Sep
19
If you’ve been keeping track of nutrition news over the last few years, you may have heard of a little berry called the Acai. You might have seen it spelled Asai or Assai by the way, since that’s closer to the way it’s pronounced, but I believe the proper spelling is Acai. Everyone from nutritionists to the food supplement industry will tell you that this is a “superfood”. It will do anything and everything. In fact, one news site I found contains the following list of benefits attributed to this little berry:
- Feel greater stamina
- Improves digestion
- Improves mental focus
- Enhances sleep
- Acai berries have more proteins than one average egg.
- Acai berries have essential minerals like potassium, iron, phosphorus and calcium. Also, Acai has Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, Vitamin B3, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E.
- Helps improve sexual drive / function
- Acai berries have up to 33 times the Antocyanine as compared to red wine grapes.
- Acai has a high concentration of fibers which is very healthy for the elderly and for anyone experiencing digestive-related problems.
- Acai berries have fatty acids called Omega 6 and Omega 9. Research studies prove that these two fatty acids help maintain healthy cholesterol levels.
- Acai’s Anti-Oxidant properties play an important role for maintaining the vascular cardiac system; this in turn is extremely vital for optimal blood circulation.
- Acai is being recognized as one of the richest nutritive fruits on earth.
- Because of the berry’s amino acid complex and valuable trace minerals, it contributes to proper muscle regeneration and contractions.
- It cleanses and detoxifies your body.
- It boosts your immune system.
- Fights cancer cells.
- Attacks premature aging.
- Promotes younger and healthier looking skin.
Wow! One little berry has more protein than an egg, all the fiber you need, boosts your immune cells, makes you younger, helps you sleep, stops aging, gives you more stamina and increases your mental focus! Sounds incredible. Well, unfortunately, the truth isn’t so amazing.
Good? Yes
Acai berries are indeed good for you. They contain a high amount of fiber and, for a fruit, a good amount of protein and healthy fats. They also contain some antioxidants which science believes helps fight various diseases. In fact, there have been studies that show Acai berries might have a beneficial effect against cancer. Here’s a link to one such study performed by the University of Florida. The study does indeed confirm that Acai berries may have a beneficial effect. Here’s the exact quote: “Published today in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, the study showed extracts from acai (ah-SAH’-ee) berries triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells tested, said Stephen Talcott, an assistant professor with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.”
Super? No
However, here are a few more choice quotes:
He cautioned that the study, funded by UF sources, was not intended to show whether compounds found in acai berries could prevent leukemia in people.
Other fruits, including grapes, guavas and mangoes, contain antioxidants shown to kill cancer cells in similar studies, he said. Experts are uncertain how much effect antioxidants have on cancer cells in the human body, because factors such as nutrient absorption, metabolism and the influence of other biochemical processes may influence the antioxidants’ chemical activity.
In fact, if you look at most of the other studies out there about these berries, they seem to say the same thing. Yes, they’re good for you, but no, they’re not a superfood. They might have some specific benefits but those benefits can also be found in other more common foods. In the meantime, the health food industry is marketing yogurts, juices and extracts all screaming out “Acai berries are the new health miracle!”.
And no, one little berry does not contain more protein than an egg. Sure, if you eat enough of them I suppose you will get your daily requirements, but that’s going to be a while. They do also contain a good amount of protein, but if you eat them in the juice or yogurt form available in the US, you’re losing out on much of the nutrition and gaining unneeded calories from the other stuff they add in.
Summary
Maybe someday we will find a very specific benefit that Acai berries have. Maybe they do provide something we don’t get enough off. However, in the meantime, I would suggest that you stick to a healthy diet with plenty of fruit and veggies and leave the so called “superfoods “in the supermarket. By all means, pick up some more exotic items like mangos and guavas, they might contain something you’re missing in your current diet, but don’t assume one little berry is the cure to everything that ails you. Just maintain a healthy suspicion of anything that seems too good to be true, like these little berries.
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4 Responses to “Superfood, The Truth About Acai (Asai) Berries”
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[...] Josefsberg presents Superfood, The Truth About Acai (Asai) Berries : 60 IN 3 posted at 60 IN 3, saying, “I thought you might be interested in this piece from my health [...]
Finally a balanced and rational review of this berry, plus a good intro to intelligent nutrition. Cheers.
If you want to know the truth about the Acai berry you have just found it people.
Man, I’ll tell you this much I am in love with the acai berry lol.