For years, the acai berry has been touted as a "miracle fruit" that will help shed unwanted pounds when taken as a weight loss supplement. But although the Amazonian fruit does contain many beneficial properties, including antioxidants, fiber and heart-healthy fats, it's not all that different than other antioxidant-rich fruits like blueberries, blackberries and red grapes.
That's not stopping marketers, however, from continuing to make claims about the "super food" that have never been proven, such as the fact that it will help you lose weight, lower your cholesterol and boost your energy. In fact, Stephen Talcott, a biochemist and leading expert on the acai berry told the New York Times, "There is currently no scientific research to support a weight loss claim for acai fruit. Some companies are capitalizing on the fact that the acai berry is still mostly unknown to the broader public, and is sold as a miracle curative fruit from the deep, dark Amazonian jungle. It is doing nothing more than playing on consumer ignorance."
That's for sure, as it's used in everything from diet pills to ice cream to skin care products. And make sure to check the ingredient list, because some items – including Snapple's Acai Blackberry drink – don't even contain the fruit at all.
The truth is, acai is good for you. It's not going to hurt you. But it's also not going to be the miracle, cure-all fruit that marketers and scam artists would like you to believe it is.
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