Friday, June 14, 2019

AcaĆ­ Berries vs Blueberries - Which One is the Winner?




Blueberries and Acai berries are both low in calories and incredibly good for you.

I love blueberries and eat them with yogurt and oatmeal almost everyday for breakfast.

I recently had an Acai Breakfast Bowl while visiting family.  Acai bowls look like ice cream, almost taste like ice cream, and make you feel good about your breakfast choice.  An Acai bowl is basically a really thick smoothie that's been topped with oatmeal, fruit or peanut butter, and then you wolf it down with a spoon.  

The Acai  (ah-sigh-EE) berry is a grapelike fruit harvested from Acai palm trees, which are mostly grown in Brazil’s Amazon rain forest.  Acai is thought to be the most powerful superfood in the Amazon.  Health benefits include increased energy, a boosted immune system, improved metabolic function, and better hair and skin. DrAxe

Not only are Acai berries really good for you they are also delicious. The flavor can be described as a mix between raspberry and blackberry, with a hint of dark chocolate.

Fresh Acai berries are not readily available in the US, but flash-frozen berries are available and can be found in the frozen food section of your grocery store (Target, Whole Foods and Costco).














I decided to investigate the nutritional value of Acai berries compared to blueberries.  The table below gives a summary.  Blueberries have more sugar and carbohydrates, while Acai berries have more fat.


Blueberries (100 grams) Acai Berries (100 grams puree)
Calories
57
70
Fat (g)
0.3
5
Total Carbohydrates (g)
14
4
Fiber (g)
2.4
3
Sugar (g)
10
2
Protein (g)
0.7
1
Potassium (mg)
77
60


Both Acai berries and blueberries are rich in antioxidants. Especially, anthocyanins, which give Acai berries their deep purple color and blueberries their blue color. HealthLineWebMd

Anthocyanins reduce inflammation and promote brain health.  Anthocyanins have also been shown to enhance and improve memory, balance cholesterol levels, and support circulation.   MedicineNewsTodayGlobalHealingCenter

Acai berries and blueberries both have fatty acids which can prevent high blood pressure and high cholesterol.  HealthfullyMedicalNewsToday

Both Acai berries and blueberries are incredibly good for you.  If you love fruit like I do, you don't have to choose one or the other, eat both!