The acai berry is a fruit of great mystique in the United States. Acai accolades first trickled in on national TV, where the small Brazilian berry was touted as a powerful antioxidant by celebrities like Oprah Winfrey. The acai berry diet pill credit card scam subsequently ensued, yet this still didn't tarnish the acai's reputation. Strip away acai's marketing allure and celebrity props, and you have a fruit that's neither particularly good or bad for you---but which still remains incredibly popular among consumers.
Acai Berry 101
Acai berries are the fruit of a type of palm tree that grows in South America---primarily in the country's rainforests, according to the Mayo Clinic, which goes on to describe the acai as a "good source of antioxidants, fiber and heart-healthy fats." Fresh acai berries go bad easily, which is why you cannot find them in the produce area in your local supermarket. However, you can purchase acai berry juice and other products at health food and gourmet markets, states the clinic.
Common Use
Acai berry product marketers call it a superfood. However, according to a February 2010 New York Times article, South American locals who live in the eastern Amazon have another word for acai berries: dinner. In certain parts of the country, poorer families consume acai berries as a side dish, writes Times reporter Seth Kugal. Belém resident Letícia Galvão expresses amusement at the acai berry's reputation as an energy booster in the U.S. "Generally, when you have acai here, you take a nap," she states.
Acai Health Benefits
Compounds known as flavonoids give the acai berry its antioxidant properties, states the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. Acai berries have been suggested as a way to lower cholesterol, prevent heart disease and even kill leukemia cells. While there are in vitro (test tube) studies that flavonoids do have antioxidant properties, the center goes on to note that there are no animal or human studies to indicate that acai is beneficial for any medical condition. The Mayo Clinic also indicates that there is no evidence to suggest that acai berries are beneficial for weight loss or that they increase your energy.
The Acai Scam
In March 2009, the Center for Science in the Public Interest issued a warning to consumers informing them of online acai berry supplement scams, in which people who purchased acai berry products for a "trial offer" had their credit cards charged month after month, even after they informed the marketer that they wished to cancel. According to the CSPI, acai berry juice does have antioxidants, but fewer than more readily-available fruits, such as Concord grapes, blueberries and black cherries. The CSPI also indicates that there is no "credible evidence" to indicate that acai berries aid in weight loss.
Bottom Line
The Mayo Clinic advises purchasing a juice or other product from your local market if you want to sate your curiosity about the acai berry. And if you're still intrigued by the notion that acai berry supplements can help you lose weight, the CSPI advises you to use a prepaid credit card or one with a low credit limit if you choose to purchase these online. Make sure to visit the Better Business Bureau's consumer website, advises the CSPI, to see if the marketer from which you purchase your acai berry supplements has received any complaints.
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