Acai: What you need to know + My favorite acai bowl recipe

Who loves acai as much as I do?! Here's my recipe that will give you the healthiest and yummiest version of the fruit! I bet you already know what acai bowls are from social media (probably because they are so pretty!), but did you know that there are many health benefits to them?
When you buy acai berries from the grocery store, they are typically juiced and frozen into packs. You can find my personal favorite ones here. Studies show that these berries contain more antioxidants than cranberries, blackberries, strawberries, and blueberries! You can definitely find tons of studies throughout the web, but I will simplify them here. 

Here are the top 5 health benefits of Acai...

1. Acai reduces high cholesterol 
According to theculturetrip.com, "acai contains two essential fatty acids known as omega-6 and omega-9." These fatty acids are proven to maintain AND reduce cholesterol levels. 
2. Improves immune system
 Acai contains certain compounds, including the polyphenolic compound (which helps
reduce the development of malfunctioning cells by about 86%) Although there are no treatments or cures yet, there are studies trying to find out if extracts from the compounds in acai can help reduce tumor growth! I know!
3. Helps with healthy skin
 Acai is proven to have extremely high antioxidant levels, as I said before, making it great for your overall skin. The oil extracted from acai can be used on the skin to cleanse and moisturize, which is way healthier and more effective than chemical products.
4. Is an energy-booster
  Acai makes the human body healthier and, as a result, increases stamina and energy as the body works more efficiently.
5. Great for anti-aging
 According to theculturetrip.com, Another benefit of acai’s high antioxidant content is the effect this has on aging. One small acai berry is full of antioxidants, twice as many as the blueberry—another superfood—and 10 times as many as a grape. Acai is also rich in several phytochemical forms that have been linked to slowing down the signs of aging and even reversing them in some cases.
Huge shoutout to The Culture Trip for providing me with so many viable reasons as to why acai is such a beneficial food! Of course, I also used many other references.

Best Acai Bowl Recipe

What you'll need...
- 1 frozen acai pack (Mine are from here)
- 1/4 banana (fresh or frozen)
- 1 cup of mixed berries (frozen)
- 1/2 cup milk (or any milk alternative)
- 1 tablespoon chia seeds (I get mine by clicking here)
* these chia seeds are more on the expensive side because they are organic, but you can get some for great prices here
My favorite toppings...
- goji berries
- granola
- blueberries
-honey (though it is relatively high in sugar, so use an organic brand like this one)
How to get the perfect bowl out of these ingredients...
1. Start by adding all your frozen fruits (acai, berries, and banana) and your milk into a blender. Pulse on high intensity for about 2-3 minutes (until you get a clumpy/smooth consistency)
2. add your chia seeds and blend for about 30 seconds.
3. serve into approximately 2 medium-sized bowls and enjoy!
Notes...
 * the less milk, the thicker it becomes. try not to add more than 5 oz. of milk
* if the mixture comes out too bitter for your liking, it was probably the berries. try adding 1 tbs. of agave or honey to the blender and blend until well incorporated


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