In the past few years, health experts have suggested that the fruit of a palm tree that grows in the Amazon rainforest may offer antioxidant properties to humans.

Now, researchers studying the acai berry say they have discovered that the popular ingredient in nutritional supplements and smoothies can be absorbed by the human body.

Findings published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry show that the berry is able to be absorbed as both as juice and a pulp.

Researchers at Texas A&M University gave 12 volunteers a single serving of acai juice or pulp, then took blood and urine samples of the participants after 12 and 24 hours. Their results were compared with a control group.

They found that the blood of subjects who had consumed acai juice displayed increases in antioxidant activity, similar to that shown by people who consume applesauce.

Apples are one of the fruits that have been found to be rich in antioxidants, along with cranberries, red grapes, strawberries and peaches, among others.

Antioxidants are considered beneficial to the body because they help cells from damage caused by free radicals.