A patient asked us recently what we knew about the purported “super food” qualities of the acai (ah-sigh-EE) berry. After we did some research, here’s what we found out: The acai berry comes from the acai palm tree and is native to Central and South America. It is a relative of the blueberry, the cranberry, pomegranates and other dark purple-hued fruits. Much research and even more media attention toward the acai berry has focused on the fruit’s antioxidant properties that appear to protect cells. While many people support eating acai berries to address various health conditions, so far acai berries have no clinically proven health benefits that are any different than the benefits of other similar fruits. There are a number of smoothie recipes featuring acai berry juice or whole acai berries. Here is one of our favorites:
Cherry-Acai Green Smoothie Recipe
- 2 small bananas, peeled
- 1 bag (10-16 ounces) whole, frozen, acai berries
- 1 cup fresh of frozen cherries
- 4 ounces of water
Blend on high for 30 seconds or until the smoothie is creamy.
Variations:
You can easily turn this recipe “green” (although it will come out brown) with the addition of your favorite leafy green. Boost the mineral content with a handful of fresh baby spinach, fresh baby kale or be adventurous with some bitter, cleansing dandelion greens.
To enhance the tropical flavor notes, use fresh coconut water instead of regular water.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 357
Fat: 7g
Protein: 6g
Carbohydrates: 75g
Fiber: 11.5g
Calcium: 7% RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance)
Iron: 1.1mg
Vitamin A: 42% RDA
Vitamin C: 44% RDA
Source for this, and other smoothie recipes featuring acai: http://www.incrediblesmoothies.com/recipes/cherry-acai-antioxidant-smoothie-recipe/
