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Acai Tea Diet

The acai berry comes from South America. It's considered a super food, meaning it's a rich source of antioxidants and other nutrients that can help support overall health and prevent disease. Acai is consumed in a number of ways---as juice, baked into foods, or as a tea. As a tea, acai is typically combined with green tea, which also provides a number of health benefits.

  1. Antioxidants

    • In studies of the acai fruit, researchers have found that it is a good source of vitamin C and contains a high level of other antioxidants. It is also a good source of anthocyanins and carotenoids. Most teas are also rich in antioxidants, which help to protect your cells from damage that can speed aging. A review of research published in the Journal of Neuroscience in October 2009 suggests that consuming foods that are rich in antioxidants can help extend your lifespan and slow the onset of cognitive decline often associated with aging.

    Cardiovascular Health

    • Acai berries contain a number of healthy fats, including oleic acid, palmitic acid and linolenic acid. These kinds of healthy fats can help balance cholesterol and triglyceride levels in your system, which can lower your risk of heart disease. Green tea also promotes good heart health. It helps prevent atherosclerosis---the hardening of the arteries associated with heart disease and heart attack. It also helps to balance cholesterol levels. When the two are taken together regularly as a daily habit, an acai green tea can provide many benefits to your overall heart health.

    Weight Loss--Buyer Beware

    • Acai products are often promoted as a good way to lose weight. The truth is that antioxidants and good nutrition are an important part of supporting your body while losing weight, but there is no research to show that acai expedites weight loss.

      Acai products are typically expensive. If you enjoy the taste and want to take advantage of the antioxidant and heart benefits that acai tea can provide, it can make a good addition to your diet. However, if you expect acai tea to help you lose weight, it is probably not the best investment. When shopping for acai tea, look for products that do not contain sweeteners and that do not contain several other juices. The more juices in the blend, the less acai you'll be getting.

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