Acai Benefits: Facts and Fiction

The mailbox of an average Internet user is usually full of “exceptional” offers that only few people ever bother reading. These focus on a wide range of topics and products. You have it all, from erectile dysfunction pills to amazing weight loss programs. Acai berry has been the craze for some time already. It appears in spam messages, commercials and numerous articles about weight loss.

What is Acai and does it really have the magical powers that ads claim it to have? Let’s take a look at the acai benefits that you can actually enjoy from the consumption of the little fruit

What is Acai?

Acai is a plant that produces fruits similar to grapes. It is grown in Central and South America, widely spread in Brazil, and the fruit has a relatively short lifespan. Some nutritionists say that acai has amazing influence over the hair, nails and skin while others claim it contains large amounts of antioxidants and should be a part of a healthy diet.

The fruit is supposedly full of amino acids and micro-minerals that help muscle regeneration. The intake of acai berries is also believed to be beneficial for vision, cholesterol level maintenance, the circulatory and the immune system.

Further, acai is also said to have detox functions and to help weight loss.

At the same time, researchers have found that acai berries have similar qualities to common fruits like strawberries, blueberries and raspberries. Blueberries have long been known to act as an excellent antioxidant.

How Did Acai Berry Become So Popular?

In 1999, an American named Ryan Black went to Brazil and discovered locals eating the berries, which on top of being packed with useful substances were rather tasty. He decided to start a line of production in the United States. Black and his brother set up Sambazon to fulfill that goal.

Acai berries are being sold in the form of instant drinks, tablets, juices and a whole range of other products. According to ads, these products will increase energy, improve sex life, help people concentrate, fight excess weight, aging processes, fatigue, insomnia and heart problems. Sounds almost too good to be true.

Acai Benefits: Facts and Fiction

The problem is that none of the studies carried out are scientifically supported. Though the berries seem to be a viable option for a good diet, skeptics say that using them as a cure-all is unlikely to produce all of the above-mentioned results.

Additionally, acai berries show characteristics similar to those of blueberries and other antioxidants. Though they are definitely beneficial, evidence of their uniqueness is still lacking.

One of the biggest myths being spread online is that acai berries will miraculously make you lose weight. The effect of the berries could be felt only if you exercise and change your eating habits alongside the acai consumption. The berries alone will have little power to shape your body and get rid of the extra weight.

Another major problem is food processing. Brazilians have access to the fresh fruit. Common consumers have access to tablets and instant drinks. In the production process, the acai berries lose some of their useful substances and their antioxidant power.

Evaluating these bits of information helps for the true understanding of the “acai berry miracle.” The berries definitely can be part of a healthy lifestyle, but it would be a bit naive to expect miracles to happen.