Superfood: Acai

The berries act as a great detox agent and they are rich in antioxidants that help maintain a beautiful skin from longer, reducing the aging signs. They also improve your stamina and help maintain a healthy body by improving the circulatory system, lowering cholesterol and improving digestion.

Acai originates in the Amazonian Rainforest in Brazil and this rich super fruit is also known for its weight loss properties, improving bone health and strength and for being able to reduce fatigue. You can eat them raw in a salad, breakfast bowl or turning them into a natural juice or smoothie.

But for an amazing fresh and beautiful recipe try the Blackberry, Acai sorbet by Stacey from goodnessis.com. A gorgeous coloured blackberry sorbet in celebration with the season, with the added benefits of acai - an antioxidant powerhouse.

Blackberry-Acai Popsicles

Acai is a rich, deep purple fruit, which is similar in shape to a grape and has a mild chocolate-y berry sweetness. These berries grow in huge clusters near the tops of palm trees, which grow in the Amazon rain forests. Each Acai berry contains just 10% fruit and pulp and a large seed, which has no benefits, so harvesting this fruit is laborious since the tree has no branches and each cluster of berries needs to be cut and brought down manually in order to preserve the fruit and pulp.

There are three basic ways to add acai to a recipe: acai powder, acai juice and acai frozen smoothie packs. Here, I choose to use the powder which is more widely available and which has been freeze-dried instantly to preserve the active components and is not overly processed. The powder can be added to smoothies, juices, home made ice creams, sprinkled over your morning porridge, or added into raw treats.

Within the nutritional pulp and skin, Acai berries are packed with antioxidants, amino acids, fiber, essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals making it a near perfect energizing fruit. It helps to increase your antioxidant levels to aid in neutralizing damaging free radicals, boosts your energy levels, supports your immune system and helps to promote a healthy digestive system.

These Blackberry-Acai popsicles are a natural sweet, treat leaving your body feeling nourished and taken care of!

Recipe
Makes 9 small popsicles

If you don't have blackberries, try a different berry variety, blueberries, raspberries or even strawberries. For a creamier sorbet replace the apple juice with coconut cream by refrigerating a tin of coconut milk, & scooping out the white thick cream on top.

• 3 cups fresh blackberries, washed
• 2 medium ripe frozen bananas
• ½ cup unsweetened apple juice or fruit juice of choice
• 2 teaspoon acai powder
• 2 Tablespoon natural sweetener of choice (coconut sugar, maple syrup or honey)

Wash the berries and place in a high-speed blender or food processor, along with the peeled frozen bananas, apple juice, & acai powder. Blend until smooth and creamy, stopping if you need to push the fruit down with a rubber spatula. Taste, and add sweetener, if required. Blend again to incorporate the sweet.

Spoon into your Popsicle holders, & freeze or enjoy as is for an instant treat.