Berry Interesting: the acai story

Recently a friend of mine sent me an article about the acai (ah-SIGH-ee) berry and wanted to get my opinion. The article appeared to be from Consumer Reports, a trusted and reputable company. The story started out by explaining all of the hype over the acai berry and how this employee of Consumer Reports decided to “experiment” on herself. First red flag. A true experiment requires many subjects and a control group, none of which she had.
She proceeds to explain how she picked the “best acai product” on the market with its name and a link to the product. Second red flag. Several products should have been examined in a true experiment on the acai berry. She tracks her progress over 4 weeks and ends up losing more than 20 pounds and has unending energy. All of her doubts about the acai berry are distilled. She recommends everyone trying the free trial, of course paired with the same company’s colon cleanse.
Sounds too good to be true? Well it is. If you continue to scroll down the page you will find a disclaimer at the bottom stating the article has no affiliation with Consumer Reports. It’s an “article” by the company trying to sell their acai product. They offer a free trial, only $0.99 for shipping. Pair that with a colon cleanse and you are set to go. I did a little more looking into the company and it turns out that many people had posted warnings about this scam. People stated that they would buy the product only later to get charged over $70 on their credit card. And if you forget to cancel your “2 week free trial” then you end up getting charged a whopping $168!
And I wonder why she lost all that weight? Well if you are taking a product that has stimulates, yes they add things like caffeine into the pills, your appetite will be suppressed. You add to that a colon cleanse, which basically means you will poop more. I wonder what will happen. Of course you will lose weight. Water weight mostly. And maybe a little fat. But this is not a way to live.
So what about the acai berry itself? Is it a superfood? I have found many people confused and lead astray by this topic. So let’s take a look at the berry itself.

Meet Acai
The Acai (ah-SIGH-ee) berries are produced by a palm tree that grows in Central and South America. The berry is roughly the size of a large blueberry, surrounded by an edible pulp and containing a large seed. Unfortunately you cannot buy the whole fresh berries in store. The berries must be turned into a juice or dried to preserve their antioxidant capacity.
Most studies on the Acai berry have focused on the fruits antioxidant composition. Antioxidants reduce free radical damage and thus can help protect the body against damage and disease. Anthrocyanins and flavanoids are powerful antioxidants found in acai berries. Anthrocyanins are responsible for the red, blue and purple hues in many fruits and vegetables. Blueberries, red grapes, red wine and acai are rich in anthrocyanins. Some research has suggested anthrocyanins important role in killing cancer cells.
Research and nutritional analysis on the acai berry is still in an infancy stage. Some research has suggested that the acai berries contain a large dose of antioxidants, larger than any of the other berries (cranberries, blueberries, raspberries). This is a wonderful thing and we know that diets rich in antioxidants are helpful to prevent diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. But what about all the health claims of the acai berry?

Berry Marketing
Businesses exist to make a profit. They are looking for the best possible way to bring money into the company. The food and supplement industry is extremely competitive. Companies must find a way to stand out. The way they do this is through their marketing. Make the products sound good. Make it irresistible to the consumer. Make them need it.
Well I know from experience that most Americans want to lose weight and have health issues they are tired of dealing with. So a supplement or product comes out that promises to help you lose 20 pounds and get rid of your arthritis and lower your cholesterol in one month. Sounds great right?
But the problem is that these claims are based on a marketing strategy more than a concern for your health. Bummer I know. And companies are not always the most honest in their marketing. For instance, most acai berry products promise to boost your energy and mood. Well that’s great, but the reason you will be zipping around and mach 10 is not because of the little berry, but because of the mega doses of caffeine they pump into the pill. You could get the same “boost” from drinking a few shots of espresso or drinking a Red Bull.
My point in all of this is not to bring doom and gloom. But as a consumer you need to think for yourself. Something I always try to tell my clients is to ask themselves is, “How is this person or company benefiting from what I buy?” This helps us as consumers evaluate the motivation behind a sale.

The Acai Bottom Line
So are the berries and juices good for you? Maybe. The first thing you need to do is look to see what the actual ingredients of the juice or supplement are. If the product is loaded with caffeine I would not recommend it. If the product has as much sugar as a soda, not a good idea. And if the product is going to cost you half of your grocery money for the month, probably not worth it.
The acai berry itself is a great food. Just like blueberries or red peppers are great foods. They are all high in antioxidants. But when it comes to overall health, no one food alone covers all of our needs. Nor will a berry reverse every health problem or disease known to man. The acai berry has, unfortunately, found itself in the midst of a marketing frenzy. It is a great berry that is being used.