Healthy Living 2009

The acai berry is one of the most popular and controversial health supplements in the world right now. It has been featured on health segments of news programs and popular talk shows. The acai berry industry has also been under fire for deceptive advertising practices of some companies. I want to spend a few minutes talking about what is fact and what is fantasy.

Let's start with the facts about what acai berries are. It grows on the acai palm tree, primarily in South American rain forests and flood plains. It is harvested twice a year and has been a staple food locally for a long time. The most obvious health benefit comes from the antioxidants because it has more than the pomegranate and blueberry. There is also omega fatty acids, dietary fiber, and protein in this berry. Unfortunately it spoils very quickly if not processed so you probably won't see it very far from where it grows.

You can now find acai berry supplements almost everywhere. They are featured on news programs and talk shows. There are internet advertisements on almost every website. There is even a network marketing company that distributes acai berry supplements.

Many people attest to how good they feel when taking acai berry supplements and this is probably because of all the antioxidants and other beneficial properties of the fruit. Some companies add other natural ingredients like hoodia for appetite suppression or green tea for metabolism boosting and market them as weight loss supplements. Many people will also tell you these are very effective.

The way some companies market acai berry supplements has caused some controversy. One common, deceitful practice is to use celebrity pictures to make it look like they endorse a specific product which they don't. Another common problem is that some marketers create fake blogs that chronical fictitious weight loss and try to get people to sign up for a free trial of supplements. In both cases, the free trials being offered turn into monthly shipments that are not free. While this isn't a big problem if you know about it so you can cancel if you don't want it, many dishonest companies don't do much to make sure you know about the part after the free trial.

I think acai berries are very healthy and so do a lot of other people. They can help you have more energy and can help you lose weight. However, it is important to know that there isn't any conclusive scientific evidence to prove it. There are studies that indicate antioxidants have beneficial effects. Some studies have shown that the acai berry does in fact have more antioxidants than other foods. Some studies even show that acai berry antioxdants are absorbed by people when they eat them. However, nothing has been conclusively proven to tie acai berries directly to any specific health benefit. They will probably help you, but there is no guarantee.