Sound Off!

Can you say, "Acai"

Have you heard about acai (pronounced ah-sah-ee) berries, the wonder fruit that comes from Central and South America? By Googling, you'll get nearly 7 million hits, with many of the sites proclaiming the berry can do everything from prevent cancer, slow aging, and help you lose weight. So, how much is real and how much is hype? Read on to get the scoop on the 'magic' berries:

The acai berry is the fragile fruit produced by the acai palm tree found in the Brazilian Amazon river basin. The majority of the fruit is seed, with only 5% of the fruit (mostly the skin) being used to make the products with all the 'magic' properties. The food products and supplements that contain varying amounts of the fruit can be very expensive due to not being able to use a large portion of the berry and the perishable nature of the fruit.

A 1/2-cup serving of the acai berries contains vitamin A, calcium, fiber, iron, monounsaturated fat, and anthocyanins. Anthocyanins are antioxidants that may reduce your risk of cancer, diabetes and heart disease. They can also reduce the signs of aging. But the nutrients found in the fruit aren't unique to acai berries, many food items (fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, dark chocolate, and oils) contain similar health-promoting ingredients at a budget-friendly price.

It also isn't clear if acai berries have more antioxidants than other fruits. Small research studies have produced varying results regarding the antioxidant content of the acai berry. One study reported that acai berries have higher antioxidant levels than guava, passionfruit and pineapple, but less activity than grapes, mangoes and strawberries. Another small study found that acai berry juice had more antioxidant activity than apple or orange juice, but less antioxidant activity than red wine, blueberry, grape and pomegranate juice. In other words the verdict is still out.

If you're interested in getting more antioxidants into your diet and you have the cash, feel free to try acai berries or juice. But, at this point there isn't enough evidence to indicate it is better for you than many other antioxidant-rich foods you can find at your local markets for a fraction of the cost.

On the other hand, before ordering your 'free' trial of any of the acai berry diet supplements you might want to consider the following:

Acai has not been proven to have any weight loss powers Over-the-counter supplements are not closely regulated, so many times health benefits are greatly exaggerated Many of the celebrity endorsements have been rescinded or never existed The Center for Science in the Public Interest and some Better Business Bureaus have warned that some customers have been immediately charged the $80+ monthly fee after providing credit card information to cover shipping.

Weight loss can be very challenging and we would all like an easy 'magic' fix. But, to date, a lifestyle that focuses on healthy foods and exercise is the best way to reach and maintain a healthy weight.

A simple rule to consider before buying or trying something new – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is! As always, the dietitians at Sound Bites Nutrition encourage you to be a careful consumer and we are always here to answer your questions or help you decipher confusing nutrition messages. Contact us anytime.

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