The acai berry comes from the Brazilian rainforest and is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, amino acids and essential fatty acids. While many acai manufacturers tout acai as a wonder berry with many health and nutritional benefits, others claim these benefits are greatly exaggerated.
Antioxidants
Acai contains a high concentration of antioxidants -- more than 10 times the amount in red grapes, according to clinical and research dermatologist, Dr. Nicholas Perricone. Antioxidants help eliminate harmful toxins from your body that can cause disease.
Cardiovascular and Digestive Health
The monounsaturated or healthy fats in acai berries, together with dietary fiber and phytosterols or plant sterols, can contribute to your heart and digestive health. In fact, a majority of acai's 50 percent fat content comes from healthy unsaturated types like Omega-6, which accounts for 12 percent, and Omega-9, which accounts for 60 percent. According to PowerSupplement, acai is also rich in fiber, which aids digestion, and 100 g of freeze-dried acai powder contains approximately 14 g of fiber. Lastly, the B-sitosterol, campesterol and sigmasterol photosterols found in acai can contribute to cardiovascular and digestive health.
Muscle Health
Acai pulp contains 19 different amino acids and over 8 g of protein in a 100-g acai serving that accounts for 7.59 of its weight, according to PowerSupplements. This amino acid complex is vital to muscle health and regeneration.
Unproven and False Claims
Although no one disputes the nutritional content of acai berries, Mayo Clinic Registered Dietician Katherine Zeratsky notes that acai berry research is limited, and its health claims are unproven. Furthermore, in August 2010, a U.S. district court complied with a request of the Federal Trade Commission to order acai berry supplement marketers to stop selling their products. The FTC argues that products like manufacturers of AcaiPure and Colopure were making false claims about cancer prevention, weight loss and colon-cleansing capabilities.
References
- Oprah; Dr. Perricone's No. 1 Superfood: Açaí; July 15, 2005
- MayoClinic.com; Acai Berry Products: Do They Have Health Benefits?; Katherine Zeratsky; May 22, 2010
- Disabled World; Acai Berry Health Benefits and Facts; Gen Wright; November 28, 2008
- Federal Trade Commission; Court Orders Internet Marketers of Acai Berry Weight-Loss Pills and "Colon Cleansers" to Stop Deceptive Advertising and Unfair Billing Practices; August 16, 2010
- Mental Health World; Nutritional Contents of Acai Berry; May 19, 2009
- PowerSupplements: The Nutritional Makeup of Acai
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