Tonya says...
It certainly has had a lot of hype, and the so-called superfood does have its merits. The tiny purple berry boasts one of the highest Oxygen Radical Absorption Capacity (ORAC) values for a fruit. The higher the ORAC, the higher the antioxidant content. It’s important to eat a diet rich in antioxidants as they fight free radicals, which are thought to contribute to heart disease, cancer, arthritis and possibly Alzheimer’s disease. Frozen açai pulp will get you the most bang for your buck, but the Amazonian berry is also available dried and juiced. Try it in your morning smoothie to get your day off to a good start.

Tonya Rouse Hillenbrand is a certified fitness and nutrition expert, and a former national triathlete and duathlon team member. Send her your health questions here.