I received an email from a reader not too long ago after I wrote about the açai berry in my last post.  The reader suggested one of their favorite juices which is called Bossa Nova original açai juice.  I was at the supermarket last night and saw one bottle left of the passionfruit flavor and decided to give it a try.  It was right next to the POM pomegranate drink which I also enjoy.

The back of the bottle boasts the benefits of the açai berry compared to that of the pomegranate, blueberry, apple, and red grape.  According to the web site:

Açai has the unbeatable combination of being highest in antioxidants and one of the lowest in sugar. In fact, it has 60% more antioxidants than pomegranates with almost no naturally occuring sugar.

I really enjoyed the flavor of this juice.  Unlike the pomegranate juice I’ve tried before, it wasn’t tart at all.  It’s not overly sweet either and I like that they keep the ingredients simple.  The passionfruit version was delicious so I think it is safe to assume the original is just as good.  The price may be a little high for most but I don’t think it is any worse than what people spend on fancy coffees every day.

I’m definitely going to buy more when I go shopping again.  I highly recommend trying it out yourself.

So what is up with the acai berry? I have heard of this fruit before but had not bothered to look it up until recently. Many people vouch for its health benefits, particularly the extra energy they experience. There are several other benefits which I will highlight below. The acai only grows in the Amazon and is highly perishable which means you will not find them at your local supermarket. However, the berries can be freeze dried and used to create acai supplements in capsule and liquid form.

Health Benefits of Acai
The acai berry is known as one of the world’s best super foods. They contain a very high level of antioxidants. Compared to other fruits the acai has twice the antioxidants of blueberries and ten times the amount in grapes. Besides that they are also high in fiber, rich in iron, and high in essential fatty acids & omegas 3 and 6.

Other health benefits include:

• Increased stamina
• Increased energy
• Improves digestion
• Improves sleep
• Lowers cholesterol levels
• Contains several vitamins (B1, B2, B3, Vitamin E, Vitamin C)
• Improves circulation
• Healthier skin

The acai berry sounds pretty solid to me. I’d definitely like to try out acai berry juice. What is your experience with it? Do you like it?

Can you imagine eating anything and everything you want without worry? After watching Olympian Michael Phelps win another gold medal tonight, I was amazed by the amount of food he eats in order to perform the way he does. They showed a quick clip during the broadcast which highlighted the types of food he eats on a regular basis.

It is no wonder when his daily routine consists of sleeping, eating, and swimming. He is a tall guy and must burn tons of calories a day with all of the swimming he does. He admits he doesn’t cook and eats out just about every meal. Local restaurant owners know him well. Most people dream of eating the way he does but for the average person, it just wouldn’t be healthy. I don’t think the average person could consume that much food!

Check out the video clip below:

photo credit: ishane

Clean eaters often enjoy a bowl of oatmeal for breakfast or sometimes during the day. Have you ever wondered the difference between steel-cut oats versus rolled oats? I have yet to try steel-cut oats but have seen it for sale quite often. There are several differences between it and the typical rolled oat variety. These include:

• Much longer cooking time (30 minutes)
• More cholesterol lowering soluble fiber than other oatmeal
• Takes longer to digest so you stay fuller longer
• Chopped with steel blades resulting in a “chewier” oatmeal

To sum it up, steel-cut oats are basically a less processed version of the rolled oats. Since both versions are the same when it comes to nutrition, it is a matter of taste and preference as to which you would eat. Personally, I like the quick cooking of the rolled oats. However, I do like the fact that steel-cut oats contain more fiber. I may pick up a tin of it next time I’m running low on oats to see how I like it.

Do you have a preference between the two?