Acai, the Amazon Super Fruit

The first time I ever tried acai (pronounced: ah-sah-yee) in 1997, the fruit was served to me as a thick drink by an Ipixuna Indian woman, when I was living on the Amazon River for a month.

Acai, Euterpe oleracea, was as deep purple as any food I had ever seen. In fact, a spill stained a favorite t-shirt of mine, forever. I loved the rich flavor of acai, and the energy it imparted, and consumed as much as I could during the course of my time on the river.

When I left Brazil that time, I lamented that I’d probably never be able to obtain acai back home.

Times have changed, and this delicious fruit is now widely available, from Whole Foods to up-market grocery stores.

A so-called “super-berry” that grows on palms trees in the Amazon, acai is a staple food throughout Amazonia, and that status owes directly to its marvelous flavor.

Acai explodes with flavor, and gets better with every mouthful. Rich in the potent purple pigments called anthocyanins, acai has a higher antioxidant activity rating than bilberries or blueberries, and is rich in beneficial dietary fibers.

A glass of blended acai fruit, with just a slight touch of energizing guarana and certified organic sugar, imparts so much energy, you’ll want to dance and yodel while climbing a mountain at the same time.

No wonder endurance cyclists and ball players have taken to this fruit. Surfers, skateboarders, X-gamers and outdoor enthusiasts speak of acai with reverence.

The berry craze is on full throttle now, and purveyors of each berry – from blueberries to blackberries, black currants and elderberries – have positioned their berry as the ultimate. All of these berries are rich in the purple antioxidant pigments called anthocyanins, and all impart both antioxidant protection to cells, and anti-inflammatory activity as well. As far as I am concerned, they are all extraordinary foods, and are valuable in any person’s diet. I just happen to favor acai most of all, because I love the flavor and the fact that the acai trade is helping to reduce deforestation in some parts of the Amazon.

Forest Preservation - Fast-forward years later, once more in the Brazilian rainforest, this time in the company of Ryan Black, founder of Sambazon Acai. We are watching several hard-working Brazilians climb tall acai palms rapidly, cut branches laden with ripe purple acai berries, and strip the berries into baskets, readying them for processing.

“Our wildharvesting system was developed in conjunction with the Forest Sustainability Council,” Ryan explains. “We’ve taught people how to wildharvest acai, and protect the forest at the same time.” Through ecologically sound agro-forestry management practices, Sambazon has established a top-notch conservation program that protects the Amazon rainforest and minimizes habitat loss. On top of that, they’ve implemented a fair wage system that provides higher than average wages to over 10,000 families in Brazil’s Amapa state. Sambazon has won praise and support from World Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy and Greenpeace. As far as Ryan Black is concerned, it’s all just a reasonable and fair way to operate a business. “Might as well do it right if you’re going to do it,” he says.

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Rainforest Sustainability is embedded in Sambazon

From acai berries to the Sustainable Amazon Partnership (SAP)

When brothers Jeremy and Ryan Black created the company Sambazon in 2000 they hit the proverbial mother lode. Sambazon makes juices, sorbet and smoothie packs from acai, berries that grow in Brazil's Amazon forests.

Although the company does not disclose sales, in 2008 they were estimated at $25 million. Sambazon's products are "sold in virtually every health food store, juice bar and convention grocery store in the U.S.," according to its website. Its products are sold at Whole Foods and supermarket chains such as Safeway and Giant.

Sambazon says its company was founded on sustainability, a claim it can back up. It was the first company to sponsor U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic certification for acai, and its supply chain is certified as Fair Trade. It works with Wild Wildlife Foundation (WWF) Brazil and other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to ensure acai is harvested sustainably. Sambazon also built a factory in Amapa, Brazil that buys acai berries from over 10,000 independent family growers, and employs about 150 people, half in Brazil.

Sambazon was named a winner of the "Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence" (A.C.E. Award) for a small-medium business in 2006. It was nominated by the U.S. Ambassador to Brazil. Then U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice said Sambazon "is an outstanding example of the positive impact that a small company can make to the economy, the environment and the society of its host country."

Rice added, "Sambazon was selected for efforts to promote sustainable development in the Brasilian Rainforest, while improving the conditions of indigenous people through creative marketing of the açaí fruit."

Sambazon launched the Sustainable Amazon Partnership (SAP) as a "public and private collaboration to promote lasting sustainable management of the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest." Since launched, SAP has:

* Provided an alternative sustainable income source to logging, cattle and monoculture plantations
* Promoted sustainable development through environmental stewardship on over 1.9 million acres
* Supported women in local cooperative who make acai seed jewellery
* Established and monitored biosocial indicators to determine the impact of the acai trade
* Developed and implemented sustainability programs with local family farmers

Over one million acai seeds a day come out of processed fruit during harvest season. Sambazon uses the seeds as fuel for its Amapa factory and donates seeds to a nearby brick factory. Before Sambazon donated the seeds, the factory "would use virgin wood from the surrounding area to burn as fuel for the kilns," said factory owner Wagner Alonso Rodrigues.

Since using the donated seeds, the amount of rainforest wood burned by the factory has been reduced by almost 90 percent. "We have reduced our wood purchasing so drastically that now we save $US 250 a day burning seed instead of wood," said Rodrigues.

Read it here

The New Wellness Revolution

The Acai Berry - Rainforest Mystique

The nutritional breakdown of açaí is prodigious. It has high levels of iron, calcium, carbohydrates, fibre and antioxidants.

And energy.

A small 100g cup has almost 300 calories. Combined with the mystique of its Amazonian origins, açaí's contents have made it the beverage of choice for Rio's sporty elite.

The way it looks is integral to its appeal. It is made from dark violet berries about the size of a raspberry; a deep, dense colour that seems weighted down by its nutritional secrets. It reflects no light and has the texture of mud. It is fruity with a chocolatey kick.

Açaí is indigenous to the flood plains of the Amazon River estuary. The açaí palm regenerates with ease. In areas where human development has destroyed natural vegetation the first tree that grows in its place is açaí. (Açaí palms cover an area equivalent to half the size of Switzerland.)

In this region, its abundance and role as primary nutritional resource cannot be over-estimated: it is literally the fruit that has saved many poor families from starvation.

