There are so many supplements available that it is hard to know which ones actually do what they promise to do. The trend in many supplements is an ingredient called acai berry. It comes in many forms such as puree, powder, capsules and juice.
In order to better understand why acai berry has become so popular one must look first at the berry itself. It contains anthocyanins and flavonoids which are powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants are essential to helping defend the body against the stresses of life. They help the body’s cell protection system. They also help to interfere with the aging and disease process by neutralizing free radicals. Free radicals are very harmful byproducts produced by the body. Acai berry juice is the supplement that will be further explored.
Many people want to know if there are health benefits of acai berries. Since its fruit pulp does contain a very high antioxidant capacity many people believe that it is very healthy. However studies are ongoing about the effect that these antioxidants have on the body. Acai berries have no known health benefit that is different then any other similar type of fruit such as a raspberry or blueberry.
The supplement in juice form is not pure acai berry juice, but it is mixed with some other mixed fruit juices. Many people argue that since the juice is not 100% acai berry juice then there can be no proof that it is the acai berry that is causing people to have results, if indeed that people are getting results. With each study there have been inconclusive reports. Many are not supported by scientific research.
There have not been reported severe side effects from taking the juice. However, some reports show that when too much of the juice is consumed people have had mild diarrhea. This is common in many other fruit juices as well. People that took more than 4 ounces of the acai puree or consumed 12 to 16 ounces of the juice before doing long run have also reported problems. Some people who have pollen allergies have reported mild discomfort when consuming acai berry supplements or acai berry juice.
Many use the juice as a weight loss supplement. There is so much more research that need to be done when referring to this superfood. It is rich in antioxidants, and plenty of research promotes having a diet that is rich in antioxidants however, there is no research that promotes acai berry’s ability to shed excess pounds.
Another controversial issue with acai berry juice is that it helps with depression. One of the main ingredients in acai berry juice is Goji berries. Goji berries contain Betaine and are used by the liver to help produce a compound called Choline. This compound does help people deal with anxiety and also helps people have a peaceful state of mind.
Goji berry has been nicknamed “The Happy Berry”. However, it is not determined that acai berry juice contains enough of the ingredient to help with depression. Some say that if acai berry juice is consumed on a consistent basis then it will keep a person healthy and put them in a better state of mind. Scientific research has not backed up any of these claims.