The First Food Of The Week Ever Is......Acai Berry!

Acai berries are a very(or berry) good fruit. The acai berry(pronounced ah-sigh-ee) originates from the country of Brazil. It grows on palm trees and the palm trees are also prized for their hearts of palm; which are supposed to be very delicious and among the best hearts of palm in the world. But acai berries are very very(or very berry) nutritious. Acai comes from the Brazilian adaption of a Tupian word meaning fruit that cries. In one part of Brazil acai berries are served in gourds with tapioca. But are usually  consumed in a bowl. It is also called the beauty berry.This little berry is packed full of so many antioxidants.  Its very good for your immune system too. And it takes years off your age! It doesn't taste that bad, it has a berry and chocolate flavor. I recommend Sambazon brand acai products; because their organic, and fair trade. Americans haven't had access to acai for that long; most did not even know about it or even what it was. But in the 1990's acai was finally brought to America. But it became as famous as it is very recently, only a few years ago. Dr. Memmet Oz is the one to thank for its sudden popularity in America; he talked about it and its great health effects on the Oprah show. In America they pasteurize acai juice to be safe. But in other countries such as the UK do not pasteurize acai juice. Some experts say that pasteurizing acai juice decreases alot of the nutritional value. I personally think that its good that they pasteurize it in order to get harmful bacteria out. There is also is freeze-dried acai powder, which is acai pulp which is freeze-dried and then diluted with corn starch and similar starches. Some expets say that there is alot more cornstarch in freeze-dried acai powder than acai . Possibly even 10 times the amount of cornstarch that pure acai powder: and that is not even including the other ingredients in the freeze-dried acai powder. Overall I do not recomend most freeze-dried acai powder because it is usually mainly cornstarch with purple food coloring. Also sometimes you cannot even taste the real acai. There is also frozen acai pulp,also known as acai smoothies, which is not bad. But it does stain your clothes,so be careful. It tastes pretty good, and alot of kids like it too! Here is a recipe for a traditional Brazilian acai bowl, this is also a vegan recipe.

                                             Acai Bowl*
2 packs Sambazon Original Açaí Juice
1 banana*(organic if possible)
Splash of apple juice* or soy milk*
Top with sliced bananas* and granola*

1.Add Original Açaí Juice, apple juice* or soy milk*, and half of the banana* into the blender.

2.Blend on high. Add more apple juice* or soy milk* if necessary,but keep it thick.

3.Put it in a bowl and garnish with granola* and other half of the banana*

* = Organic if possible.

Also here are links to several companies that sell acai(you can also buy acai seeds and plants but that's another article)

http://www.sambazon.com/

http://www.bomdia.com/

http://monavie.com/