Açaí is the main food staple of river communities in the Amazon estuary,' says the agronomist Oscar Nogueira. It is drunk for every meal - in much the same way as bread or rice is eaten in other cultures.

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Acai Roots Introduces Pure Acai Juice

New Product Brings Consumers The Authentic Brazilian Açaí Juice Experience.

Açai Roots™, a leading supplier of natural Brazilian açaí berry products, announces the launch of its newest ready-to-drink beverage, Açai Roots™ Pure Açaí Juice.

The company’s all-natural açaí beverage is a delicious, refreshing and healthy option for consumers looking to enjoy an authentic, tasty and nutritional açaí super-fruit beverage.

‘“Açai Roots™ carries the tradition of making authentic Brazilian açaí products, and this new beverage follows the same line. Our main objective while developing the Pure Açaí Juice was to offer consumers the real açaí juice experience, something they cannot find elsewhere”, said Açai Roots CEO, Igor Pereira.

The product is the fifth shelf-stable and ready-to-drink beverage the company produces, adding to the company’s already successful line which includes: açaí juice smoothies, açaí energy shots and the açaí liquid concentrate.

On top of its delicious and refreshing taste, the beverage is also full of antioxidants (3,000 ORAC per serving), omegas and other nutrients, making it a very healthy beverage - perfect for healthy-conscious consumers to drink between or with meals.

“We wanted to offer consumers the authentic acai juice; made with the best pulp available in Brazil and without adding other fruit juices or artificial flavors to it. In other words, this is the real deal - the authentic açaí juice experience”, said Açai Roots Marketing Manager, Rodrigo Correa.

The Pure Açaí Juice will be available in grocery and natural food stores nationwide, as well as through the company’s website beginning May 2010, in two different sizes, 10oz and 32oz bottles.

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The Acai Berry's proven antioxidants

Beta carotene -- Beta carotene is a proven free-radical scavenger associated with lowered risks for several types of cancer, including breast, lung, skin and stomach cancers. Research also supports its use in promoting eye health, lowering cholesterol levels and preventing heart disease.

Vitamin C -- This vitamin is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties found to improve symptoms of asthma and arthritis. Studies have also found vitamin C supplementation useful in protecting against atherosclerosis, stroke, cancer and reducing complications in macular degeneration in diabetics and promoting healthy immune function. When used in combination with vitamin E, a 2004 study from the Archives of Neurology found vitamin C reduced the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Vitamin E -- Several studies have linked this vitamin to reduced risk of heart attacks and found it beneficial in lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. The National Eye Institute also found vitamin E to be one of several antioxidants (including vitamin C, beta carotene and zinc)that may help reduce the risk of macular degeneration-related vision loss. New clinical research is also recommending vitamin E for diabetes prevention and treatment. Other benefits linked to vitamin E include use for inflammation, blood cell and cell-division regulation and connective tissue health.

Magnesium -- Magnesium deficiency has been linked to several chronic conditions. As an antioxidant magnesium improves the cardiovascular system's antioxidant threshold and increases the body's resistance to free radicals. It also protects agains free radical damage to mitochondria (cellular energy producers) and has been used to regulate heart rhythm and blood pressure.

Polyphenolic flavonoids -- Sixteen types of bioactive polypheolic compounds have been identified in acai berry. Polyphenols are antioxidant compounds found in produce, grains, tea and soybeans. Research shows that polyphenolic compounds have anti-tumor properties and may be useful in the treatment and prevention of cancers of the breast, colon, skin, lung and liver. Other benefits include antiinflammatory antiallergenic, immunostimulatory and cardioprotective properties.

Anthocyanins -- Two major types of anhocyanins have been found in acai, including cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyaninidin-3-rutinoside. Anthocyanins are exceptional antioxidant compounds believed to reduce heart disease risk by neutralizing free radicals that could damage blood vessel walls, leading to cholesterol and plaque buildup. Acai is believed to have up to 30 times the anthocyanins found in red wine.

Keep in mind that this does not require you to take a pill, these antioxidants are contained in this superfood from the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, the Ancient Acai Berry.

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Health Benefits Of Acai Berry

Acai berry has long been a hidden secret in the world of alternative medicine. It was originally utilized by natives only before its healing powers became known to the rest of the world.

Scientists now say that Acai berry contains all the necessary nutrients including vitamins, minerals, proteins and fatty acids to maintain perfect health.

Healing, weight loss & anti oxidant properties of pure Acai Berry

The Acai berry fruit is naturally found in the Amazon rainforests. It has strong health traits including anti cancer properties, weight loss and anti aging abilities.

Fresh fruit of Acai berry contains antioxidants and necessary amino acids that serve in the combat against illnesses. It works efficiently to fight heart related illnesses and its antioxidant properties are helpful in removing toxic substances from your body cells.

Acai berry diet

Acai berry is rich in fiber content. Hence it works well by maintaining a low cholesterol level and beneficial for heart disease. Futhermore, Acai berry's anti bacterial properties helps to improve eyesight and the digestion process.

You can buy Acai berry in powdered form. It is used in recipes and in making of healthy drinks.

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Sambazon Acai: Results from Pilot Study Earned Top Honors

A new clinical trial investigating the health benefits of açaí, the antioxidant and vitamin-rich berry, is adding to the emerging scientific evidence of the fruit’s ability to potentially reduce some metabolic risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke. The latest study won top honors during the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine on January 23 and revealed promising initial results for using Sambazon açaí to improve vascular health, lower fasting blood sugar levels, and lower bad cholesterol.

“This pilot study demonstrated the ability of the Sambazon açaí pulp product to significantly lower several markers of cardiovascular risk in a relatively short period of time. Given these promising results, and the biologically active components in the açaí fruit, further study is merited,” said Dr. Jay Udani, MD, CEO and Medical Director of Medicus Research, a leading contract research organization with functional food experience.

Medicus Research recently conducted a pilot study with 10 slightly overweight, but healthy adult male and female participants (representing 1/3 of the American population). Each study participant consumed 100 grams of Sambazon® açaí frozen fruit pulp twice daily for one month. Researchers measured participants’ baseline fasting plasma glucose, plasma insulin levels, lipid levels (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides), high sensitivity C-reactive protein and blood pressure. After 30 days of consuming Sambazon® açaí, participants’ fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, and LDL (bad cholesterol) were significantly reduced, as compared to the baseline. In addition, post-prandial (between meals) increases in blood glucose levels were significantly reduced.

