It seems a day doesn’t go by without some mention of the miracles associated with the acai berry, a berry that grows throughout Central and South America. It will help with weight loss, cure diabetes, flatten the stomach, or any number of incredible feats. Or will it?
Does this miracle berry, sold in every form imaginable, actually do any of these things? Read this article before buying acai berry products or signing up for a “free trial” of acai juice.
Acai Berry for Weight Loss
The acai is great for helping shed pounds and finally get a flat stomach…right? After all that’s what so many advertisers claim every day. As of the writing of this article there are no scientifically controlled studies which confirm any weight loss benefit associated with consuming acai berry juice, tablets, powders or any of its other forms.
Those who swear by the acai berry because they’ve seen weight loss may be giving too much credit to the berry rather than the most likely cause. The weight loss may likely be the result of getting a full feeling after drinking the juice and therefore not consuming other foods that may contribute to weight gain. This same effect can be achieved in a cheaper and just as effective way that will be mentioned later.
Beware of "Free Trial" of Acai Juice
With all the fake blogs and marketing sites set up for the sole purpose of selling more of these products, it can be difficult to separate the truth from the hype. So when someone comes across an offer for a free trial they may think “What’s the harm in giving it a try?”
Before entering any credit card information into these offers make sure to read the fine print. In fact, many of these so called “free trials” aren’t free at all. In many cases not only will the credit card provided be charged but it will result in enrollment to an ongoing membership subscription that may turn out to be difficult to cancel.
Checking with the Better Business Bureau and maybe even using a pre-paid card instead of a credit card could be better option. Of course the best option of all is to avoid these scams altogether.
Alternatives to Buying Acai Berry Products
Many of the claims about the acai berry have to do with its supposedly high concentration of antioxidants. The truth is that it doesn’t contain any more antioxidants than most commercially available fruit juices such as cranberry juice. Pomegranate, Concord grape, and blueberry juices have more antioxidant capacity than acai berry juice according to 2008 study.
None of this is to say that acai berries can’t be a part of a healthy diet, but most claims have yet to be substantiated scientifically. A simple alternative berry shake would be to blend:
- 1.5 cups water
- Handful of frozen mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries)
- 1 scoop of flavored whey protein
Not only will this provide antioxidants and protein but it’ll create a feeling of fullness that will curb the appetite.
References:
Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, *”Comparison of Antioxidant Potency of Commonly Consumed Polyphenol-Rich Beverages in the United States” (accessed May 14, 2010)
Quack Watch, *” CSPI Warns Consumers about Web Based Acai Scams ” (accessed May 14, 2010)
Nikhil Hira - Hello, My name's Nick Hira and I currently live in sunny Florida. I have experience and interests in a variety of areas from which I ...
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