Acai Berry and Your Diet

More and more people are including Acai Berries in their diet.  Know as an antioxidant superfood, Acai has become a household name.  It is said to have chocolaty flavor but not the best tasting fruit.  But somehow, someone saw past the taste to reveal the true nutritional value of this fruit.

I recently read a blog about one fellow’s experience using Acai to lose weight.  He was turned on to the product by a fellow doctor and has experienced amazing results.  Not only did he lose weight, he reports experiencing anti-inflammatory benefits as well.  Another positive attribute of the Acai berry is its ability to curb the appetite which allows those seeking to lose weight to control how much they eat.

More important than just dieting, it is important to understand that part of controlling your weight is making changes in the way you eat.  Proper nutrition is one of the key ingredient in controlling your weight.  In addition to Acai, you should incorporate other fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.  No one source of antioxidants is the best.  Nature intended fruits and vegetables to work together as a team to keep the body healthy.

So why is there so much ado about Acai and antioxidants?  Because antioxidants builds up our body’s defenses and allow it to fight of diseases such as cancer and degenerative heart disease.  The diseases like cancer start because of DNA oxidation and heart diseases because of oxidation and inflammation.  Antioxidants are designed to control cell oxidation and relieve inflammation.  Providing our bodies with all the antioxidants and trace minerals that it needs to keep our cells at optimal health will go a long way in preventing many diseases.

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Dandelion Berry Smoothie

One of my favorite new pastimes is harvesting wild edibles. It’s so much fun being out in nature gathering nutrient dense, delicious wild food, for free!

Dandelion is at the top of my favorite things to harvest list. It’s loaded with nutrition and the whole plant can be used as food and medicine. It’s no longer a pesky weed in my book.

We all know how important green leafy veggies are for our health. Consuming ample amounts each day can be a challenge. What I love about wild edibles is that a little goes a long way. Let me explain.

Wild plants are more nutrient dense (contain more vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants) than commercially grown produce, even local and organic. This higher amount of nutrients is precisely what allows wild plants to survive without someone looking after them, such as a farmer. Because wild plants are so nutrient rich, you don’t need to consume heaping amounts, also reducing your caloric intake – win-win!

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that a weed is simply a plant whose virtues we haven’t yet discovered. I think everyone has weeds right outside their door that apply. Another wild green I love is lamb’s quarters, often referred to as spinach on steroids.

For specifics on the nutrient profile of dandelion and why it’s so health promoting, click here.

A word of caution, don’t go picking any old weed and tossing it into you blender. Find an expert and read a book or two, then forage away.

If you’re really sensitive to, or dislike bitter tasting foods, use half the amount of dandelion this recipe calls. Enjoy!

The Ingredients

1 cup water1 cup chopped dandelion greens1/2 fresh or frozen banana1 cup frozen berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, blackberries, or a combination)1 tablespoon coconut oilA dash of cinnamonA little honey, stevia, or maple syrup to sweeten

The Add-ons

1 tablespoon flax seeds, chia seeds, or chia seed gel1 tablespoon cacao powder or nibs1 serving of your preferred protein powder and/or green superfood powder

Show Time

Place the ingredients into your high-speed blender and blend for around 30-45 seconds or until nice and smooth.

I’d love to know what you think or if you tried this dandelion berry smoothie – please do tell in the comments below. Happy Blending!

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