How to Say "Acai"

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Explore the #acaibowl hashtag on Instagram. Please describe what you see. Nearly 1 There must be 4 million images of bowls with a purplish tint and neat rows of toppings, right? Bananas are sliced perfectly and arranged like toppled dominoes; chia seeds are sprinkled in a straight line; and the whole thing is so photogenic, it hurts. And then there are the bowls that take things to the next level, with ingredients like passion fruit, star fruit, and edible freaking flowers that are typically only found in the wild or in the tropics.  

The toppings are what draw the eye and make these bowls popular among coastal influencers, but what, exactly, is the focus of all that commotion? Of course, it's acai, but what is it (and how do you say it)?

How to Pronounce Aça Fruit

Depending on who you ask, aça could be pronounced anything from "ah-sigh," "ah-kye," or "ak-a-see." Dietitians Melissa Petitto, RD, author of the Acai Super Berry Cookbook and founder of Thymeless My Chef, and Rachel Rothman, MS, RD, CLEC, RD, say the proper pronunciation is "ah-sigh-ee." It can be difficult to pronounce," Rothman says.

The cedilla, or hook under the "c," makes the letter sound like an "s" rather than the "k" it would have without the hook. The long "ee" vowel sound is indicated by the accented "i" at the end of the word (called an i-acute). When you add it all up, it sounds like ah-sigh-ee.

Here are 7 Unbiased Facts About Aça

If you've ever been too shy to place your order aloud at a cafe, we've got your back. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, aça is typically pronounced as ah-sigh-EE, though this may vary slightly depending on the speaker's native language and region.

Acai is a type of berry that is cultivated and harvested in Brazil.

Groups of it hang from trees in northern floodplains. Curiously, it wasn't too long ago that aça wasn't available in stores around the world. For Tambor, one expert noted, "All it took was a few decades." This food item has recently surpassed all others in Brazil in terms of market value.  

The original acai fruits, which look like berries but are actually drupes because of their pits, are not edible. According to Petitto, aça are not initially edible but must be soaked and mashed into a paste before they can be consumed. The paste is how it is sold frozen in stores, she explains.

To that end, what exactly is a Kiwano melon, and how do you eat it?

It's commonly referred to as a "superfruit," and acai is one of the most talked

Its nutrient contents, which are truly remarkable, are likely a contributing factor to its rising popularity. Aça's antioxidant properties are often cited as the main health benefit it provides, according to Alix Turoff, MS, RD, CPT. There is roughly three times as much antioxidant activity in them as in blueberries. ”

It turns out that the natural purple dye in the fruit is where all those beneficial antioxidants come from. The new science of how your body can heal itself, as outlined by William Li, author of Eat to Beat Disease. It's the same pigment found in blueberries, called anthocyanin, but in higher concentrations. Despite the paucity of human research, he says, "aça has been shown to combat cancer, improve cholesterol, and even help memory."  

As a result, Aça is a great source of fiber.

In its most common form, aça pulp (which is sold in stores) contains two grams of dietary fiber per serving. Since dietary fiber acts as a prebiotic that ultimately improves your gut health, this Brazilian fruit is a great option for those looking for high-fiber snacks, which is just one more benefit offered by it, according to Li.

Fourth, acai has a low sugar content by design.

It's a berry, but it's a low-sugar, low-carb one. Two grams of sugar and four grams of carbohydrates are all that are in a single serving of aça. For smoothie fans watching their sugar intake due to a condition like diabetes, this is a fantastic option.  

You may be surprised by what nutritionists have to say about the healthiness of poke bowls, which brings us to our next topic.

5 Aça can be used as a nutritional supplement.

Most people think of this berry when they picture smoothies and bowls, but that's not the only way to enjoy its health benefits. The potent antioxidant found in aça berries can now be consumed in convenient capsule form.

A word of caution: many businesses are peddling aça with the claim that it will help you shed pounds. This assertion is not supported by any credible scientific data. On top of that, Li recommends that first-time users do their homework. He advises those thinking about taking an acai supplement to check the ingredients list for any other substances that could interact negatively with their current medications.

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Six, not all Aça bowls are nutritious.

Although aça has many health benefits, not all acai products are created equal. When other ingredients are added to a dish, the health benefits can be greatly diminished, as is the case with many foods.

However, as Turoff points out, "many commercially available aça products have added sugar." "Select one that does not contain any additional sugar." Aça bowls from cafes and juice joints should be avoided with the same caution. They can have well over 500 calories if they're loaded with fattening condiments. ”

It's still not safe for consumption, though. Instead, Li recommends looking at ingredient labels to make sure that the food you're buying isn't loaded with sugar or other unhealthy additives.

Seventh, Açabowls are simple to make at home.

The aça bowls served at cafes and smoothie bars may look beautiful, but anyone with a blender can make a customized version that's sure to please.

Making your own aça bowl allows you to customize the ingredients to your liking. Find sugar-free frozen aça pulp puree and decide what else you'd like to add to it. It lacks sweetness due to its low sugar content, so sweetening it by blending in half a frozen banana and some ice cubes is probably a good idea. Then, you can dress it up with whatever you like, whether that's granola, chia seeds, nut butter, or dried fruit. Really, the sky's the limit.

Here are some recipes for homemade smoothie bowls.  

Sources

• Professional Strength Coach and Dietitian Alix Turoff
• Registered dietitian Rachel Rothman (MS, RD, CLEC)
• Melissa Petitto, RD, is the creator of Thymeless My Chef, a plant-based meal delivery service that serves the greater Santa Barbara area. She is also the author of the Acai Super Berry Cookbook.