Acai Juice Side Effects

Acai juice is made from a purple berry that grows on the acai tree native to rainforests in South America. Acai juice is sold as a "super-food" or a miracle food that is able to improve health and cure ills such as high cholesterol, cancer, arthritis and erectile dysfunction. According to the Mayo clinic, the only known positive or negative side effects of acai are the same types of side effects common in most berries.

Sugar Content

• Some acai juices contain a high amount of sugar that can cause adverse side effects. Acai juice naturally contains sugar because it is made from fruit. Pure acai juice has approximately 3 g of sugar. However, many acai juices are mixed with other juices containing high fructose corn syrup and may have a sugar content as high as 30 g. Read the label of any acai juice before you buy it, especially if you are watching your sugar intake. People with diabetes need to monitor their sugar levels and should take this into consideration when drinking acai juice.

Allergies

• Some people may experience an allergic reaction to acai juice, especially those who are already allergic to berries or pollen. Symptoms of an allergic reaction may manifest in a skin rash, such as hives. Other possible allergic reactions could be gastrointestinal problems, sneezing, coughing or itchy watery eyes. It is possible to develop an allergic reaction to the acai berry juice similar to rashes developed from drinking the juice of other types of berries.

Diarrhea

• Acai berry juice is completely natural, but as with many fruit juices may cause diarrhea in some people, especially if consumed in excess. Drinking acai juice is similar to drinking prune juice. Diarrhea caused by drinking too much acai juice usually passes within several hours to a couple of days. It is best to discontinue drinking acai juice if you are experiencing diarrhea that does not subside.

Benefits

• When most people think of side effects, they think of negative ones, but acai juice has many positive side effects as well. Some beneficial side effects of acai are the fiber it provides and the antioxidant qualities of the acai berry. Fiber is good for your digestive system and your heart health. The antioxidants in acai juice detoxify the body and neutralize free radicals that can cause cancer and heart disease. Drinking acai juice has benefits very similar to juices made from pomegranates, blueberries or red wine.