“While additional research is needed, this pilot study suggests that in otherwise healthy, overweight adults, daily consumption of Sambazon açaí reduces several markers of metabolic syndrome associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke,” said Jack F. Bukowski, MD, Ph.D., a former Harvard professor and currently Director of the Nutritional Science Research Institute.

Read more: here

Clinical Trial on Sambazon Acai

A new clinical trial investigating the health benefits of acai, the antioxidant and vitamin-rich berry, is adding to the emerging scientific evidence of the fruit's ability to potentially reduce some metabolic risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease, diabetes and stroke. The latest study won top honors during the Scripps Center for Integrative Medicine on January 23 and revealed promising initial results for using Sambazon acai to improve vascular health, and lower fasting blood sugar levels.

"This pilot study demonstrated the ability of the Sambazon acai pulp product to significantly lower several markers of cardiovascular risk in a relatively short period of time. Given these promising results, and the biologically active components in the acai fruit, further study is merited," said Dr. Jay Udani, MD, CEO and Medical Director of Medicus Research, a leading contract research organization with functional food experience.

Medicus Research recently conducted a pilot study with 10 slightly overweight, but healthy adult male and female participants (representing 1/3 of the American population). Each study participant consumed 100 grams of Sambazon(R) acai frozen fruit pulp twice daily for one month. Researchers measured participants' baseline fasting plasma glucose, plasma insulin levels, lipid levels (total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides), high sensitivity C-reactive protein and blood pressure. After 30 days of consuming Sambazon(R) acai, participants' fasting glucose, insulin, total cholesterol, and LDL (bad cholesterol) were significantly reduced, as compared to the baseline. In addition, post-prandial (between meals) increases in blood glucose levels were significantly reduced.

"While additional research is needed, this pilot study suggests that in otherwise healthy, overweight adults, daily consumption of acai reduces several markers of metabolic syndrome associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke," said Jack F. Bukowski, MD, Ph.D., a former Harvard professor and currently Director of the Nutritional Science Research Institute.

This study follows a recently published study showing that acai consumption lowers cholesterol and raises antioxidant activity in rats. Sambazon(R) is committed to scientific and nutritional research about acai and supported the Medicus clinical trial. Sambazon(R) Acai Pure Pulp Packs, which were used in the Medicus study, are a top selling frozen fruit item and available in finer grocery and natural food stores.

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Wal-Mart is betting on acai

Acai berries, found in the Amazon, are believed to have healthy qualities and may also help the big box retailer in a down economy. Acai Berry Juice sold some $40 million within its first 90 days on the market and is expected to hit roughly $110 million in sales next year, Lindsay Duncan, Genesis Today founder, president & CEO, told CNBC.

The Brazilian berry juice, developed by Wal-Mart and Genesis Today, contains the protein content of an egg, the fat content of olive oil and the highest level of antioxidants known to any food, claimed Duncan.

“It’s very clear to me and it’s very clear to Wal-Mart that America is very vertically ill,” he said. “And we’re interested in doing something about that with products that do no harm.”

Studies at the University of Florida also indicate that acai killed 86 percent of Leukemia cells in a laboratory, Duncan said.

Wal-Mart reached out to Duncan to develop a healthy food product, he said.

“They [Wal-Mart] just wanted to learn about my 27 years of helping people heal their body with nutrition,” he said. “It’s kind of what like Whole Foods has done. They believe that food’s your medicine. And that’s what we do, and they wanted to pick my brain and find out what foods do I believe are the most healthy foods in the world.”

Genesis Today is not considering going public, said Duncan: “There's no reason to go public.”

http://www.cnbc.com/id/33910374

Sambazon PowerCaps

Packed with wholefood nutrition, Sambazon’s Açaí PowerCaps offer a powerful boost of antioxidants in your daily diet. And what’s more important than staying healthy as we head into the festive holiday season?

Made with 100% pure organic and freeze dried açaí, Sambazon’s supplements are the most nutritious you’ll find on the market.

So don’t be confused with any açaí supplement blends, products that look pink instead of dark purple, or conventionally grown açaí.

Stick with the original Sambazon Brand from the Rainforest of Brazil, for the freshest, most nutritious, organic açaí on the market.

Sambazon Becomes First to Achieve Fair-Trade Crop Certification for Acai

Sambazon, the leading global supplier of acai, announces the certification of its acai crop as Fair Trade in Brazil. The certification by Ecocert, a global control and certification organization, guarantees that Sambazon ensures fair labor conditions and wages for workers, promotes environmentally sustainable farming methods and reinvests money into the community.

Sambazon's certification occurs in conjunction with Fair Trade Month, which promotes and celebrates the socially responsible system of trade that prioritizes the needs of human beings and the environment over the drive for profits. The certification supports all three pillars of Sambazon's triple bottom line business model (people-planet-profits) by guaranteeing that the agro-forestry farms and the families who supply Sambazon with acai fruit receive a fair market price.

The company commitment to this mission is evidenced in its Sustainable Amazon Partnership (SAP), which Sambazon founded with the Brazil Foundation and the Peabiru Institute to ensure the lasting sustainable management of the acai regions and communities. In addition to acai training programs, the partnership also offers alternative income-generating activities for thousands of woman, youth and small family farmers.

"By promoting triple bottom line success, these families are proving the case for sustainable development in the Amazon," said Ryan Black, Sambazon co-founder and CEO. "Through Sambazon Acai, we're bringing long-term development and improved quality of life to an impoverished region."

In 2003, Sambazon was the first company in its category to certify its acai crop as organic, and many other companies have since followed suit. A similar trend with Fair Trade would represent a win for all the stakeholders in the acai supply chain -- from the farmers to the consumers.

