How to Compare Acai Berry Products

Some health-supplement marketers claim that acai berries can be beneficial to overall wellness, weight management and energy levels. They say you'll only receive these benefits if the fruit is harvested and processed so it retains high nutritional value. If those claims are true, then you should know how the acai product you're considering was harvested and formulated.

Forms of Acai

• Acai supplements include pills, capsules, powders, teas and reconstituted juices. The form of the acai product is not as important as how it was grown, harvested and processed. You want to select products made from organic sources, without chemicals used in processing and with as few additives as possible.

Processing Methods

• AcaiBerrySite.com claims that freeze-drying right after harvest is the best method for preserving the fruit's nutrients. Properly done, it is also the most costly and time-consuming. Spray-drying and drum-drying are cheaper methods that could destroy antioxidants in the fruit. Spray-drying adds maltodextrin, while drum-drying uses high and uneven heat.

Parts of the Fruit

• The skin and the pulp make up only about 10 percent of the acai fruit, yet they are the most nutritious. The seeds make up 90 percent of each berry and have little nutrient value for humans. Some manufacturers use the whole berry or add some seeds back as a way to reduce their manufacturing costs. You'll want to read the label or ingredient list carefully to determine if the product is made from only the most nutritious parts of the acai.

Established Companies

• Center for Science in the Public Interest warns about acai scams. When acai made the news and was featured on TV programs such as Oprah, new marketers sprung up almost overnight. Some offered free trial offers that were tied in with getting your credit or debit card information for automatic monthly shipments. The quality of the products often proved to be inferior. When comparing your choices, it's often best to go with established firms.

Considering Claims

• On March 11, 2009, The New York Times published an article, "Pressing Acai for Answers." The writer concluded that "there is little to back up the extravagant claims made on behalf of açaí." These claims were for benefits such as weight loss, detoxification and anti-aging.