There have been some questions raised between the acai berry versus the Goji berry. There are many similarities between the two, but there are also some subtle differences that make the acai berry a prominent choice. Some similarities include:

o Being called one of the most antioxidant-rich fruits on Earth.
o High nutrient content.
o Several applications in different foods
o A history of centuries of use by the locals
o Proven research of health benefits
o Increasing popularity in markets all over the world

Goji, or sometimes known as the Chinese Wolfberry, is also climbing the charts as one of the top superfoods. It too, has only been recently discovered and also has the great benefits of antioxidants and various other medicinal purposes. It has been around, secretively, for years, just like the acai berry. It’s sudden appearance on the market is due to new scientific discoveries and extensive research. Just like the acai, the locals throughout China have used it for hundreds of years. Also like acai, it’s mostly marketed as a juice.

What makes acai better than the Goji berry in an “Oxygen radical absorbance capacity” (ORAC) face off? Antioxidant levels in both are very high. However, in the acai berry, they are slightly higher. In the same respect, the acai berry has been more thoroughly researched and examined than the Goji berry has. They’ve both been proven to increase energy and stamina and with high levels of minerals and nutrients, are exceptional in maintaining major organs and systems of the body. The Goji berry is also exceptionally rich in carotenoids. Due to the great level of antioxidants and its superior benefits in the eyes of the ORAC table, the acai is the best overall choice.

However, as a whole including it’s antioxidant strength, versatility as a food throughout the world and the markets, and nutrient richness, the upper hand has to go to the goji berry. It is more versatile as it is more fat-soluble and is therefore used for almost every application from foods, yogurts and smoothies. Another major factor is the shipping and transportation process. Acai is hard to keep as they start decaying quickly after harvest. The Goji can be dried and transported, something the acai berry is not capable of.

Though both berries have their different differences, they also have their similarities and unique benefits that make each a great option for anyone looking for a superfood that is both beneficial and tasty.

The first and foremost important factor in the acai berry is the phytochemicals. They’re the chemicals that allow certain fruits and plants to survive in even the most harsh environments, bad climate or even insect infestations. These compounds are the ones that, when consumed by humans, provide all the protection of the antioxidants. The antioxidants found in the acai due to the phytochemicals that it contains. Studies are also showing that due to this inclusion of antioxidants, the acai berry seems to have cancer fighting properties. Along with that, it has been proven to help anti-aging and cardiovascular disease.

Acai berries have been known for generations by certain tribes in Brazil. It has been harvested and dispersed between tribes and all around Brazil for centuries. However, it has only been recently that people outside of Brazil have realized what the acai berry is and how beneficial is has been for the tribes and the potential it has for all different kinds of people around the world.

People familiar with the acai berry’s benefits know most of the basics. It boosts energy and maintains stamina. It’s also been proven to have Viagra-like effects. The many antioxidants it contains improves digestion, mental function, maintains the circulatory and cardiovascular system as well as providing all essential vitamins. However, most people are already aware of these benefits. It’s the ones that are not as well known that most people have a hard time understanding and therefore they’re considered ‘hidden’ secrets of the acai.

Anthocyanins are the most potent of the antioxidants found in acai. One of the most popular examples for them is the “French Paradox”. Their high fat diets and consumption of a lot of alcohol, mostly red wine, and other uncommon unhealthy lifestyles couples with a very low death rate for cardiovascular disease than most of the other populations in the world today. The main reason for this is actually the red wine that they drink. The grapes wine is made from contains a very high level of antioxidants, mostly anthocyanins. This appears to have an effect on their fatty diet and smoking habits. It has also been proven to halt, reverse and improve the ailments of those suffering from age related diseases. Anthocyanins have a unique chemical structure that makes it as much as 8 times more potent than Vitamin C. That is, though, in a glass of red wine. In a volume to volume comparison, acai contains 3.5 the amount of anthocyanins than wine. The main protective properties of anthocyanins are inflammation and collagen. They neutralize enzymes that damage connective tissue. They also repair damaged proteins in the blood vessel walls.

Among many other helpful properties that anthocyanins contain, such as protecting against neurological diseases, being a powerhouse against arteriosclerosis, fighting diabetes and much more. Anthocyanins are one of the most potent chemicals found in acai berries. Alongside the phytochemicals, these two ‘hidden secrets’ of the acai berry makes it one of the most effective health foods now available.

With the Amazon being the largest rainforest in the world and the acai being grown for the most part in this area, it is easily grown and harvested. Though it is among thousands of different fruits and plants found it the Amazon, it is one of the more prized fruits with its recent discovery of being a great antioxidant and numerous other benefits.

When the acai berry was discovered, tribes throughout the Amazon tested its properties and found out those which are most powerful in today’s society such as lowering bad cholesterol, fighting infection, controlling prostate and even promoting a healthy heart. Not only this, but they also revealed that the berry increased energy and even fought off certain diseases that were plaguing Brazilians such as Staphylococcus and Schistosomosis, a disease transmitted by snails.

Many tribes throughout and around the Amazon have used the acai berry for both medicinal and sustenance purposes. One of the more prominent tribes, the Shuar, have been using the berry for centuries and are known for their traditions of using the berry for medicine. Shuar tribes have a ‘healer’ or medicine man or woman known as ‘uwishin’s who are very knowledgeable about the forest and its secrets. They have learned the different purposes of the plants in the rainforest through experimentation and learning from each other. They’ve even discovered a plant that removes snake venom from the body.

How did a berry so secluded and very little-known become so famous? It started when sufers along the Brazilian beaches started adding it to drinks and smoothies to help boost their energy when surfing. Soon enough, it became a trend and word started to spread. Researchers and scientists heard of it’s energy-sustaining property and immediately took it in for experimentation. It was from then on that they realized the acai berry’s true potential. With many antioxidants, vitamins and soon-to-be-discovered cancer fighting characteristics, the acai berry became more sought-after by not only the populous, but also other scientists across the world.

As popularity had spread, companies had incorporated the berry into dishes in restaurants, smoothies just as the Brazilians used them, and in shakes. Companies requested to start using it in products such as bars and health snacks due to not only it’s energy-boosting property, but also the fact that it contained many vitamins and minerals. Not only this, but more recently the acai berry has been capsulated and sold as a diet supplement in drug stores and pharmacies all across the world. Its complete potential may not have been yet discovered, as the acai berry is a relatively new discovery. Rest assured that in the future it might cause some changes in the way people think and eat, ensuring a healthier society and possibly new, natural drugs to help fight off cancer and illness.