Acai Nutrition Information

Acai has some of the same health benefits as other berries and is particularly touted for its potential antioxidant and weight-loss benefits. After the introduction of acai products into the U.S. market, sales grew from half a million dollars in 2004 to $13.5 million in 2006, according to the market research firm Spins. But before you rush to the store, beware of the many acai scams that have led to warnings from consumer protection organizations like the Better Business Bureau.

Identification

Acai berries are the fruit of a tall, slender palm tree, botanical name Euterpe oleracea, that grows in the Amazon regions of South America, particularly Brazil. Acai berries are consumed in various forms: raw, as a juice, in pill supplements, and as an additive to beverages, ice cream, jellies, liqueurs and food colorings.

General Health Benefits

Folk medicine practitioners in South American use acai berries to treat a variety of health conditions, including arthritis, cancer, high cholesterol and erectile dysfunction, and according to MedlinePlus it has been used for weight loss, detoxification and improving general health as well. According to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, however, which rates the effectiveness of food and supplement health claims based on scientific research, there is insufficient evidence as yet to rate acai's efficacy in these or other conditions.

Weight Loss Benefits

Many people in the U.S. have turned to acai to help with weight loss. One study in Brazil, published in the August 2010 issue of the “Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology,” linked acai to improvements in metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance in mice, while another study, published in March of that same year in “Experimental Gerontology,” showed that acai improved survival rates of flies fed a high-fat diet. However, no human clinical trials have replicated these results or shown acai to be effective as a weight-loss aid.

Nutrients

The Tropical Plant Database reports that on the whole, acai doesn’t pack the same vitamin and mineral punch of other berries. Acai contains up to 4 percent protein, 25 percent sugar and small traces of calcium, phosphorous, iron, sulphur, vitamins B-1, A and E. It has 88 to 265 calories per 100 g, depending on how it’s prepared. On the other hand, acai berries may be a good source of antioxidants, fiber and heart-healthy fats, according to the Mayo Clinic.com.

Considerations

Many acai juices and other products containing acai have a high sugar content, adding to the caloric load. Supplements containing acai often contain other nutrients as well as common fillers such as vegetable cellulose, rice powder, silica, yeast, wheat, lactose, preservatives, artificial colors, artificial flavors and sodium. The Center for Science in the Public Interest has warned consumers to avoid diet products made with acai that claim to help you shed pounds, flatten your stomach, cleanse your colon or enhance sexual desire, as these claims have not been verified by the Food and Drug Administration.