You have most likely read at least one mention of the acai berry and the health aid that it supposedly contains. Acai berries have been said to increase chances of weight loss, improve the immune system, and keep the body free of mysterious deadly substances through antioxidants and many other claims that run the gamut from highly unlikely to preposterous – so should you run (squealing and giggling, credit card at the ready …) to the nearest source for acai?
The acai comes from the same Brasilian palm tree that gives us one variety — the best variety — of hearts of palm.
Health stores will have fresh, frozen, and dried acai berries that you can obtain. Among the three the common wisdom is you should try to get fresh acai berries, since there will be less nutritional loss as compared to frozen and dried counterparts. Online stores also stock such fruits, but be careful where you buy them so as to avoid trickery.
How you consume the berry might affect the nutritional content you gain from them. Just like boiling vegetables can remove nutritional value, freezing fruits can do the same thing. If you want the full effect, the self-appointed experts say, you should consume the berries whole and fresh. Once again, though, science says, “Um, not really.” In fact, most of the scientific study of acai has focused on a freeze-dried version of the product.
Acai berries are touted by some to be antioxidants, which have been known to keep the body “clean” and healthy. Some claim the berry has been shown “in studies” to outrank orange juice, apple juice, and certain types of tea in ingredients with antioxidant properties. There’s a germ of truth to that. But what they don’t tell you is that the same research found other juices such as pomegranate, acerola, mango, strawberry, and grape juice still ranked higher. None of the people making the health benefit claims is a qualified nutritional researcher who has published a controlled study in a peer reviewed scientific journal that I could find. If you don’t want to waste your money you might note that as of this date, there are NO controlled studies that suggest acai is effective for any of these purposes, only that it contains ingredients that might be.
Buying from a local store is less intimidating, since you are not exposed to the marketing pressure that you commonly find online. It is also less likely to lead you into some of the online scams that have been perpetrated in the wake of the publicity generated by the St. Oprah Winfrey Show. Don’t buy into false claims that some websites push, and know that the Food and Drug Administration has not confirmed any of them. That isn’t to say that acai berries aren’t beneficial, just that no one has proved they are.
It’s probably safe to say that 99.9% of those who consume the acai berry in moderation will have nothing to worry about. One study found that in some native populations of the Amazon River region, up to 42% of their diet consists of the acai berries. Brasilians drink the juice from the berry, mix it with granola, even make an ice cream flavored with it — so it is probably safe to assume they aren’t terribly toxic at least in the short term. Again, at this point no controlled studies have been done, however, so only eat the berry according to the limit proposed by your dietary adviser. A doctor can also approve the consumption of acai berries if you are concerned that a current health condition may interfere with the berry, but given the complete lack of evidence that the acai berry does anything you couldn’t get from a mango, don’t expect your doctor to applaud.
Speaking of those indigenous populations, the acai palm isn’t just an important food source for them. (Goodness knows what the acai berry fad has done to their food costs ….but then, perhaps anything that encourages growing trees in this rainforest area instead of slashing and burning them has some merit.) The palm is economically important in the region as the source of many products. Acai berries are the seeds of the palm.
The best test at this point will be your own – if you really must try acai berries, slowly work them into your eating schedule and document the changes you notice, if any.
About The Author
Michael Burnette casts a skeptical eye on food fads, among other things, at Great2Cook.com, the global community of people who love to cook
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