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Are There Any Negatives to Acai Berry?

Acai berries grow on acai palm trees native to northern South America. South Americans have enjoyed the dark purple berries for centuries. Acai berry products rose in popularity in the United States after being featured on the Oprah Winfrey show in 2005. Since then, acai berries have been promoted as a superfood that can cure a wide variety of illness. Capitalizing on this exposure, producers have developed a whole host of acai berry products including pulp, juice, wine, powder, extract, capsules, lotions and creams. To make an informed decision before using this product, take these negatives into consideration.

  1. Drug Interactions

    • Because of its antioxidant effects, acai can lessen the effectiveness of some types of chemotherapy. Additionally, some acai berry products have been contaminated with other drugs. In 2009, Health Canada issued a warning after finding that some products contained Sildenafil, a prescription medication used to treat erectile dysfunction. Sildenafil, when combined with nitrate drugs, can lead to severe heart problems resulting in death.

    Contaminations

    • In 2009, researchers reported that 178 people fell ill with Chagas disease as a result of acai berry contamination. The acai berries in question carried a protozoan, Trypanosoma cruzii. Left untreated, this parasitic disease can result in serious heart and intestinal problems.

    Allergies

    • Some people are allergic and/or hypersensitive to acai palm products. Those individuals should avoid using acai berry products.

    Unfounded Claims

    • While research does show that acai berries are rich in antioxidants, heart-healthy fats and fiber, scientific studies to back up many of the acai berry proponents' extraordinary claims are lacking. These advocates claim the berries can increase weight loss, reduce high cholesterol, prevent cancer, alleviate arthritis and detoxify the body. Unfortunately, many people reach for acai berry as a sort of miracle superfood. They have exaggerated expectations about the benefits of the product and spend extraordinate amounts of money on it. Understandably, many are disappointed when the product does not live up to these claims.

    Manufacturing Processes

    • During the manufacturing process, pasteurization of the juice destroys many of the berry's beneficial nutrients. The addition of flavors and preservatives to increase the stability of the product can also have negative effects. For example, sodium benzoate is often added to the juice. This chemical can produce benzene, a known carcinogen, if the product does not remain cold during transportation.

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