The acai bowls have gained popularity because of the famous berries they are made from. Acai bowls are packed with delicious berries cultivated in Central and South America. Not only this, acai bowls are considered the most healthy, nutritional, and tasty options for snacks with vibrant, color-creamy textures.
One can include it in the diet as a smoothie with the toppings of fruit, nuts, granola, or seeds in a bowl, making it an antioxidant-rich superfood.
However, some consider this bowl high in sugar and calories, which is unhealthy for health. This is where the question arises: “Are acai bowls good for you?” This article will uncover if acai bowls are good for your health. Continue reading.
What Are Acai Bowls?
Acai is a berry that was first famous in Brazil. This berry is dark purple in color with different flavors of wild berries, chocolate, and soil. Acai bowl is a thick recipe or smoothie prepared by blending or purring acai berries.
One can add other ingredients like bananas, yogurt, grains, and other frozen fruit. There are many different healthiest choices one can add as sweet toppings, making them one of the most nutritious options for breakfast.
In other words, the acai bowl is an upgraded version of the oatmeal bowl in terms of visuals and flavor.
Acai Bowl: Nutrition Level
The nutrition level of the acai bowl depends on the ingredients used, like bananas, mango, berries, kiwi, nuts and seeds, chocolate chips, honey, etc. Acai recipes are also good sources of fiber, micronutrients like manganese, vitamin C, potassium, and antioxidants.
For example, if we consider a 170-gram acai bowl, then its nutrition profile:
- Fat – 6 grams.
- Fiber – 7 grams.
- Calories -211 grams.
- Carbs – 35 grams.
- Protein – 3 grams.
- Sugar – 18 grams.
Acai bowls sold in shops contain many more calories than self-made ones. Commercial bowls contain fruits like bananas, strawberries, and blueberries, rich in vitamin C and manganese.
You can consume 600 calories and 75 grams of sugar in a single marketed acai bowl. Homemade acai bowls are made with a considerable amount of ingredients that work as antioxidants to protect cells from oxidative damage caused by harmful compounds called free radicals.
Additionally, they are rich in potassium, which controls blood pressure levels and protects bones and kidney stones.
Is Acai Bowl Good For You?
Acai is a nutritious berry taken with a combination of other nutritional fruits and veggies. However, commercial acai bowls are less healthy as they contain more sugar and calories than homemade acai bowl recipes. Usually, the bowl toppings consist of fruits, granola, nuts, and seeds.
While making a homemade acai bowl, you can pick what to include, like toppings, amounts, and bowl size, offering yourself a healthy snack by managing the amount of toppings.
Additionally, you can include berries like strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries to boost it with more antioxidants and minerals to make it healthier.
Acai Bowls: 6 Health Benefits
Acai bowls are packed with several benefits as they contain nutritious fruits, grains, and veggies to power up your whole body with essential nutrients. For its maximum benefit, it is recommended to make it yourself at home. Below are six health benefits of acai bowls:
1. Reduce Cholesterol Levels
The small acai berry can make big changes in your cholesterol levels. According to a study, consuming acai decreases LDL, or “bad” cholesterol.
Hence, it reduces the risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, heart attack, and peripheral arterial disease.
Other low-cholesterol foods like oats, apples, avocados, almonds, barley, and dark chocolate can be mixed into acai bowls.
2. Manage Over diet
While on a diet, you must be careful about portions, consideration, and moderation. Sometimes, you have to eat food that you do not find tasty.
Well, acai is delicious as well as nutritious, and healthy. You can limit your acai bowl ingredients considerations and moderations according to your wish.
3. Improve Brain Function
Fresh acai berries include many antioxidants – compounds that lower inflammation and oxidation in brain cells. This is essential for maintaining a strong memory process and focus. People who need good concentration skills should consume acai bowls.
4. Stronger Digestive System
A nutritious acai bowl can improve your gut. It fights constipation and reduces digestive problems. Other benefits include less bloating, fewer stomach cramps, faster bowel movement, and reduced inflammation.
5. Supports Weight Loss
One of the most desired dreams that everyone dreams of is to lose belly fat. Consuming acai bowls with lower calories won't contribute to weight gain or ruin your diet, helping you lose belly fat.
Acai bowl is a combination of nutritious fruits, which fuel your body with essential minerals to maintain weight loss.
6. Protects Heart Health
Consuming an acai bowl every morning helps to protect your heart. It has the power to remove free radicals that drive heart disease. It will reduce blood glucose, high blood pressure spikes, and artery congestion. This bowl also contains healthy fats that lower triglycerides in your body.
How to Prepare a Healthy Acai Bowl?
According to experts, you should be careful of the amount of ingredients while preparing your acai bowl. The bowl is very easy to make. Try these tips for a more nutritious bowl:
i). Prepare it yourself
It is so easy to prepare your acai bowl by yourself. Preparing yourself allows you to control calories, like what toppings to add and the ingredients needed.
ii). Consider the size of the bowl
Acai bowl is an excellent source of breakfast full of whole foods, but be smart with your bowl size. It is recommended to have 1 cup of serving of some fruits as it is blended. It will offer much sugar at one time that your body needs.
iii). Limit your sweeteners and toppings
Dieticians suggest limiting your bowl toppings to one or two as they make the recipe high in calories. Add one or two delicious toppings from nuts, granola, and coconut.
Try to skip other sweeteners like honey, as these fruits already provide you with so much natural sugar.
iv). Add up protein
Now, adding some protein through chia seeds or peanut butter is time. It helps to limit the glycemic level and maintain your blood sugar. Adding these sources to your bowl allows you to feel full for longer.
v). Add some green vegetables to the mixture.
Add green vegetables like spinach or kale to the fruit mixture to balance sugar levels. Then, add the toppings you want to like on the top of your drink. Acai bowls are nutritious and healthy until you smartly choose the ingredients and portion sizes.
Final Words
Acai bowls can be a great way to gain antioxidants and nutrition for your whole day. They are topped with fruit, seeds, nuts, and granola.
However, it is nutrient-dense and rich in antioxidants, but commercial bowls are often marketed in big bowl sizes and are high in calories and sugar.
So, first read the retail bowl ingredient list and stay smart for your topping list to have a good-for-you bowl. Making your acai bowl at home can help you control your portion sizes and is a great way to maintain your nutrition level on your plate.
FAQs
1. Are acai bowls healthy for losing weight?
Ans: Only one study at the UCLA School of Medicine claims acai supplements reduce diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol. Otherwise, no evidence proves it directly burns fats or causes weight loss.
2. What is Acai good for?
Ans: Acai includes a compound- anthocyanin. This compound holds antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties. It helps reduce cholesterol, glow your face, reduce arthritis symptoms, and detoxify and rejuvenate your entire body.
3. Can you eat acai every day?
Ans: You can eat acai daily to enhance your health. Frozen acai contains potassium, vitamin A, magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium. Just avoid commercially prepared acai bowls.
4. Does acai make you gain weight?
Ans: No, they are relatively low in calories, sugars, and saturated fats. Their high fiber content reduces hunger cravings, stopping you from eating or snacking between big meals.
5. Can too much Acai Berry be harmful?
Ans: Yes, excess for everything is harmful. Same for acai. If you start consuming it daily in larger amounts, it may lead to diarrhea and other digestive problems.
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