Properties of Acai Berry

Boosted by endorsements from health gurus (and infomercials), the tiny acai berry in a matter of years has grown from an obscure South American fruit to a widely advertised "superfood." While the fruit contains numerous healthy properties, beware of exaggerated, untested claims regarding the fruit's healing properties.

Identification

• Acai berries are small, round, deep purple fruits similar to grapes that grow on the acai palm. The fruits are fibrous, less pulpy than a grape and contain a single large seed.

Geography

• Acai berries grow naturally in Central and South America, most prevalently in swampy lowland areas is northern South America.

Forms

• Acai berries spoil quickly and thus are not widely distributed in their natural form. Instead, they appear largely in the form of juices and nutritional supplements.

Nutrition

• Like most fruits, the acai berry is healthy and is packed with fiber, healthy fats and antioxidants, according to the Mayo Clinic. A 2006 report published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine reported that the berry's antioxidant capabilities were higher than any other fruit or vegetable tested to date.

Misconceptions

• Manufacturers of acai products make numerous claims of boosting energy, shaving off pounds, lowering cholesterol and improving digestion. Despite the berry's healthy properties, such claims remain unproven due to limited research on the berry, according to the Mayo Clinic.