About Sambazon

Sambazon is the global leader in Acai. Founded in 2000 as the first company to bring the antioxidant-rich Acai berry from the Amazon to North America, Sambazon's mission is to deliver high quality, organic acai products to the planet. Sambazon's product line of Organic Acai Juice and Smoothies, Frozen Acai Smoothie Packs and Sorbets, Acai Supplements are enjoyed by world-class athletes and health-conscious consumers everywhere. Products are available at major retail stores and juice bars across North America including Whole Foods, Wild Oats, Super Target, Safeway, HEB, Albertsons, Vitamin Shoppe, Jamba Juice and Juice It Up! Sambazon is also a leader among organic foods and sustainable agriculture. In November of 2006, Sambazon was named a winner of the Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence for helping to create worldwide awareness and demand for the acai fruit. Sambazon pioneered the first of its kind Fair Trade and Certified Organic supply chain of Acai which benefits thousands of local families and protects the biodiversity of the Amazon Rainforest through sustainable agriculture. Sambazon is the largest vertically integrated supplier and marketer of Acai products, controlling every step of the manufacturing process to ensure sustainable and organic origin of the fruit as well as the highest level quality, nutrition, taste. To learn more about Sambazon Acai and creating positive change in the Amazon and beyond please visit

Sambazon Introduces New Antioxidant Elixir

Sambazon, the global leader in Acai, announces the launch of a powerfully nutritious premium juice line. Antioxidant Elixir(TM) is a organic revitalizing beverage that provides powerful antioxidants and 600% DV Vitamin C, yet remains refreshingly light on calories, sugar, and contains no fat. Sweetened naturally with agave and infused with a blend of acai, acerola, and the finest organic botanical extracts, this is truly a powerful concoction of ingredients. Ideal for health-conscious consumers on the go, Sambazon Antioxidant Elixirs are the first products in Sambazon's line of organic juices containing a mere 70 calories per serving.

"We are launching Elixirs with the blessing of our female consumers," said Jeremy Black, vice president of marketing. "This is a low-sugar, all-natural acai beverage that is light enough to drink between or with meals. And the complex flavor of the Elixirs comes through in each pure and unique blend."

Sambazon Antioxidant Elixir will be offered in three exciting flavors, acai berry, acai passionfruit, and acai blackberry and will be available in 11oz bottles for $2.99 (MSRP) in grocery and natural food stores nationwide beginning mid-Oct. 2009.

About Sambazon:

Sambazon is the global leader in Acai. Founded in 2000 as the first company to bring the antioxidant-rich Acai berry from the Amazon to North America, Sambazon's mission is to deliver high quality, organic Acai. Sambazon's product line of Premium Organic Acai, Frozen Acai Smoothie Packs and Sorbets, Acai Supplements and Amazon Energy are enjoyed by world-class athletes and health-conscious consumers everywhere. Products are available at major retail stores and juice bars across North America including Whole Foods, Publix, Kroger, HEB, Albertsons, Safeway, and Vitamin Shoppe. Sambazon is also a leader among organic foods and sustainable agriculture. In November of 2006, Sambazon was named a winner of the Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence for helping to create worldwide awareness and demand for the Acai fruit. Sambazon pioneered the first of its kind Fair Trade and Certified Organic supply chain of Acai which benefits thousands of local families and protects the biodiversity of the Amazon Rainforest through sustainable agriculture. Sambazon is the largest vertically integrated supplier and marketer of Acai products, controlling every step of the manufacturing process to ensure sustainable and organic origin of the fruit as well as the highest level quality, nutrition, taste.

To learn more about Sambazon and how they create positive change in the Amazon and beyond please visit www.sambazon.com.

Sambazon Announces Scientific Advisory Board

Sambazon, the global leader in acai, announces the creation of a Scientific Advisory Board. The Board of established and respected individuals in the health and wellness community will assist in communicating the accuracy of existing data stating the nutritional benefits of Sambazon organic acai. They will also develop and execute human studies examining the health impact of Sambazon acai consumption in the diet.

To further educate their loyal consumers and advance their expertise in acai, Sambazon has assembled a team of professionals with extensive knowledge in organic foods and nutrition to provide insights and conduct additional research on the benefits of Sambazon acai. "This is not only an investment in Sambazon, it is an investment in our consumers," explains Ryan Black, CEO. "We are excited to be working with the preeminent scientific authorities in our industry and to continue to uphold superior nutritional integrity through all of our current and future product lines."

The Sambazon Scientific Advisory Board includes the following experts:

Jack Bukowski M.D., Ph.D. - As Chief Scientific Officer for the Nutritional Science Research Institute and Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Bukowski's focus has been on immununutrition, the study of how nutrients in certain foods & beverages can induce our innate immune systems to fight off disease. In 2003, his study was published, proving that drinking five to six cups per day of tea boosts, by 500 to 1500%, the ability of an innate immune system component to make interferon gamma.

Jonathan Gordon, Ph.D. - With undergraduate degrees in Engineering and Food Science and a Doctorate in Chemical and Process Engineering for research in Soy Protein Chemistry and Microbiology, Dr. Gordon has been an integral player in the continued development, commercial production and determination of health impact of soy products. Over the years, Dr. Gordon has worked in and managed a multitude of food and beverage product development areas such as aseptic beverages, juices, emulsions, fat-replacers, nutraceuticals, diet and wellness products, center-plate items, meats and meat analogs, flavors, and bars. He now runs Glasgow Consulting Group LLC., a full service product development consulting company.

Marie Spano, MS, RD/LD, FISSN, CSCS - Spano is one of the leading sports nutrition and nutrition communications experts in North America. Currently serving as Vice President of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, she has helped elite, professional and amateur athletes go beyond their personal best and achieve maximum performance in their respective sports. She has appeared on Fox, NBC and CBS affiliates in the greater metropolitan Washington, DC area, Georgia and Alabama and is a regular contributor to Muscle & Fitness Hers, FitnessRx for Women, Diabetes Self Management and Today's Dietitian.

About Sambazon:

Sambazon is the global leader in Acai. Founded in 2000 as the first company to bring the antioxidant-rich Acai berry from the Amazon to North America, Sambazon's mission is to deliver the highest quality, organic Acai products. Sambazon's product line of Organic Acai Juice, Frozen Acai Smoothie Packs and Sorbet, Acai Supplements and Amazon Energy are enjoyed by world-class athletes and health-conscious consumers everywhere. Products are available at major retail stores and juice bars across North America including Whole Foods, Publix, Kroger, HEB, Albertsons, Vitamin Shoppe, and Jamba Juice! Sambazon is also a leader among organic foods and sustainable agriculture. In November of 2006, Sambazon was named a winner of the Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence for helping to create worldwide awareness and demand for the Acai fruit. Sambazon pioneered the first of its kind Fair Trade and Certified Organic supply chain of Acai which benefits thousands of local families and protects the biodiversity of the Amazon Rainforest through sustainable agriculture. Sambazon is the largest vertically integrated supplier and marketer of Acai products, controlling every step of the manufacturing process to ensure sustainable and organic origin of the fruit as well as the highest level quality, nutrition, taste. To learn more about Sambazon and how they create positive change in the Amazon and beyond please visit us at www.sambazon.com.

