Cons of Acai Berry Supplements

Acai is a species of palm tree primarily found in regions of South America. The tree produces large quantities of grape-size fruit which are commonly known as acai berry. The pulp and juice of the berry are used for nutritional and alleged medicinal purposes.

Constituents

• Macronutrient consistency of fruit pulp and skin taken together is roughly 4 percent protein, 12 percent lipids, and 50 percent carbohydrates (most of which is in the form of fiber). Calcium, vitamin A, phosphorus, iron, and thiamine are also found in notable amounts. Acai is most valued, however, for its high levels of various antioxidants.

  It is worth noting that because the fruit deteriorates very rapidly post-harvest, the presence of these antioxidants is largely dependent on processing time and method of preservation. The second-best choice to fresh acai appears to be the freeze-dried version. Of course, consumers can never be sure how quickly after collection the fruit was processed. The degree of antioxidant activity between products varies tremendously.

Uses

• Aside from its direct nutritional value, acai is said to benefit a number medical conditions, including osteoarthritis, hypercholesterolemia, allergies, and erectile dysfunction, as well as assist in weight loss, enhance detoxification and generally improve health. Research into acai is very scant, and while there is some evidence to support a few of these claims, it is largely inconclusive.

Adverse reactions

• There are no reported side-effects or counter indications associated with pure acai berry, but data is insufficient to adequately assess safety. While the fruit itself may be harmless, what is concerning is that many acai supplements are adulterated with a host of other substances including caffeine, unnecessary vitamins, stimulant laxatives and multiple kinds of herbs, to name a few. Added flavors and colors, fillers, binders, are also commonly present. To avoid disclosing the proportions of each constituent, which may otherwise deter customers, manufacturers frequently use the guise of "proprietary blend." Oftentimes, there is hardly any actual acai to be found at all.

  These additional ingredients can have any number of unpredictable consequences, including allergic reactions, unwanted physiological effects, interactions with other medications, and aggravation of various medical conditions.

Further considerations

• Carefully studying the label to make certain the product contains no undesirable ingredients may be the safest approach. It's important to remember, however, that no regulatory standards for nutritional supplements currently exist in the U.S. As such, one is never guaranteed quality, quantity, or even botanical identity of commercial product constituents.