Acai berries have a unique nutritional profile for a fruit, as they’re somewhat high in fat and low in sugar. 100 grams of frozen fruit pulp has the following nutritional breakdown:

• Calories: 70
• Fat: 5 grams
• Saturated fat: 1.5 grams
• Carbs: 4 grams
• Sugar: 2 grams
• Fiber 2 grams
• Vitamin A: 15% of the RDI
• Calcium: 2% of the RDI

Acai berries also contain trace elements such as chromium, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, magnesium, potassium, and phosphorus, according to Venezuelan research. However, plant components provide some of the most potent health advantages of acai. Anthocyanins, which give acai berries their deep purple color and work as antioxidants in the body, are the most noteworthy of them. Anthocyanins can also be found in foods that are blue, black, or purple, such as black beans and blueberries.

Antioxidants are crucial because they protect the body from the harmful effects of free radicals. If free radicals are not neutralized by antioxidants, they can cause cell damage and contribute to a variety of illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, and heart disease. Acai berries have a high antioxidant content, outperforming other antioxidant-rich foods such as blueberries and cranberries. An Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) score is commonly used to assess the antioxidant content of foods. Acai has an ORAC of 15,405 for 100 grams of frozen pulp, whereas blueberries have an ORAC of 4,669.

Acai's antioxidant effect is derived from a variety of plant components, including anthocyanins. In 2008, researchers offered 12 fasting participants acai pulp, acai juice, applesauce, or a non-antioxidant drink for four separate periods, then analyzed their blood for antioxidants. Acai pulp and applesauce both increased antioxidant levels in individuals, indicating that the antioxidant components in acai are efficiently absorbed in the stomach. It also suggests that acai pulp has more antioxidants than acai juice.

Acai has been shown in animal research to help reduce cholesterol levels by lowering total and LDL cholesterol. It's also likely that it has a similar impact on people. In a 2011 research, ten overweight people had acai smoothies twice daily for one month. At the end of the research, they had decreased total and "bad" LDL cholesterol. This study did, however, have a few flaws. It was tiny, had no control group, and was funded by a major acai supplier.

While further study is needed, it's probable that the anthocyanins in acai are responsible for their beneficial effect on cholesterol levels, since studies have connected this plant ingredient to increases in HDL and LDL cholesterol. Acai also includes plant sterols, which inhibit your body from absorbing cholesterol.

While no one meal is a miracle cure for cancer, several foods have been shown to prevent cancer cells from growing and spreading. Acai has been shown to have anti-cancer properties in both laboratory and animal trials. Acai pulp has been shown to lessen the incidence of colon and bladder cancer in rats.

A second research in mice, however, discovered that it had no effect on stomach cancer. Researchers have decided that acai might have a role in cancer treatment in the future, but further study, including in people, is required. The juice is loaded with antioxidants, but it’s also the highest in sugar and lacking in fiber. Although, if filtered, the juice may contain fewer antioxidants. The powder delivers the most concentrated amount of nutrients, giving you fiber and fat, as well as plant compounds.

Acai's many plant chemicals may also protect your brain from harm as you age. Several studies in lab rats have demonstrated this type of protective effect. Acai's antioxidants protect brain cells from the detrimental effects of inflammation and oxidation, which can impair memory and learning.

Acai even aided boost memory in older rats in one research. The brain maintains its health by cleaning out cells that are poisonous or no longer function properly, a process known as autophagy. It allows for the formation of new nerves, which improves communication between brain cells. This procedure becomes less efficient as you age. Acai extract, on the other hand, has been shown in laboratory studies to help trigger this "housekeeping" response in brain cells.