SOURCE Sambazon

A smooth way to extra nutrients

Prepared properly, smoothies are a tasty way to pack extra nutrients into your diet

Including fresh, local fruit, such as strawberries, in your smoothies is a great way to both increase the quality of your diet and decrease the size of your carbon footprint. Peter J. Thompson, National Post Including fresh, local fruit, such as strawberries, in your smoothies is a great way to both increase the quality of your diet and decrease the size of your carbon footprint.

How do you build a better smoothie? A question that plagues post-modern society, to be sure. All kidding aside, however, smoothies have become big business, with a bevy of products and specialty shops available to satisfy your every desire for drinkable fruit. And while blending up a few berries sounds like a simple enough way to eat a more healthful diet, as with so many things in our world today, we've managed to turn something that was once simple into an increasingly complex science.

So whether you're an athlete looking for a drink to help with muscle recovery, a busy professional who needs to get out the door in a hurry or a parent looking for a nutritious snack for kids on a hot day, here is a primer for building a better smoothie for both health and taste.

THE FRUIT

When it comes to picking the ingredients for a smoothie, you really can't go wrong by starting with any kind of fruit, whether fresh or frozen. Bananas are probably the most common choice, partially for the taste, but also because they add a rich texture, especially if they've been frozen before blending. As for the calorie content, don't be afraid:While they are one of the more energy-dense fruits, the roughly 110 calories a banana provides is quite low compared with many other snack foods -- and few foods of any kind are as rich in blood pressure-lowering potassium.

Aside from bananas, berries of any kind are a great choice for their antioxidant and fibre content, as well as their relatively low calorie content. So if you're a fan, then now is the time of year to load up on strawberries, raspberries and wild blueberries, or any other locally grown fruit, which will not only up the quality of your diet, but also eliminate the carbon footprint that comes with choosing more exotic fruits from overseas.

If you want to step beyond bananas and berries, however, then consider fresh or frozen peaches, melons, pineapple, oranges or mangos. Not only will they add a twist of flavour, also a blend of potentially disease-fighting nutrients, known as flavonoids, that is unique to each fruit.

THE "SUPER FRUIT"

If you're a fan of the growing number of smoothie bars popping up across North America, then you're probably familiar with the various "super fruits" that are added to pump up your drink of choice. One of the most popular is the acai (pronounced a-sigh-EE) berry, a product of the Brazilian rainforest that peaked in popularity after being featured on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2008. Despite a limited body of research, acai supporters argue that it is a powerful, antioxidant-rich superfood that can be useful for everything from weight loss to colon cleansing. While a number of dubious companies have sprung up selling purported acai-based weight loss products, the berry itself--like all berries -- is nutritious, even though it probably won't live up to the hype it has generated.

THE PROTEIN

If you combine fruit and ice cream or sorbet and call it a smoothie, you're probably better off calling it dessert. Not only will you be including a chunk of added sugar in your diet (which is to be expected if it is dessert, but not so much if you're using it as a meal or snack), it also lacks a source of protein, which means you are more likely to feel hungry shortly after eating it. Likewise, many of the so-called smoothie products available at grocery stores today are simply fruit purees, which means you're not only missing the protein, but they're often blended with mixture of fruit juices that simply don't have the same nutritional value as the whole fruit.

If you want to build a smoothie that will satisfy you and can serve as a meal or substantial snack, then use whole fruit whenever possible, and include a source of protein. Yogourt, milk and soy beverages are all good places to start (all three contain about eight grams of protein per cup), but you can ramp up the protein even more with a scoop of whey protein powder (one scoop of which usually provides around 20 to 25 grams of protein).

THE CALORIES

While smoothies can undoubtedly be a highly nutritious meal or snack, they can also pack a serious caloric punch if you're not careful. At the popular juice bar Booster Juice, for example, most smoothies contain between 375 and 425 calories -- enough to serve as a small meal for most people. While not an issue if you use it to replace a 600 calorie burger, it can be a problem if you pick a smoothie over ice cream or frozen yogourt, thinking you are saving yourself a few calories (most single-scoop ice cream cones contain between 250 and 300 calories, cone included).

Likewise, if you are making your own smoothie at home, then be careful not to add too many extra calories, particularly from fats and oils. While they are certainly good for you, high-fat ingredients like peanut or almond butter, flaxseed or hemp oil can pack a major caloric punch (about 90 calories per tablespoon of nut butters, or 120 calories per tablespoon of oils) that can turn your seemingly harmless drink into a caloric bonanza before you know it. The bottom line: Use careful portion control, or save the nuts for a snack instead.

http://www.nationalpost.com/life/story.html?id=1788953

The Brazilian Dilemma

A nation struggles not to exploit its own greatest resource.

Seen from the height of 36,000 feet aboard a Brazilian Air Force jet, the Amazon rainforest looks tranquil as we approach our destination, the town of Tabatinga, a jungle outpost in the state of Amazonas where Brazil meets Colombia and Peru. A dark green velvet blankets the land as far as we can see through the fluffy clouds below us. The monotone is free of vehicle tracks, broken only by muddy threads of rivers flowing into the Upper Solimões, as the main branch of the mighty Amazon River is called where it enters the country on its 4,000-mile descent from the Peruvian Andes to the Atlantic.

But if this five-hour flight from São Paulo offers a glimpse of a vast and untouched Amazon, it also highlights the checkerboarding created by recent development. To reach the wilderness from the south, we first fly over countless towns, coffee and sugar cane plantations, and processing plants covering the state of São Paulo. Then the flight continues northward over immense cattle areas that lay siege to the unique, biologically diverse floodplain called the Pantanal, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. Passing over Rondônia state, an hour or so before we land, we see how soybean plantations—prominent newer stars in the country’s growing array of exports—have replaced whole swaths of Amazon rainforest.

