Are Acai Bowls Good For Weight Loss?
We are on an acai bowl kick here at Pure Green, the fastest-growing juice bar franchise. They’re colorful and delicious, like a beautiful rainbow mandala for your belly. You like them on Instagram, you treat yourself to them after a hardcore workout, and they’re super healthy and tasty. We know acai bowls are bursting with fruits and nut butter and seeds and hemp granola and bee pollen and other wacky, health food store stuff, but are acai bowls good for weight loss? Have no fear, Pure Green is here to help. We are delving into and getting to the heart of the acai bowl and its health and weight loss benefits.
The History of Acai Berries
Before we delve into the deliciousness of acai bowls, it is worthy of a mention of how this little superfood ended up on our plates, where they come from, and their medicinal value, to fully appreciate them. The history of acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) begins in the lush rainforests of the Amazon. It has been around for centuries but was only introduced to the Western world in the ’90s. Named “the crying food” by locals, indigenous people have been using acai for a burst of energylong before we discovered its potent powers.
Growing in abundance in the Amazon, acai berries come from the acai palm and have doubled as a food source for the people of Brazil for hundreds of years. Brazilians are notorious for their active lifestyles, so it is little wonder that acai berries sustain that bustling energy. When it hit the shores of the USA, researchers started discovering that this little berry packs a big nutritional punch, loaded with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants in abundance. Acai berries contain very little pulp, so large amounts are needed to produce a single bottle of juice. Therefore, acai berries have become a popular presence in food bowls or as a healthy snack. Big brand weight loss manufacturers also use the extract in diet pills and vitamin supplements. The berry is a beautiful dark purple color when ripe and is the size of a small grape. The seed is quite large, and acai berries cannot be eaten as soon as they are plucked from the palm. They must be harvested and properly processed before consumption.
If you are an environmentalist, have no fear! The harvesting of acai berries actually has a positive impact on the rainforest. Because of the high demand, more parts of the rainforest are designated for acai growth, and the local economy is blossoming. So not only are you eating your way to a healthier lifestyle, but you are also doing your part to support endangered land.
What Does Acai Taste Like?
Acai is a tasty blend of all your favorite berries – it has hints of blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries. Now, add a hint of bitter pomegranate and a suggestion of dark chocolate. The fruit is quite tart, so it is often combined with sweeter fruits like bananas and complimentary berries.
What Are Acai Bowls Exactly?
Acai bowls are like a smoothie in a bowl with toppings. Some people go to 16 Handles and load up with froyo and toppings, others go to Pure Green and get a healthier but equally tasty acai bowl. They’re similar concepts — both are refreshing frozen treats. Acai bowls get their name from their base, which is usually a combination of frozen acai, banana, some sort of liquid like coconut water or almond milk, and sometimes other fruits or nut butter. These ingredients all get blended together as they would in a smoothie, and the frosty deliciousness is then poured into a bowl, ready to be topped.
The toppings are where things get really interesting. You can pretty much top an acai bowl with whatever strikes your fancy: granola, peanut butter, toasted coconut chips, chia seeds, sliced fruits, and the list goes on. Possibilities are endless!
We pride ourselves on our acai bowls here at Pure Green. If you’re new to acai bowls, come in and we’ll take care of you. Here’s a breakdown of our specialties so you don’t get too overwhelmed.
Pure Health Acai
The base of this acai bowl is acai blended with bananas, almond milk, and cold-pressed apples. The toppings are sliced bananas and hemp granola. A classic and simple acai bowl -- perfect for your first time.
Mixed Berry Acai
The base of this acai bowl is acai blended with strawberries, almond milk, and cold-pressed apples. The toppings are blueberries and hemp granola. Berry delicious!
Coconut Chia Acai
The base of this acai bowl is acai blended with mangoes, pineapples, bananas, and coconut water. The toppings are sliced apples, blueberries, chia, coconut, and hemp granola. Perfect for a sunny afternoon when you’d rather be by the pool than working.
Pure Green Acai
The base of this acai bowl is acai blended with spirulina, bananas, almond milk, and cold-pressed apples. The toppings are blueberries, sliced bananas, and hemp granola. Way more fun than a salad, but just as green!
Almond Butter & Hemp Acai
The base of this acai bowl is acai blended with bananas, almond milk, and cold-pressed apples. The toppings are almond butter and hemp granola. Chock full of protein- great for breakfast or lunch!
What Makes Acai So Special?
