Product Review: Acai Berry

Acai berries are believed to be one of the elite superfoods with anti-aging and weight loss properties. Traditionally grown and harvested in Brazil, the “cabbage palm” – otherwise known as the acai berry – is eaten raw or the acai berry juiced for its antioxidant properties, whose insoluble fiber is greater than craberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries and blueberries.

Acai Berry Benefits

The pulp of the acai berries contains about 4% protein and 12% lipids, as well as minerals and vitamins found in other fruits: calcium, vitamin A, phosphorus, iron and thiamine.

Products with acai berries are used to enhance skin appearance, prevent cancer and enhance the immune-digestive system. Developers, and some experts, also suggest that the antioxidants found in the acai berry can also assist the body with expelling toxins, in a similar fashion as they assist the body with repelling and combating free radicals.   If you are thinking of using any acai berry laxative or “cleansing” product for weight loss, it is important to know that laxatives are not effective for sustained weight loss.  Laxatives lead to dehydration, kidney failure and possibly even death.

Because food and calories are absorbed by the small intestines, laxatives acting on the large intestines cause loss of water, minerals and electrolytes.

Acai Berry Dangers

While acai berries offer many nutritional benefits, there are also dangers associated with acai berry supplements. Acai berry detox products are marketed as being able to induce and support weight loss through a variety of methods, ranging from reducing water weight gain and removing unwanted toxins to increasing metabolic function and boosting energy levels.

If you choose to embark on the acai berry journey of weight loss or detox, it is important to keep in mind that many acai-containing products are offered for free or with a small shipping charge, but are often found to be fraudulent – and now with your credit card number.  Please exercise caution when purchasing acai berry products and be sure to read the fine print.

The greatest risk associated with acai-berry based supplements does not come from the acai berry’s juice ingredients, but rather other added ingredients. One of the most common ingredients added to acai supplements is caffeine, which can cause headaches, stomach aches and other side effects.

The following acai berry products were found to contain significant amounts of caffeine by an independent testing lab: