Demand for acai is surging thanks to media reports of its rich nutrients, antioxidants, amino acids, essential fatty acids and other qualities. However, it's increasingly a case of buyer beware as unscrupulous companies introduce inferior products and run scams to gain credit card numbers, promising quick weight loss and free samples, says Alexander G. Schauss, Ph.D., senior director of natural and medicinal products research and CEO at AIBMR Life Sciences, in Puyallup, Washington.
Step 1
Use the freeze-dried version of the acai fruit if possible because it gives you the most benefits, says Schauss, author of "Acai: An Extraordinary Antioxidant-Rich Palm Fruit." The freeze-dried acai fruit beats all of the nearly 300 fruits, vegetables and nuts analyzed by the USDA, according to Schauss. Freeze drying also preserves the more than 3,000 organic compounds that benefit health known as phytochemicals in the acai, as well as its numerous vitamins, minerals, amino acids, healthy unsaturated fatty acids and fiber, according to Schauss.
Step 2
Buy acai frozen at your grocery or health food store, says nationally known nutritionist and author Ann Louise Gittleman, Ph.D. "Use 1/2 cup in a smoothie," she says. "Have acai on a daily basis for breakfast or during a snack." Gittleman noted the fruit does come in pill form. However, elements that make the fruit into a superfood are compromised when it is heated or processed, she says. "When you get a superfood," she says, "your best bet is to use the whole food."
Step 3
Try juice, but you need to be selective. Schauss notes in his books that acai-based juices have gained popularity in recent years. However, many companies filter and clarify their juices to make them more palatable to customers. This detracts from the acai's benefits, according to Schauss. Juice that has not been filtered or clarified will have soluble and insoluble fibers from acai pulp that can leave a residue at the bottom of a bottle. It also will have mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids that cause a yellowish-green layer of these fats floating at the top, according to Schauss.
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