leaves are used for inflammation and skin problems in several Chinese medicinal recipes. Basically, the entire goji plant has been found to be beneficial and Chinese herbalists have recorded a myriad of uses for it since before they began writing.

Noni Juice isn’t Just for Breakfast Anymore

The noni tree originates in the south pacific, most likely Hawaii, growing in the back lava soil left behind by the Island’s many volcanoes. It can grow up to 30 feet tall, and is related to the coffee tree, being in the Rubiaceae family. It will also grow in shady forests, sandy and rocky shores, saline soils, secondary soils, and limestone outcrops. It is however more common and grows better in the lava soil beds. Today it grows in Tahiti, French Polynesia, Southeast Asia, all of the Pacific Islands, and even in the Dominican Republic.

It has been called the starvation or famine fruit because it quite frankly tastes pretty bad on it’s own. It has a knobby texture on the outside, very similar to that of a pineapple, and a white skin and is shaped like a gourd or heavy white potato. It has been called the Cheese fruit because it gives off an odor like curing cheese when it is ripening. The fruit itself is quite ugly and really doesn’t look like a fruit at all. It has been known by many different names, including the Great Morinda, Indian Mulberry, Mengkudu, Beach Mulberry, Tahitian Noni, and Cheese fruit. Its scientific name is Morinda Citrifolia.

The juice form of this fruit is the most popular. It mixes well with other fruits for a better taste. The fruit itself is full of a lot of seeds and hard to eat, despite having several good vitamins including calcium, Vitamin C, Iron, and Vitamin A. The powdered form of noni has high levels of dietary fiber and carbohydrates. It also contains enough fatty acids, flavanoids, indoids, phytoestrogens, and polysaccharides to be considered one of the healthiest fruits around.

Noni also has trace amounts of beta-sitosterol which is an anti-cholesterol agent. The fruit, leaves, and bark are all used in many health food manufacturers and countries for herbal and natural healing remedies. In China, Samoa, Japan and Tahiti, they use the flowers, fruit, bark, leaves, and roots for herbal remedies that treat or cure fever, eye problems, skin ailments, throat gum maladies, bowel and intestine problems and respiratory malfunctions.

In Malaysia they use poultices from the leaves to stop coughing, colds, lung ailments, asthma and lumbago. The believe that if made right the poultice will heal almost any ailment.

This Queen Fruit or Canoe Fruit as it was named by early Polynesian tribes, traveled with them wherever they went. Because of its healing and health benefits it was one of the things the tribe would consider essential to travel or take with them. They would eat the fruit, drink the juice, use it for medical purposes and save the seeds to plant.