Acai berries, pronounced ah-sigh-ee, have been getting a lot of media attention lately. Acai berries originated from the bountiful Amazon forests in South America. Acai is a fruit that belongs to the berry family and resembles a grape. These delicious berries may help with a variety of conditions like arthritis, erectile dysfunction, cancer and weight loss, according to MayoClinic.com. Acai berries are available in health food stores and can be consumed raw, in tablet form or as a juice added to smoothies or even ice cream.
Restlessness and Irritability
Acai berries are often combined with another tropical fruit, guarana berry, as indicated by Tips For Health. This results in a high theobromine content of the acai supplement. Theobromine is a chemical related to caffeine, both in composition and effects. Intake of large amounts of such energy drinks can lead to restlessness, irritability and insomnia in susceptible individuals. To avoid these stimulant side effects, be cautious and check the label before purchasing an acai supplement. To avoid caffeine content, only a pure acai berries supplement should be purchased. However, you may prefer the energy drink combination of acai-guarana because of the stimulant effects. If this is the case, limit your intake of coffee and other caffeinated beverages.
Drug Interactions
If you take anti-inflammatory drugs inhibiting the cyclooxygenase enzymes, you should be aware that an additive effect may exist. Drugs.com states that acai berries have been determined to inhibit the enzymes cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2. Also, because of the high antioxidant content, patients undergoing anti-neoplastic chemotherapeutic treatments should alert their treating physician of their desire to take acai berry supplements. This is important, because high antioxidant intake may interfere with treatment.
Increased Blood Sugar
Due to the bitter taste of acai berries, sugar is usually added to beverages such as acai juices and products. This can lead to increased blood sugar levels and can predispose an individual to the development of further medical conditions.
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