Acai Berries are among the new “must have” foods to help you live longer, look better and age slower. This berry is so powerful that even Dr. Perricone lists it as one of his “Top 10 Super Foods!”
Studies have shown that the Acai berry is one of the more nutritious and powerful foods on the planet. Harvested in the rainforests of Brazil, Acai tastes like a mix of berries and chocolate. Hidden within its purple pigment is what makes it the perfect energy fruit. Acai is packed full of antioxidants, amino acids and essential fatty acids. You probably won’t find it in your local supermarket, but you may have better luck at health food stores, or from the many products springing up online.
The benefits of Acai are purported to be good for detoxing and maintaining optimal health for balancing your pH level. Proper pH balance is vital to our immune health and for disease prevention and correction. Other benefits you’ll enjoy:
- Acai has a high concentration of antioxidants that combat premature aging. It has 10 times the antioxidants that red grapes have, and as much as 30 times the anthocyanins of red wine. Anthocyanins may have antioxidant effects, possibly fighting cancer, diabetes, and bacterial infections, to name a few.
- Healthy monounsaturated fats, dietary fiber and phytosterols together help promote cardiovascular and digestive health.
- An amino acid complex in conjunction with valuable trace minerals, help with muscular health (source)
PRO
- Research concludes that there appear to be significant benefits to Acai
- On Dr. Perricone’s list of Super Foods
- Natural ingredients have disease-fighting qualities
- Increases energy
- Offers antioxidants and amino acids
- Good source of fiber
- Organic products available
- Many juices and other products available in major grocers
CON- Like other exotic products, Acai can be pricey
- Does not provide exercise instruction
Wow! Who would have thought that a little Berrie would contain so many good things. It seems as though you could almost live on acai berries. This is just one more reason why we should be saving the rain forests!
Adria Ali
Many times, our night time meals are full of carbohydrates. If you disect most of the carbs in American dinners; they are full or yeast. Things like bread and pasta not only add that soft fluffy texter to your food, they also add fluff to your gut!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 70 minutes
Nutrition Score per serving:
(1 stack plus ¼ cup sauce): 301 calories, 7 g fat (21% of calories), 3 g saturated fat, 50 g carbs, 10 g protein, 3 g fiber, 167 mg calcium, 3 mg iron, 456 mg sodium
Ingredients
3 cups water
1 ½ cups finely ground cornmeal
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1 tablespoon chopped
fresh rosemary
Cooking spray
1 large zucchini, sliced diagonally
1 large tomato, very thinly sliced
3⁄4 cup shredded
part-skim mozzarella
1 cup jarred marinara sauce
Fresh basil or rosemary for garnish (optional)
Directions
- Bring water to a boil in a medium saucepan and add cornmeal. Reduce heat to low and cook for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Mix in basil and rosemary.
- Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray. Spread out cornmeal to ¼-inch thickness with spatula. Refrigerate 45 minutes, then cut into 12 squares.
- Place one square of polenta on a small plate. Top with a few slices of zucchini, tomato, and 1 tbsp. mozzarella. Repeat layering once, then top with third polenta square and 1 tbsp. cheese. Repeat process for 3 more servings, using up all of the vegetables.
- Heat marinara sauce on low in a small saucepan. Place polenta stacks, one at a time, in microwave for about 2 minutes, or until cheese has melted. To serve, spoon ¼ cup marinara over and around each heated polenta stack. Garnish with herbs if desired (source).
Tip:This dish takes just 15 minutes to prepare if you make the polenta a day ahead of time.
Yellow Squash Side Dish
If you are struggling to find low carb dishes for your nightly meals then try this great recipe from cooking light! Ingredients 4 medium yellow squash (about 1 1/2 pounds) 1 teaspoon olive oil 1 cup thinly vertically sliced red onion 1 garlic clove, minced 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1/4 cup (1 ounce) shaved [...]
When eating a healthy diet; many people get stuck in a rut. Their busy lives prevent them from seeking out new recipes and new ways to eat healthy. To keep you out of your rut look at the 7 recipes below for healthy snacks to mix up your food intake in a good [...]
New Fruit With 6 Times The Vitamin C
Everyone knows that vitamin C is not only beneficial for your immune system, but also beneficial for weight loss. Now the UK is getting a new fruit that promises 6 times the vitamin C and twice as much calcium as milk! This imported fruit comes from Africa. The outer shell of the [...]
Cheat With Less Calories
If you love ice cream, but you hate all the calories and fat then here is a solution for you! Dreyer’s Slow Churned Ice Cream. This ice cream has half the fat and half the calories with all the flavor. Now Dreyers has released all of the “American Idol” flavors. The winner of [...]
Cool Off Your Kitchen – 10 NO Cook Meals
When summer heats up, no one wants to heat up their kitchen by cooking meals. So here are 10 no cook, healthy meals by weight watchers. Cantaloupe Soup with Basil & Crab Puree 2 cups cubed cantaloupe with 1/2 cup mango nectar. Pour the mixture into a large bowl and stir in 1 small [...]
The Perfect Sports Drink
You could probably name a handful of expensive, high calorie, high sugar sports drinks. They are highly advertised and promoted by hundreds of athletes. However, very few people know that one of the best sports drinks in the world needs no promotion, and no endorsed athlete; coconut water. Players in the billion dollar [...]
What if you could eat noodles without the carbs, and without the calories ??? Now there is a new noodle hitting the market made out of vegetable fiber. This pasta substitute needs no preparation and is helping people decrease their waist size FAST! Watch the clip below and be amazed! Why Is The [...]