In sum, the flight gives the passenger a quick snapshot of a massive ecological dilemma. Of the original 1.5 million square miles of Brazilian Amazon forest, far and away the world’s largest, some 82 percent remains intact. This entire area, roughly the size of India, is home to only twenty-four million people and is endowed with incredible biodiversity of global significance. But it continues to give way to logging, cattle, and soy plantations.

The big question is whether this southern giant will follow the development path favored by many Brazilians, once again plundering Amazonia’s natural capital and suffering the severe consequences of deforestation. Or will it learn from unsustainable prior experience along its Atlantic coast, and resist dragging the Amazon rainforest into the same trap?

The recent news has been good. According to satellite photos taken by Brazil’s highly regarded National Institute for Space Research, deforestation rates have been dropping steadily since 2004. That was the year that President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, responding to increasing pressure from the international community and a growing contingent of ecologically minded Brazilian voters, revealed the Amazon Deforestation Action Plan. The plan involves tighter controls over loggers and ranchers, including fines and even imprisonment, and the refusal of credit by official banks to farmers who are not able to document that they abide by environmental regulations. Chief among these is the Forestry Code, which requires the preservation of at least 80 percent of forest cover on Amazonian properties.

Another piece of good news is Brazil’s Amazon Fund, an innovative idea first announced by former Environment Minister Marina Silva at the United Nations climate conference in Bali in 2007. The fund, newly operational this year, collects voluntary contributions from other nations, companies, and even individuals: the government of Norway has pledged $1 billion to it, of which a first installment of $110 million was deposited at the end of March. Another $18 million is expected to come from Germany soon. Fund officials working at the National Economic and Social Development Bank, a federal agency, then channel these funds to conservation groups and projects—but only after a country-wide reduction in deforestation has been achieved and documented.

The emergence of this government-run fund, a spinoff from international discussions about Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD), constitutes an advance in several important ways. First, by retaining Brazilian control over how the money is spent, the fund’s structure counters nationalist objections to receiving foreign funds in exchange for forest conservation and the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. Control over the national patrimony has been a strongly valued concept in Brazil ever since the bad old days of the mid-twentieth century, when foreign interests owned local electric power and oil companies. Dreams of Amazonian prosperity arouse similar feelings. Second, for the first time after decades of resistance, the fund commits Brazil to deforestation targets. The goal is to achieve an 80 percent reduction in Amazon deforestation by 2020. Third, the willingness of Norway and other countries to hand over substantial monies to Brazil, for projects chosen by Brazil only, reflects growing international confidence in the country’s ability to measure deforestation rates and select anti-
deforestation controls.

But even as Brazil pursues policies to slow deforestation, it advances others that could speed it up. In particular is the government’s $328 billion Accelerated Development Plan, an ambitious long-term national effort to strengthen Brazilian infrastructure and ties with neighboring countries by means of new highways, bridges, airfields, and electric power installations. Support for such initiatives comes from powerful farming and mining interests. Each new mile of road in the Amazon creates new opportunities to exploit the forests. Meanwhile, agribusiness leaders and sympathetic members of Congress have launched an offensive against the Forestry Code and some of its more restrictive provisions. They are, for example, trying to restore the 80 percent reserve rule in the Amazon to the 50 percent level previously required.

The bottom line: the battle is far from over when it comes to balancing Amazonian economic growth and conservation, and in Brasilia the tug of war continues. The severe effects of Amazonian deforestation on regional weather and the global climate are becoming ever better understood. The forest’s biodiversity remains impressive, and there are still countless plant and animal species yet to be analyzed for their possible benefits to all of us. Still, the reality is that if Brazilians were forced to choose today between forest and development, many would favor the latter, matching the amount of forest that has already been lost and abandoning another 18 percent or more to development, exports, and short-term prosperity for some. Most would gladly retrace the path the nation followed along the coast while eradicating the no less diverse Atlantic forest—thus replicating the fate of most of the temperate forests in the developed world.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2009/0907.leite.html

Acai Berry

As part of the Organic-Acai-Berry.com ongoing effort to help consumers select the highest quality acai berry products with the highest potency, the company has published on it's website an Acai Berry Buyers Guide. This guide provides a simple overview of some of the critical criteria that consumers should look for, when shopping for acai products.

The reason to buy acai berry products is to get the nutritional benefits that this remarkable fruit offers. But there are wide differences in nutritional value from product to product.

In order to reap the benefits of acai you must buy the most potent products.

We like freeze dried the best because the freeze drying process captures the nutritional properties of the fresh fruit.
acai berry is an excellent source of nutrition but consumers should understand that they are getting little more than aggravation when something is advertised as free.

According to company spokesperson Charlie Lynch, "The reason to buy acai berry products is to get the nutritional benefits that this remarkable fruit offers. But there are wide differences in nutritional value from product to product." He adds "In order to reap the benefits of acai you must buy the most potent products."

Unlike most acai berry related websites, the Organic-Acai-Berry.com website explains how consumers can distinquish between the highest quality acaiberry products and those of lesser quality. According to Lynch, acai is widely accepted to be a remarkably nutritious fruit with an unusually high level of antioxidants but many companies are going overboard by making outrageous health claims. And many of these companies fail to disclose the amount of acai in their products, or exactly which ingredients are contained in the products they offer.

The company website explains the different forms of acai that are available outside of the rainforest region of Brazil. The acai berry grows only in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil. And within a short time after harvesting the fruit begins to lose nutritional potency, which is the case with many other fruits as well. Therefore, the fresh acai fruit is not available outside of Brazil. If the fresh fruit was shipped to the US, for instance, it would be nutritionally worthless by the time it was purchased from a supermarket shelf.

Since buying fresh acai fruit outside of Brazil is not feasible, consumers must select from other forms of the fruit. Company spokesman Lynch says "We like freeze dried the best because the freeze drying process captures the nutritional properties of the fresh fruit." Lynch says the company's favorite freeze dried acai product is the product called Perfect Acai which is available through the company website.

