Acai
Berry Beginnings
The
acai berry grows from an Amazon palm in the north of Brazil.
The traditional belief is that an ancient tribal chief, worried
about starvation since the tribe had grown too large, decreed
that all new babies born were to be slain.
Unfortunately,
his daughter also had a child but he insisted that she too must
lose the child for the sake of the tribe. While mourning for
her lost child she thought she heard her baby cry outside but
all she found was a new palm tree full of fruit growing where
there had been none before. She laid down under the palm tree
and died from a broken heart.
When
she was found the tribe started to eat the berries from the
tree and found that their hunger was abated and that they had
increased energy. The chief declared that the tree be called
the acai (ah-sigh-ee) which was his daughters name, Iaca, spelled
backwards. Since then the tribe has flourished with no more
hunger. The chief decreed that no more babies would be killed.
From
this time on, and even up to today, the berry from this palm
has been used throughout the region and forms an integral part
of their diet.
Since
the 1950's doctors in that part of the world have realized the
health benefits of this berry. More recent studies show that
this small, insignificant berry is packed with nutrients and
amino acids etc., which can only be beneficial to today's hurried
and stressed individuals.
It
gives energy as well as balancing important levels of insulin
plus it allows the uptake of important amino acids into the
tissues and joints. In fact it has more benefits than drinking
red wine which has been touted for years. It even surpasses
the benefits of olive oil which is another well known favorite
of doctors and health experts.
Perhaps
the best thing about the products made from this small acai
berry is that it is virtually impossible to overdose on it.
Unlike the red wine which has obvious side effects should you
take too much!
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