4 Reasons Why Acai is a Superior Dark Berry

Modern research confirms the importance of incorporating a variety of foods with dark colors that contain a wide range of potent polyphenolic compounds to support the repair process from damage caused by stress, thereby helping to create a more balanced internal environment. 

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that berries, especially Acai berries, are a nutritional powerhouse, containing a wide array of unique compounds and known for their deep, rich, and dark colors, which have a profound impact on human health. 

While the market is flooded with a wide variety of Acai products (powder, frozen, capsules, and extracts), the versatility of pure, freeze-dried Acai powder stands out in an impressive lineup of competitors. 

However, sometimes the beauty, subtlety, and straightforward whole-food version is the most appropriate approach for long-term nourishment. With a deep, rich, tart berry flavor and earthy chocolate undertones, freeze-dried acai powder exhibits excellent potential for a wide range of daily applications.

Here is some background information about the Acai berry

In many cultures worldwide, berries are considered a staple in the human diet. However, while some of these berries are regarded as everyday foods, they are often used as local medicines or tonic foods, depending on the culture. 

• Acai berries are essential staples in the South American diet and are used in various local remedies and medicinal applications. 

• Acai berries are dark purple berries native to South America, with an earthy, bitter, mildly sweet, and nutty flavor, as well as a chocolatey blackberry undertone. If you close your eyes when eating acai berries, you can taste notes of chocolate. 

• The name Acai comes from a native tribe (the Tupi), meaning weeping fruit.  

• Acai has been a part of the diet of indigenous people in the Amazon for centuries (contributing up to 40% of their diet), traditionally eaten hot and salted, accompanied by cassava flour. 

• Acai berries are approximately 90% seed, so it is not uncommon to find tiny bits in a freeze-dried powder. 

• There are five kinds of Acai berries: Purple/black, Acu Acai, Sword Acai, Ox Blood Acai, and Chumbino Acai.

Four reasons why Acai is a superior dark berry 

1) The Fatty Acid Profile of Acai Berries

Acai berries are an outstanding source of essential fatty acids and are said to have a unique fatty acid profile for a fruit. Approximately 50% of the macronutrient profile of acai berries comes from fat, and 74% of their fat content consists of unsaturated fatty acids. From there, the fatty acid profile is approximately 5 grams of omega-6 and 18 grams of omega-9 fatty acids. 

• Polyunsaturated fatty acids are around 11%

• Monounsaturated fatty acids are around 60%

• Saturated fatty acids are around 29%

• Around 54% of the monounsaturated fats are oleic acid, the same substance found in olive oil. 

There are two primary types of fats: saturated and unsaturated. Structurally speaking, saturated fats have no double bonds, whereas unsaturated fats have one or more of these bonds. A fat with one double bond is considered monounsaturated, whereas if it has more than one, it is polyunsaturated.

Polyunsaturated fats are broken down into two classes: Omega-3 and six fatty acids. 

A key point to note is that while certain foods may be higher in a specific type of fat, all foods contain a combination of saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fats. Acai berries are an excellent source of monounsaturated fatty acids, with oleic acid being the most abundant. Acai berries contain around 33 grams of fat per 100 grams. Here is the approximate breakdown of fatty acids in acai berries. 

• 60% oleic acid 
• 22% palmitic acid 
• 12% linoleic acid 
• 2% Stearic acid
• 2% Palmitoleic acid  
• 2.5% Arachidic acid

The vast majority of Acai’s fatty acid profile comes from the omega-6 fatty acid Oleic acid, which is the most abundant fatty acid in human adipose tissue. Oleic acid helps omega-3 fatty acids penetrate the cell membrane, which makes them more supple. Ultimately, supple membranes help hormones, insulin, and neurotransmitter receptors function more efficiently in the body.

2) The power of polyphenols

Acai berries are an outstanding source of polyphenolic compounds and consistently ranked in the top ten best Orac scores for antioxidant activity. 

To provide some perspective, Acai berries are well known for containing two major anthocyanins: 

1. cyanidin-3-glucoside and 
2. cyanidin-3-rutinoside. 

However, the contributions of the anthocyanins to the overall antioxidant capacities of the fruit were estimated to be only approximately 10%. 

Furthermore, for comparison, 100 grams of acai pulp has an ORAC score of approximately 15,500, compared to the same amount of blueberries, which has an ORAC score of around 4,700.

Many health experts believe that a diet rich in flavonoids is crucial for supporting a healthy aging process, as these compounds are known as nature’s biological response modifiers. There are over 8,000 different types of flavonoids found in nature. Based on the research, it does not seem to matter if you acquire them from food or supplements; what counts is the total daily amount you consume. These experts recommend consuming at least 2,000 milligrams of flavonoids daily, sourced from a variety of foods and supplements. 

Polyphenols are a term used to describe a general category of compounds found in a broad spectrum of fruits, vegetables, and tea that work as “reducing agents” along with other compounds known as antioxidants to support a healthy inflammation response and the body's ability to protect and repair damaged tissue caused by oxidative stress. While over 8,000 polyphenols have been identified, some of the most common are flavonoids, flavonols, and anthocyanins. Acai berries are a vibrant source of these specific compounds.