In order to help consumers avoid rip-offs and time consuming entanglements, the company has been aggressively warning consumers to reject free offers for acai products, as well as free offers for most other products too since most of free offer promotions are essentially marketing ploys in which consumers requesting the free samples are unwittingly placed in monthly auto-shipment programs. These programs automatically ship products and they are often extremely difficult to cancel. Victims have reported great difficulty cancelling these programs as a result of hard to find customer service phone numbers, disconnected phone lines, and excessively long hold times. These free offer schemes often bury the disclosure about the auto shipment programs behind links titled 'Terms' or 'Terms and Conditions' which many people don't read. The company advises consumers to simply avoid websites promoting free offers altogether and to realize that it is not realistic to expect to get something for nothing. They have placed an acai berry scam alert prominently on the website to help consumers avoid these problems. When something is advertised as being free there is usually a catch. They also advise consumers to read product labels in order to make sure they are getting the best product available at a fair price. Flynn says "acai berry is an excellent source of nutrition but consumers should understand that they are getting little more than aggravation when something is advertised as free."

http://www.prweb.com/releases/acai/berry/prweb2210504.htm

Preventing pillage in the rainforest

A scheme to regularise land holdings in the Amazon forest faces many obstacles

GRAND plans to halt the destruction of the Amazon rainforest have come and gone over the years with scant success, so a degree of scepticism about Brazil’s latest scheme seems justified. However, one positive sign is that, this time, the federal government seems to have recognised the importance of working with, rather than against, state governments in the region.

The new plan, discussed at a meeting of state governors and federal officials earlier this month, involves regularising the titles to 80% of the private land holdings in Brazilian Amazonia over the coming three years. This, it is hoped, will encourage the occupants to stay and improve their land instead of abandoning it and moving on to clear the next patch of virgin forest.
Click here to find out more!

A small-scale initiative under way near the village of São Luiz do Anauá in Roraima state provides an illustration of what the scheme hopes to achieve. The local soil is the colour of cement and almost as rich in nutrients. The area was deforested 15 years ago. Cattle ranchers came and went, and for the past few years the land has been unproductive. But now, neat rows of palms sit waiting to be planted, thanks to a biofuels company based in São Paulo.

Brazil lacks a central land register, suffers widespread forgery of title deeds and has a long history of squatters seizing land. A widely-quoted study by Imazon, an NGO, reckoned that only 4% of private land in Amazonia is covered by secure title deeds. Much of the rest has been grabbed in the hope of establishing de facto ownership eventually.

The government’s new scheme is, in principle, simple. Plots of up to 100 hectares (247 acres) will be given to the people farming them. Larger ones, of between 100 and 2,500 hectares, will be sold using various different pricing mechanisms. Plots of over 2,500 hectares will be reclaimed by the government, which is meant to own them anyway. Roberto Mangabeira Unger, the minister responsible for the new scheme, believes that solving the problem of insecure land title will “change the economic equation that has made pillage more attractive than either preservation or production in the Amazon.”

In the past, however, similar initiatives have floundered, for a number of reasons. First, state and federal governments have disagreed over who should be responsible for what. The state governors particularly dislike INCRA, a federal agency charged with distributing small plots of land. Eduardo Braga, the governor of Amazonas, says “INCRA abandoned the families it settled on land in the Amazon without electricity or infrastructure.” The agency certainly has a poor record of preventing deforestation on the land it administers.

Second, the existing laws that govern what land can be used and what cannot are confusing and close to unenforceable. In the 1960s and 1970s, farmers were sometimes required to cut down trees as a condition for getting credit from the state. Some token efforts were made to change this regime in the 1980s, and then in 1996 a decree was issued requiring 80% of each plot of land to be preserved as forest, with only 20% to be cultivated or ranched. This law is widely ignored, and when the government has tried to enforce it, it has often met with strong resistance from the men with the chainsaws. Given this history of mutual antagonism, the process is unlikely to be smooth.

Still, some of these problems have been resolved in the new plan, which has the force of law via a presidential decree. On a federal level, the Ministry for Agrarian Development will handle some of the implementation, taking it away from INCRA, which could be described politely as troubled. Mr Unger, a former Harvard law professor, seems to have succeeded in charming the governors of the states in the Amazon into a more co-operative mood. “We have Obama’s teacher here,” says José de Anchieta Júnior, the governor of Roraima, while addressing a public meeting in the state. “Things are looking up.”

Nevertheless, there is a risk that the scheme, by making it easier to get secure title for dubious land claims, might somehow stimulate demand for virgin forest land, not damp it. And, as ever, enforcing the rules will be the difficult bit. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government has shown an indulgent attitude to violations of property rights elsewhere in the country by the Landless Movement, making it an unlikely guardian of them now. The new scheme is not bound to fail, but the sceptics will take a bit more convincing.

http://www.economist.com/world/americas/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13184683

Ancient Acai – The Brazilian Amazon’s Super-Berry

Acai (ah-sigh-ee) is a small purple berry from the Brazilian Amazon that has been found to be one of the most nutritious and powerful foods on the planet – jam packed with antioxidants, healthy omega fats, amino acids and dietary fiber.

Ancient Acai - the purple berry with an energy punch has been enjoyed and used as a subsistence food by the natives of the Amazon region for millennia. But it is only now beginning to become known to the American consumer, looking for ways to slow the aging process and maintain vibrant health.

Amazonian acai is establishing itself as an important superfood - gaining popularity with the healthconscious crowd.

Antioxidants help the body get rid of free radicals. The body produces free radicals when it digests food, metabolizes medicine and fights disease, so they are necessary parts of the human condition, but a buildup can damage the body. Antioxidants are credited with preventing coronary artery disease, some cancers, macular degeneration, Alzheimer's disease, and some arthritis-related conditions. according to WebMD.com.

Pomegranates, blueberries -- even wine, chocolate and coffee -- contain high levels of antioxidants. The U.S. Department of Agriculture measures those levels with something called an ORAC score -- Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity.

Acai berries have nearly eight times higher ORAC scores than pomegranate, which is near the top of published charts.

Anecdotal evidence may be good and well, but what have the lab studies said about the substances and ingredients that are actually proven to be contained in this ancient fruit?

The Acai Berry's proven antioxidants:

Beta carotene -- Beta carotene is a proven free-radical scavenger associated with lowered risks for several types of cancer, including breast, lung, skin and stomach cancers. Research also supports its use in promoting eye health, lowering cholesterol levels and preventing heart disease.

