Acai Berries - Origin, History & Health Benefits of Acai Berries

The history of the berry from the Brazilian Amazon that is changing the concept of healthy food. Acai (açaí - a-sigh-ee) is a palm tree indigenous to the Amazon region of South America. It is known by the native people (indigenas) as "içá-çai", which means “fruit that cries”. The Acai tree can be found all over the Amazonia region. To make Acai Roots, juice is extracted from the pulp of the skin of the seed. No trees are harmed in the process. For hundreds of years, acai (açaí) has been a traditional food of the native people of the Amazon – and part of its folklore, finding its way into legend as well as onto the table.
 
Acai Berries, are known for their medicinal and energy-boosting properties. Once a fruit known only to the tribes of the Amazon, acai berries are now touted on pop culture television shows including Oprah and have become more of a common name in naturopathy. The story of the acai berry history is both fascinating and relevant to its current popularity.The earliest acai berry history is based in mythological folklore. Legend has it that the daughter of a tribal chief, named Iaca, bore a child who was killed because of the general hunger due to over-population of her tribe. She was so saddened that she mourned the baby’s death for quite some time, until she heard a child’s cry from outside her hut.Going to find the source of the cry, she saw a tree springing from the ground. She laid beneath the tree and died. When her body was discovered, the fruits of the tree were also found and satisfied the hunger off all in the tribeThe decree to kill children was lifted and the fruit of the tree was named for the chief’s daughter, Iaca.

Less on the mythological side, the beneficial medicinal propertiesof acai were first realized in the 1950s and 1960s. During this phase of acai berry history, its use was first recommended to infuse workouts with energy. Subsequent studies found acai was rich in antioxidants, fibers, healthy fats and important amino acids. Because the actual acai berry is mostly seed with very little meat, you can begin your journey to health with this all-natural product by trying Acai Freeze Dried Powder to create delicious smoothies or easy to take acai supplements.