Unless you've been trapped on a desert island the last year or two, you've probably heard of Acai, the newest "superfruit on the block." While "superfruits" are nothing new, and several have made brief appearances on the market recently (noni, goji, mangosteen, etc) none have "caught fire" like Acai. We can thank the mainstream media for this.
So what exactly is Acai? And what sort of benefits can one expect from supplementing with it?
The acai berry is the fruit of the palm tree with the same name and is native to central and south America, where it normally grows in the rainforest. Acai is a rich source of anthocyanins, antioxidant compounds responsible for the dark purple color of the fruit.
Anthocyanins are believed to have significant benefits; preliminary clinical studies performed on animals show anthocyanins to have anti-aging and anti-cancer characteristics (1) as well as protective effects against cardiovascular disease (2).
One of the things that has made Acai so popular with those who perpetuate the superfruit craze is its very high ORAC score. ORAC, or oxygen radical absorbance capacity, is a score used to rate the antioxidant power of different foods.
While it's difficult to determine a credible ORAC score for this fruit, there's no argument that it is very potent in this regard. In fact, a recent study (3) validates both acai pulp and juice's ability to increase concentrations of anthocyanins and plasma antioxidant capacity in human volunteers.
Beyond their antioxidant content, acai berries are rich in monounsaturated fat, similar to olive oil. As part of a healthful diet pattern, these "healthy fats" may also help reduce cardiovascular risk (4). The berries also provide a range of nutrients, including vitamins B, C and E, potassium, phosphorus, calcium, fiber and phytosterols.
So does Acai merit its status as a "superfruit"? Maybe. But the hype is running well ahead of the reality.
For example, anthocyanins are not unique to Acai. You can find them readily available in much cheaper fruits like blueberries and red grapes. In fact, a recent study (5) ranked Acai below pomegranate juice, red wine, concord grape juice, blueberry juice and black cherry juice.
Despite this, Acai's exotic image and celebrity status has led to an escalation of wildly ridiculous claims that have no basis in fact. This is especially true of products sold on the Internet.
For instance, you'll find it sold as a weight loss panacea, a "detoxing and cleansing" solution, and a "cure all" for just about everything. Of course, there is absolutely no evidence Acai helps with weight loss, "detoxes the body", or provides any benefits short of those discussed above.
To make matters worse, many of these products are sold through negative option billing scams. In essence, you sign up for a free trial of a product and are added to a recurring billing program you didn't endorse and cannot cancel. This, not surprisingly, has captured the attention of law enforcement.
Conneticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal had this to say...
"There are no magical berries from the Brazilian rain forest that cure obesity, only painfully real credit card charges and empty weight loss promises."
And more recently, the Center for Science in the Public Interest has been warning consumers to avoid signing up for free trials of acai-based weight loss products,echoing the comments of Mr. Blumenthal.
CSPI senior nutritionist David Schardt, author of the "acai scam" expose (published in the April '10 issue of CSPI's Nutrition Action Healthletter) summed it up this way...
"If Bernard Madoff were in the food business, he'd be offering 'free' trials of acai-based weight-loss products..."
Additionally, several expensive acai-based juice products are being hawked via various MLM and pyramid schemes. Consumers need to be mindful that every enthusistic endorser is often also a promoter, and stands to benefit financially from any sales s/he makes.
Consequently, such recommendations need to be viewed with a hearty dose of skepticism.
So what's the bottom line on "this miracle from the rainforest?"
There's no doubt it's a super antioxidant, and rich in various nutrients. But it's not a cure-all. Even in Brazil, where fresh acai is eaten daily, it's not regarded as a cure for cancer or other degenerative diseases. It's just... fruit.
Nutritious, but not miraculous. And not necessarily superior to less exotic, cheaper, more readily available options.
1. Nutr Cancer. 2006;54(1):84-93
2. J Appl Physiol 100: 1164-1170, 2006
3. J Agric Food Chem. 2008 Sep 10;56(17):7796-802. Epub 2008 Aug 12
4. JAMA. 2005;294:2455-2464.
5. J Agric Food Chem. 2008 Feb 27;56(4):1415-22. Epub 2008 Jan 26.
Paul Crane
Author, Webmaster, Founder
UltimateFatBurner.com
The source for science-based reviews of fat burners, vitamins and bodybuilding supplements since 1999!
http://vitamins.ultimatefatburner.com
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