Vitamin C -- This vitamin is a powerful antioxidant with anti-inflammatory properties found to improve symptoms of asthma and arthritis. Studies have also found vitamin C supplementation useful in protecting against atherosclerosis, stroke, cancer and reducing complications in macular degeneration in diabetics and promoting healthy immune function. When used in combination with vitamin E, a 2004 study from the Archives of Neurology found vitamin C reduced the risk of Alzheimer's disease.

Vitamin E -- Several studies have linked this vitamin to reduced risk of heart attacks and found it beneficial in lowering LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. The National Eye Institute also found vitamin E to be one of several antioxidants (including vitamin C, beta carotene and zinc)that may help reduce the risk of macular degeneration-related vision loss. New clinical research is also recommending vitamin E for diabetes prevention and treatment. Other benefits linked to vitamin E include use for inflammation, blood cell and cell-division regulation and connective tissue health.

Magnesium -- Magnesium deficiency has been linked to several chronic conditions. As an antioxidant magnesium improves the cardiovascular system's antioxidant threshold and increases the body's resistance to free radicals. It also protects agains free radical damage to mitochondria (cellular energy producers) and has been used to regulate heart rhythm and blood pressure.

Polyphenolic flavonoids -- Sixteen types of bioactive polypheolic compounds have been identified in acai berry. Polyphenols are antioxidant compounds found in produce, grains, tea and soybeans. Research shows that polyphenolic compounds have anti-tumor properties and may be useful in the treatment and prevention of cancers of the breast, colon, skin, lung and liver. Other benefits include antiinflammatory antiallergenic, immunostimulatory and cardioprotective properties.

Anthocyanins -- Two major types of anhocyanins have been found in acai, including cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyaninidin-3-rutinoside. Anthocyanins are exceptional antioxidant compounds believed to reduce heart disease risk by neutralizing free radicals that could damage blood vessel walls, leading to cholesterol and plaque buildup. Acai is believed to have up to 30 times the anthocyanins found in red wine.

Keep in mind that this does not require you to take a pill, these antioxidants are contained in this superfood from the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil, the Ancient Acai Berry.

http://www.ancientacai.com/

A Brazilian palm berry sweeping the globe as a popular health food

- though little research has been done on it – now may have its purported benefits better understood.

In the first research involving people, the acai (ah-sigh-EE) berry has proven its ability to be absorbed in the human body when consumed both as juice and pulp. That finding, by a team of Texas AgriLife Research scientists, was published in a recent issue of the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

Showing the berry’s absorption in humans is important because it is known to contain numerous antioxidants. The berry is heavily marketed in the U.S. as a health food.

The study involved 12 healthy volunteers who consumed a single serving of acai juice or pulp. Researchers believe the results point to the need for continued research on the berry which is commonly used in juices, beverages, smoothies, frozen treats and dietary supplements.

"Acai is naturally low in sugar, and the flavor is described as a mixture of red wine and chocolate,” said lead investigator Dr. Susanne Talcott, “so what more would you want from a fruit?”

Talcott, who also is assistant professor with the Texas A&M University’s nutrition and food science department, said that previous studies have shown the ability of the human body to absorb target antioxidants (from other produce), but “no one had really tested to see if acai antioxidants are absorbed in humans."

Sales of acai products have increased dramatically in the U.S. where it has been touted as a metabolism booster, weight reducer and athletic enhancer. Advertisements use buzzwords such as health, wellness, energy, taste and organic.

About the only buzzword not used with acai is "local." The berries are harvested in the Brazilian rainforest from acai palms that may reach heights in excess of 60 feet - one of the same palms used to harvest edible hearts of palm.

The fruit is about the size of a large blueberry yet only the outermost layers of the fruit, the pulp surrounding a large internal seed, are edible, Talcott noted.

Talcott and her co-researcher and husband Dr. Steve Talcott began studying the palm- berry in 2001. His first scientific report on acai, apparently the first such study in English, was published in 2004.

Initially, their studies on the berry examined antioxidant and nutritional components in pulp and juice. Later studies showed the berry’s activity against cancer cells, Talcott noted.

With that background, the researchers then decided to find out whether those elements were actually being absorbed into the human body or being eliminated unused as waste.

"Like vitamin C, the body can only absorb so much at a time," Steve Talcott explained.

He said the researchers now “need to determine potential disease-fighting health benefits, so we can make intelligent recommendations on how much acai should be consumed.

For the clinical trial, people were given acai pulp and acai juice containing half the concentration of anthocyanins as the pulp and each compared to the control foods: applesauce and a non-antioxidant beverage.

Blood and urine samples at 12 and 24 hours after consumption showed significant increases in antioxidant activity in the blood after both the acai pulp and applesauce consumption, she said. Both acai pulp and acai juice showed significant absorption of antioxidant anthocyanins into the blood and antioxidant effects. The research couple said future studies hopefully will help determine whether the consumption of acai will result in any disease-preventing health benefit and the proper serving sizes for a beneficial dose for people.

"Our concern has been that it is sold as a super food – and it definitely has some good attributes – but it is not a solution to all diseases,” she said. “There are a great number of foods on the market, and this could just be part of a well-balanced diet."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/10/081006112053.htm

Acai Berry Information

By now you probably know that the Acai berry grows in the Amazon rainforest. It has a wide range of health benefits and has been consumed by the inhabitants of the Amazon rainforest for as long as anyone can remember. It is only in the rest of the world that it seems a new discovery.

The Acai berry has become a modern health trend, highlighting its content of amino acids, fatty acids (Omegas), vitamins and minerals. It is also considered as a superfood with high levels of antioxidants – more than any other known fruit.

The benefits of using Acai fruits continue to be the subject of research. Acai has been shown to flush out harmful toxins, increases metabolism and some studies have even suggested that it may help prevent cancer.

The little known benefits of Acai berry attracted more attention when Dr. Nicholas Perricone published a book proclaiming Acai to be the earth’s number one super food.

There are number of companies selling Acai products, one of the most prominent is Sambazon. Sambazon’s product can be found on the shelves of most health food stores – or you may purchase online and have it shipped to your door.

Check ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) test results when buying Acai products. The ORAC rating will indicate the amount of antioxidants in the bottled product.

Acai is important in the context of preserving the rainforest. It is one way to have sustainable development where the local population can benefit from harvesting a renewable natural resource – an alternative to the threat of deforestation.

Read more:

http://www.excitingbrazil.com/acaisecret.html