Acai Berry & Bromate

Euterpe oleracea, otherwise known as acai berries, are small, purple, grape-like fruits native to the Amazon, which are known to be high in antioxidants. Bromate is a byproduct of the water purification industry. The acai berry and bromate diet has gained much publicity in recent years, and sales in western countries of acai berries have inclined steeply.

Acai Berry Uses

Acai berries are thought to have healing properties. A 2006 article published in the "Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry" found acai berries to potentially inhibit swelling and pain, although they had no effect on the number of white blood cells available to fight infection.

Acai berries were found to have a free-radical neutralizing effect in a 2009 study published in the "Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology," and they were found to protect the arteries of pigs, leading to speculation that they may be useful in the protection of arteries in humans.

Other Uses

All berries are known to assist the reversal of age-related cognitive decline, and a review published in 2009 in "Clinical Nutrition and Metabolic Care" concluded that antioxidant-rich berries, such as acai berries, can have a positive impact on the memory of aged animals. This knowledge may be utilized in future treatment of the elderly.

Bromate

Bromate is a toxic substance found in professional products such as hairdressing products, flour used in commercial bakeries and some explosives. Acute bromate poisoning is associated with deafness and renal failure, but accidental poisoning is rare these days, since bromate has been replaced with safer ingredients in many home products since the 1960s.

Bromate in Water

Bromide occurs naturally in drinking water, but when oxidized, as in the ozone disinfection of drinking water, it becomes bromate. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, long term exposure may cause an increase in cancer risk.

Acai Berry and Bromate

Much is written on the Internet about the weight-loss properties of an acai berry and bromate cleanse. However, there is absolutely no evidence to suggest this is true, and the only accepted way to lose weight is to burn more calories than you consume. Cut down on your food portions and start a regular exercise regimen and you will be amazed by how quickly the pounds fall off.