As mentioned, acai berry is most famous for its insane amount of antioxidants. In fact, acai has 10 times more antioxidants than blueberries -- pretty crazy, huh? People love antioxidants because they fight all the nasty free radicals that get into our system on a daily basis. So with every bite of your acai bowl, you busting up all the damage pollution and toxins have wreaked on your system over time.
Acai is also super high in vitamin C, making it great for your skin and your immune system. You can skip juicing your oranges and grapefruits when you’ve got that acai bowl lined up for lunch.
So, Are Acai Bowls Actually Good for Weight Loss?
Acai bowls are good for weight loss as long as you are smart about your consumption of them. Don’t just pick up an acai bowl from anywhere. Make sure you know what goes into them and on top of them! Not all acai bowls are created equally. Don’t worry, Pure Green has some tips for you to maximize the weight loss benefits of your acai bowls.
Watch The Sugar Content
Sugar is the enemy of weight loss, so make sure you aren’t adding any refined sugars to the mix. The acai base should only use unsweetened acai. Stay clear of the packets that are sweetened. A 100g packet of unsweetened acai puree has only 70 calories and no sugar. This is what you want to be using in your acai bowls. You’ll be getting plenty of sugar from the fruit and liquids you blend it with, so it won’t be too tart. Since you’re already getting so much natural sugar from the fruits in the base and in the toppings, do not add more to your topping spread. Steer clear of drizzling honey or using granola with added sugar.
Add Protein
When you add protein to your acai bowl, it can actually lower the glycemic index of the bowl. This will help stabilize your blood sugar. Use a natural source of protein like peanut butter or almond butter (with no nasty added sugar!) or chia seeds and mixed nuts. If you eat dairy, you could even add greek yogurt to the mix. Add it to the base and blend it up. Plus, it will make your acai bowl creamier! Protein will also keep you feeling full for longer so you won’t crash an hour after you eat it. Treat it as a meal and make sure you get enough protein in your acai bowl to keep you satisfied all morning or afternoon.
Watch Your Portion Size
This is weight loss 101 of course, but sometimes it’s hard to monitor your portions when you’re consuming a “health food.” Yes, it’s healthy and good for you, but you still shouldn’t be overdoing it. You don’t want your delicious acai bowl to become a source of unnecessary calories. Remember the recommended serving size for many fruits is one cup, so bear that in mind when making or ordering your acai bowl. You can always halve the size if you aren’t sure. You can always save some for later too! Throw a lid on that bowl and leave it in the fridge as a snack for the afternoon.
How To Make Acai Bowls At Home
If you don’t have any smoothie shops nearby or are looking to save money or be extra mindful of the ingredients you are consuming, you can make your acai bowls at home! All you need is a blender! It’s easy. Grab the ingredients, throw them in the blender, and go! Pour it in a bowl and top it off with your preferred toppings. Here are some great recipes to make it easy for you.
Simply Delicious Acai Bowl
Serves: 1
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
Base:
1 100g packet of frozen unsweetened acai berry puree
½ banana (bonus points if it’s frozen!)
½ cup unsweetened almond milk
½ cup blueberries, frozen or fresh
Toppings:
¼ cup sliced strawberries
¼ cup granola, no sugar added!
1 tbsp all-natural almond butter
1 tbsp chia seeds
Put all your base ingredients in the blender and mix until smooth. Make sure you don’t leave any chunks! Pour the base into a bowl and top with your sliced strawberries, a dollop of almond butter, and a sprinkling of chia seeds and granola.
Greek Yogurt Acai Bowl
Serves: 1
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients
Base:
1 100g packet of frozen unsweetened acai berry puree
½ banana, preferably frozen
¼ cup coconut water
½ cup Greek yogurt -- make sure it is plain with no added sugar!
Toppings:
¼ cup blueberries
¼ cup sliced banana
¼ cup unsweetened, natural granola
You can follow the same routine here. Blend all the base ingredients together and pour the mixture into a bowl. Add your toppings, and eat up!
With any of these recipes, feel free to customize them to your heart’s content. Change up the toppings or add other fruits or extras to the base. It’s hard to mess up an acai bowl! You can also blend in some leafy greens like spinach with the acai puree to balance out the sweet taste.
It is important to note that not any single, superfood alone will work for weight loss. To lose weight, you need to follow a calory-controlled diet and a decent amount of physical activity. Weight loss looks different for many people, so keep that in mind before you dive in. Overall, acai bowls are a great whole food when they are done right – keep an eye on the portions!
The Different Forms of Acai
If you are a fan of this sweet little berry, you are not limited to acai bowls either – you can get creative! Experiment with different forms of acai to discover what you like best, and what works best for you.
