Acai Berry:  Snake Oil or Superfood?

Is it our instant gratification or quick-fix mentality that gets us so worked up about such things as Acai Berries or other products touted as “super foods?”  Maybe it’s an exotic “Romancing the Stone” sort of intrigue.  I mean, a fruit that requires such distant, primitive sounding growing conditions as a rainforest swamp in Brazil has to possess near-magical qualities for health and healing, right?

If you listen to the claims of the many manufacturer’s aboard the superfood bandwagon, it’s clear there has never been anything to rival the power of the Acai Berry.  A list of its purported abilities include reversing diabetes, increasing men’s sexual virility, attractiveness to women and penis size, aiding in weight loss, providing an anti-aging metabolism boost, improving damaged skin, and prevention of heart disease and cancer.   So many incredible claims beg the question: What scientific evidence is there for any actual benefit of consuming this mysterious fruit?

What exactly is Acai?

Acai  is the one-inch long reddish, purple fruit from a Central and South American palm, Euterpe oleracea.  A cousin to better known fruits such as the cranberry or blueberry, the fruit is not edible directly from the plant, but requires an olive-like processing in order to extract the juice that is used in so many products.  Several native Brazilian populations have relied on the fruit as a major staple of their diet for generations.  The increased world demand on the product has had some negative impact on the supply for these indigenous peoples, yet systematic cultivation and reliable commercial sources have become more prevalent.

Is there any Scientific Evidence?

Acai berry products have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and their efficacy is questionable.  Specifically, there is no scientific evidence that açaí consumption affects body weight or could promote weight loss.  However, a recent article by Stephen Daniels on nutraingredients.com reveals new research suggesting that extracts from acai, blueberries and strawberries may enhance the ‘neuronal housekeeping function’ and potentially protect the brain as we age.  This is attributed to the very high anti-oxidant content of the fruit.  There is little scientific research to date, and that which has been performed has been far overshadowed by the incredible hype generated over the Acai Berry during the past five years.

As is often the case, media and marketing hype over this unfamiliar, exotic sounding food is far ahead of research.  The combination of it’s exotic origin, growing popularity in such products as smoothies and juice beverages, the known nutrient value, and increased public interest in anti-oxidants have been enough to launch superfruits like acai into mainstream retail and network markets.  The main problem with such popularity preceding scientific research is that it leaves the door open for unscrupulous marketers and manufacturer’s to make exaggerated claims of their product’s effectiveness in order to boost sales.

Although there is no hard scientific evidence to date to support the numerous claims about the power of the Acai Berry, it is clear that, as with many other superfruits, the Acai has qualities that are known to be beneficial.  It is most likely just a matter of time before there is greater supporting evidence for specific benefits of consuming this fruit.  In the meantime, the best advice is to continue adding whole, natural foods with a variety of colors into our diet for a general overall health, rather than seeking for a quick fix or magic snake oil cure-all.