Acai comes from berry-like fruits that grow from the Euterpe oleracea tree, which is native to parts of Central and South America. Acai berries are marketed in the form of supplements, juices and other food products known for their potential health benefits. Because the fruits are widely-consumed in the world, acai products are generally considered safe for most people. Acai could pose dangers for some people, so you should discuss acai with your doctor before taking the products for medicinal purposes.
Identification
Acai berry products come in the forms of powders, frozen fruit pulp, and supplements like capsules or tablets. Acai berries are rich in bioflavonoids called anthocyanins, which are powerful antioxidants. Acai also contains proanthocyanidins and essential fatty acids. Other nutrients in acai berries include fiber, protein, amino acids, vitamin E and phytosterols, as well as potassium, calcium, phosphorous, zinc and other essential minerals. These various nutrients and constituents are thought to give acai its potential antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, blood sugar-lowering and cardio-protective effects.
Uses
Acai supplements and products are sometimes used in naturopathy or alternative medicine to help treat anemia, diabetes, dysmenorrheal and leukemia. The roots of the acai tree are also used in folk medicine to treat hepatitis, jaundice and malaria, while the roasted seeds are used for fevers and the seed oil is used to treat scrofula. Also, acai could potentially help in treating or preventing allergies, diarrhea, heart disease, stroke and autoimmune disorders. Some people take acai supplements or other products to help in treating erectile dysfunction, high cholesterol and osteoarthritis, as well as to promote weight loss and provide detoxification actions. No conclusive scientific evidence supports the use of acai berry products for any medicinal purposes.
Dangers
Because acai berries are common foods, they're associated with no serious health dangers for most people. In fact, no severe side effects have been reported from taking acai supplements, juices and other products. Theoretically, acai could pose the risk of interfering with chemotherapy drugs, because acai berries are such powerful antioxidants. If you're taking chemotherapy medications, talk to your doctor about acai's potential for reducing the drugs' effects before you begin taking acai supplements or consume large amounts of acai berry juices and other food products.
Considerations
Two of the main risks associated with acai are the lack of scientific evidence supporting its medicinal uses and the lack of comprehensive safety studies. There's insufficient information for healthcare professionals to determine whether acai is safe, particularly in pregnant or breastfeeding women, children and people with severe liver or kidney disease. If you fall into one of these categories, or if you have any kind of chronic medical condition, you should talk with your physician before using acai medicinally.
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