Why we LOVE açaí!
Vibe Well açaí bowl with superfood toppings!
Ah-sigh-ee!
What is this purple goodness and why can't we get enough of it?!
This Brazlian Superfood is a grape-like fruit that grows on palm trees in Central and South America. The acai fruit is 1 inch in diameter, protected by a dark purple skin with a yellow flesh, surrounding a large seed. The seed makes up about 80% of the fruit; most of the nutritional benefits are found in the skin and flesh. The flavor is naturally sweet and is commonly related to a berry, chocolate mix, yes, chocolate! Reason one we love acai, we love chocolate!
Beyond the taste, these little berries are loaded with health benefits. Acai is packed full of antioxidants, sixteen antioxidants to be exact! Acai is recognised as one of the highest ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity) foods. ORAC is a measurement of how well antioxidants can neutralise free radicals.The higher the value, the better the body utilizes them to fight free radicals. Free radicals cause disease. They are atoms with unpaired electrons. Electrons like to have pairs and when they don’t, they scavenge the body, searching for a pair, causing damage to the cells, DNA and proteins; ultimately causing health issues. The amount of free radicals within our bodies are influenced by the food we eat, medications we take, and toxins in our environment.
Along with being one of the highest ORAC foods, acai is extremely high in anthocyanin, a form of plant antioxidants, which aids in heart health, reducing heart disease, lowering cholesterol levels, and improving circulation. The power behind the high antioxidants also promotes healthy skin, internally and externally. In addition, acai has been studied and proven to reduce exercises-induced muscle damage and improves blood lipids. It’s an all around powerhouse. Can you say, superfood?! Reason two we love acai.
Now that you have a glimpse of the benefits within this berry, how excited were you when you found out there would be space in your community that offer acai bowls?
Christine and Jennifer, the owners here at Vibe, we're moving forward with their ideas of what Vibe Well would stand for and what they wanted to offer on the menu. Originally, acai bowls were not a part of the Vibe Well plan. We have Bobby Landaal, Christine’s husband to thank for insisting on bringing this purpley-powerhouse into the vision of Vibe. Christine and Bobby often travel to California and Hawaii where you can find acai bowls on every corner. While acai bowls on every corner sounds like a dream come true, like everything else in life, some are better than others! One thing Christine and Bobby pin-pointed from the start was the consistency of the acai and how that was a game changer. After doing research, they found a brand that is a hundred percent organic, ethically sourced, and no BS added; that is a brand we can stand behind here at Vibe Well. Bobby spent many long and exhausting hours in their kitchen, perfecting the ratio of our recipe to get the consistency perfect. We take pride in our bowls, and offering our community a healthy options when eatting out.
Food is medicine!
Acai lovers rejoice!
FUN ACAI FACTS:
Acai is pronounced, Ah-sigh-ee! However you say it, we know what you mean!
Acai is not actually a berry because it has the seed in the middle, it is a durple-- who knew?!
Acai comes from the Amazon Rainforests
Each tree will produce 4-8 bunches per year, each bunch weighing about 13lbs!
Harvesters in the Amazon make a foot strap called Peconha to help climb the acai trees
Acai growing in the palm tree
Thanks to our very own Makenzie Sanford for this week’s blog!