Zoom

The Açaí Berry Myth

It’s pronounced a-sigh-EE, and it’s one of the hottest health foods on the market. It has been marketed by everyone from celebrities to politicians. It’s impossible to walk into a grocery store without finding Açaí -something. It’s impossible to browse the Internet for long without getting bombarded by Açaí ads. And a casual walk down the health food aisle of your drug store will give you Açaí vision on every side.

What is the Açaí Berry?

The Açaí is a palm tree berry that grows in South America, usually in swampy areas and jungle forests. The fruit itself, the size of a small grape, is a dark-purple color, and has a sweet taste. The berry has a mystique surrounding it—mysterious because of its foreign location, ‘natural’ origins, and its claims for curing just about everything.

What can the Acai berry do?

No arguing this fact: the Açaí some decent health benefits. It is anti a lot of bad things: antioxidants, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial. Throw in some anthocyanins, amino acids, fatty acids, proteins, fiber, and other juicy vitamins, and you have a great-tasting berry with some great advantages. What that means is a healthier you.

What can the Açaí berry not do?

The Açaí is limited in its glories, however. Websites promoting its benefits are legion, and websites invalidating these claims (some being themselves scam-worthy) are also legion. Some of the falsities include the “fact” that Açaí can cure diabetes, increase sexual ability, detox the body, prevent Alzheimer’s, cure cancer, restore hair loss, reverse aging, and…most popularly….lose weight.

Can the Açaí berry and its derivative products help you lose weight? In a word, no. Yes, it’s a healthy food, and no, there is no problem using it as such. But it simply cannot cause weight loss in the way that some companies advertise.

According to the physician-backed research of WebMD, Center for Science in the Public Interest, and the generally reliable news networks like CNN and BBC, the wonderful little berry does not aid in weight loss at all.

Bottom line

The Acai berry will help to make your body healthier, but does not directly contribute to weight loss.  There are dietary supplements that can aid in weight loss. Diet pills, scientifically formulated and adequately proven, are among the best of these supplements.

Irvingia