Fresh is, of course, always better, but fresh acai berries are quite rare. If you can get your hands on it, you know you are eating top quality.
In lieu of fresh acai, dried, frozen, or puree works just as well. As a boon, they will also last longer than the ones freshly picked. Fresh berries only have a lifespan of 24 hours after being picked, so it causes a logistical problem to get them fresh.
Acai juice is perfect if you need a hit on the go. However, pure acai juice is pricey due to the larger number of berries required to make it, so the juice is often blended with complementary flavors.
Powered or acai pills are very common and popular, and have a long shelf life. If you choose to rather take this super berry as a supplement, just be sure to look at the label to make sure that your capsule is verified by the USP (United States Pharmacopeia)
What Can You Do with Acai Berries?
Add them to frozen yogurt or low-fat desserts for a delicious treat. If you are feeling particularly industrious, here is a cheeky little recipe for your homemade frozen yogurt with acai berries tossed in. You will need an ice cream maker, but it is worth the investment. You will also need;
1 cup of pomegranate pips
7 ounces of açai puree
A touch of honey to taste
32 ounces of Greek yogurt
1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
½ cup of lime juice.
Next, toss the honey, vanilla, and lime juice, and mix this liquid straight into the yogurt, and set aside. Then, whisk the mixture until it is smooth. Simply pour the mix into your ice cream maker and follow the instructions as you normally would. Just keep an eye on the timer – in the last two minutes, mix in your acai berries and pomegranates, and when done, pop it into the freezer to set. Voila!
Toss them into healthy snacks for a burst of sweetness. Perk up your boring granola or oatmeal with a handful of acai berries. You can even toss it into a salad for an interesting combination – spinach, red onions, nuts, and acai berries will cause a party on your palate.
The Other Benefits of Acai Berries
Packed with essential nutrients and minerals. These little berries are big in nutrition (that is why you should keep an eye on the portions). They also contain healthy fats your body needs, as well as copper, magnesium, and phosphorus.
Rich in antioxidants. We know how important antioxidants are in fighting free radicals that cause aging. Acai berries contain an active compound, anthocyanins, that has been clinically proven to help cells fight off certain medical conditions like heart disease and cancer.
Lowers cholesterol. The mentioned anthocyanins are also linked to lowering LDL and total body cholesterol, while another compound, sterol, block the absorption of bad cholesterol in your body.
Increases brain function – Because these little wonders are so rich in antioxidants, they can also help to improve cognitive health. While diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s can’t be cured, antioxidants can go a long way to significantly reduce the onset.
Boosts energy levels. This increase in energy, in turn, enhances athletic performance and can combat fatigue and stress. Again, the abundance of antioxidants is to thank for the rapid muscle repair.
Regulates the digestive system. Acai berries are also dense in fiber, which as we know, is crucial for a healthy, regular bowel.
Regulates the nervous system. These healthy fatty acids naturally found in the berries promote a healthy nervous system by providing energy to the brain and nerve metabolism.
Can potentially boost your libido. Thanks to energy-increasing properties, it is said that these little berries can act as an aphrodisiac as well. With the enhanced energy supply and increased blood flow, men may very well reap the full benefits.
Understand The Facts
As we have illustrated, acai bowls are a great treat to eat your way to a thinner waist – with moderation! If one bowl is good, it doesn’t mean that 10 bowls are better. Before you dive in and expect a miracle cure to those pesky pounds, also keep the following in mind;
Beware of false promises. Many companies make false and misleading claims about the miracle weight loss that acai brings. Some go so far as to claim that you will rapidly lose up to 25 pounds in four weeks. Again, we cannot reiterate this enough, be realistic about your expectations.
Know why acai promotes weight loss. The powerful antioxidants found in acai berries certainly help to increase metabolic function, which in turn, promotes weight loss. The healthy fats in acai, similar to those found in olives and avocado, can also curb your appetite, which decreases your calory intake. That said, keep your portions in mind. Just because it is healthy does not mean you can overindulge.
Some people can have an allergic reaction to acai. Often, people who are allergic to pollen or show palm allergies have reported an allergic reaction to acai. If this is you, try a small portion first and evaluate how you feel. The severity of the reactions will vary, so if you feel out of sorts, best avoid it. Fret not, there are still many powerful superfoods at your local Pure Green, begging for a taste!
Eat Your Acai Bowls On The Way To a Tinier Waistline
So, at the end of all this, are acai bowls good for weight loss? Yes! Just follow Pure Green's guidelines. Watch the sugar content of your bowl, make sure you include a good amount of protein and don’t over-serve yourself!