• Anthocyanins are a part of the flavonoid family of polyphenolic compounds. They represent the pigments that exhibit the bright red, purple, and blue colors found in fruits and vegetables. The six most common are Cyanidins, Delphinidins, Malvidins, Peonidins, Petunidins, and Pelargonidins.  

• Flavonols are polyphenols belonging to the flavonoid family with a ketone group, studied for their wide range of biological activities (antioxidant, antimicrobial, hepatoprotective, modulating inflammation, and vasodilation). They primarily accumulate in the outer tissues(skin and leaves) of fruits and vegetables, are the building blocks of proanthocyanins (compounds that are attributed to the colors of fruits and vegetables), and are most widespread in the human diet.

A human study examining the Pharmacokinetics of anthocyanins and antioxidant effects after consuming anthocyanin-rich acai juice and pulp showed an increase in plasma antioxidant activity of up to 2-3 times, specifically for acai juice and pulp.  

3) Consuming fresh Acai daily is the traditional use of Acai 

However, here in the West, our untrained palates and desire for sweet flavors, using fresh acai berries, are not generally favored. Therefore, a freeze-dried Acai powder exemplifies how technological advancements can transform these powerful medicinal foods into products with incredible potential for limitless applications, offering a more convenient way to use this powerful medicinal food on the go. 

Ultimately, preserving the incredibly nourishing qualities found in Acai berries and maximizing their versatility may be best obtained through freeze-drying. 

Furthermore, unlike many other food preservation practices that involve the addition of unhealthy preservatives, freeze-drying is all about what is taken away. The shelf life of powdered food or products is directly linked to their moisture content. 

A freeze-dried product typically has a moisture content of 3% or less. 

So, freeze drying allows for greater versatility of the end product due to more accessible storage options and blending capability, and supports the natural flavor profile of the fresh food version. 

There are three primary advantages to using a freeze-drying method:

1. Freeze drying creates the closest end product when presenting a whole food complex. 
2. Freeze-drying a food preserves its smell, taste, and texture as closely as possible to that of the fresh version.
3. Freeze-dried foods allow you to customize your needs when creating a product. For example, freeze-dried berries can be left whole, chopped, or milled into a powder, all of which retain the nutritional value of the fresh version. 

To review all of our freeze-dried foods, go here:

Freeze Dried Collection

4) It may surprise you to learn our final reason why Acai is a superior dark berry

To think or believe that one berry is genuinely superior to another is somewhat misleading. There will never be a single compound from food that is superior to the entire food matrix of compounds. Isolates do not work as individual entities. 

Furthermore, consuming a mixture of berries that also contains acai is an exceptional choice on all levels because you are getting a greater array of nutrients and compounds to support health. 

This concept is known as synergy. 

The primary principle behind synergy is the knowledge that the whole is greater than the sum of its simple parts. 

When applying this concept to a product containing a wide array of nourishing foods, it is essential to recognize that the potent compounds in each food and herb have a broader spectrum and more nourishing effect than any isolated compound within that mixture. When eaten as a whole food matrix, no individual compound works alone. Therefore, combining a targeted variety of functional foods will provide more potent nourishment than consuming a standardized version of any particular compound. 

However, there are a few other reasons why the Acai berry makes that mix of berries a superior food: The ORAC score and the fatty acid profile. 

As stated earlier, Acai berries are consistently among the top five most potent antioxidant-rich foods. Numerous examples illustrate the importance of fats in enhancing the bioavailability of various nutrients and compounds. One example is the examination of Mediterranean lifestyle research. Tomatoes are a key food in the Mediterranean diet because they are an excellent source of many potent carotenoids. 

However, it has been shown that tomatoes cooked in olive oil yield a much better level and absorption of these various carotenoids. This concept is precisely why the value of acai berries is so crucial in your berry mix.     

In conclusion, while we have access to many potent and wonderful berries worldwide, we know that consuming them in a variety, rather than focusing on a single one, increases our chances of achieving better health. However, in rare instances, a berry emerges that offers a unique nutritional profile, potentially enhancing the food matrix and providing greater nourishment. Acai berries happen to be that rare instance. 

Therefore, acai should be a member of the exclusive bowl of berries for daily consumption. 

For more information about our Organic Acai Berry, go here:

Acai Berry Powder Premium - Organic Freeze Dried

For more information about our Organic Super 8 Berry Blend, go here:

Super 8 Berry Blend - Organic Freeze Dried

About Michael Stuchiner, Master Herbalist
Michael Stuchiner is a Master Herbalist and proud graduate of The School of Natural Healing and has worked in different areas of this field for over 25 years. He is a retired elite-level powerlifter who competed for 27 years. As an avid international traveler, he is passionate about the use of medicinal and tonic herbs, as well as foods traditionally found in local markets in the 35 countries he has visited. Michael brings you his years of experience as a Master Herbalist, traveler, and athlete through the hundreds of articles he has written and his YouTube channel (A Master Herbalist Perspective). He is considered a true educator in this field. For more articles written by Mike, go here: Master Herbalist.