What Happens When You Stop Taking Acai Berry?

Acai berries are a good source of antioxidants and other nutrients such as fiber and healthy fats. However, the claims about myriad health benefits of dietary supplements containing acai berry made by companies selling these products are not backed up by scientific research. Since there isn't enough evidence to rate the effectiveness of acai to treat any health condition, there is no indication that stopping acai berry use will result in any negative effects, as long as you're getting enough other fruits and veggies in your diet.

Weight

Dietary supplements containing acai berry are sometimes advertised as promoting weight loss or as a means to "burn fat." However, according to MayoClinic.com and the National Institutes of Health, this and other health claims by makers of acai berry supplements are unproved. Therefore, there is no evidence that your weight will change when you stop -- or start -- taking acai berry.

Toxins

Acai berry supplements are also advertised as products that will "detoxify" or "cleanse" the body by removing toxins from the intestinal tract. Despite the popularity of colon cleansing products, including those containing acai, your body does not require a special diet or pills to promote detoxification. Your colon and other organs are designed to perform this function naturally, according to Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist Michael Picco, M.D. So the ability of your colon and other bodily systems to eliminate "toxins" will not be affected by ceasing acai berry supplementation.

Safety

There are safety risks associated with taking any dietary supplement, so when you stop taking acai berry you reduce these risks. Nutritional supplements are not stringently regulated by the FDA the same way that food and medicines are. Not only does the National Institutes of Health state that there is insufficient evidence to determine whether taking acai is safe, but some supplements containing acai do not list their ingredients, and others include ingredients which may be harmful to health. For example, some acai supplements for weight loss contain an ingredient called bitter orange, which the USDA rates as "possibly unsafe," according to MayoClinic.com.

Nutrients

While acai berry products pose some health risks, acai berries also offer healthful nutrients. Like many other plant foods, acai berries contain fiber and heart-healthy fats -- both of which provide significant health benefits. Acai berry is also a good source of antioxidants, substances which may prevent disease. However, when you stop taking acai berry, you don't have to miss out on these nutrients, as you can obtain them from other types of fruits and vegetables. Eating a wide variety of fruits and vegetables helps ensure that you get a full spectrum of nutrients. To determine the amount of fruits and vegetables you need everyday to stay healthy, visit fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov, where you can calculate this based on your age, sex and level of physical activity.

Supplements vs. Whole Foods

According to the CDC, nutrients should be obtained primarily from foods rather than nutritional supplements. Therefore, it may benefit your health to stop taking acai berry supplements and instead to eat the whole-food version of acai berry, along with other nutrient-rich foods. Whole foods not only contain the nutrients found in supplements, but also contain other naturally occurring, healthy substances that may be absent from the supplement version.