Acai Berries, Diet, Detox, and Weight Loss

The acai palm tree (pronouced: ah-sah-EE) is a member of the genus Euterpe, which contains 8 species of palms native to tropical Central and South America, from Beliza south to Brazil and Peru, growing mainly in floodplains and swamps. Açaí palms are fast growing, and are cultivated for both their fruits and for their superior hearts of palm. Global demand for the fruit has expanded rapidly in recent years, and açaí is now cultivated for that purpose primarily. The closely related species Euterpe edulis (jucara) is now predominantly used for hearts of palm.

The fruit, a small, round, black-purple drupe about 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter, similar in appearance and size to a grape but with less pulp, is produced in branches 700 to 900 fruits. Two crops of fruit are produced each year. The fruit has a single large seed about 0.25–0.40 inches (7–10 mm) in diameter. The fruit is a deep purple color, or green, depending on the kind of açaí and its maturity.  The seed makes up about 80% of the fruit.

Açai berry supplements have been promoted in the U.S. for weight loss, as energy boosters, and as a source of antioxidants.  In late 2008, lawyers for The Oprah Winfrey Show began investigating alleged statements from supplement manufacturers who suggested that frequent Oprah guest Dr. Mehmet Oz had recommended their product or açai in general for weight loss.

A powdered preparation of freeze-dried açaí fruit pulp and skin was shown to contain anthocyanins (3.19 mg/g); however, anthocyanins accounted for only about 10% of the overall antioxidant capacity.^[9] The powdered preparation was also reported to contain twelve flavonoid-like compounds, including homoorientin, orientin, taxifolin, deoxyhexose, isovitexin, scoparin, as well as proanthocyanidins (12.89 mg/g), and low levels of resveratrol (1.1 μg/g)

Freeze-dried açaí powder was found to have high antioxidant activity against superoxide (1614 units/g) and peroxyl radicals (1027 μmol TE/g) and milder activity for peroxynitrite and hydroxyl radicals.^[5] The powder was reported to inhibit hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidation in neutrophils, and to have a slight stimulatory effect on nitric oxide production by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated macrophages in vitro.

Extracts of açaí seeds were reported to have antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals, similar to the capacity of the pulp, with higher antioxidant capacity against peroxynitrite and hydroxyl radicals.

Read more about how the Acai Berry can help you be healthier, and help in your weight loss routine:

• Acai Berry and Cancer
• What is the Acai Berry?
• Acai Berries Side Effects
• Acai Berry as part of a healthy diet
• Acai Berries and Weight Loss