I've read study after study about the potential benefits of acai and how great of a "superfood" it is. Unfortunately the only way we can get acai is in powder and juice form. Funny thing is I have seen more and more stores carrying acai drinks and products. Just recently I went to Florida and saw 3 or 4 different acai products at a local store so that's a good sign (not including acai pills or acai weight loss stuff).
Hi AntioxidantsDetective, welcome to the forum! I've tried a bottle of the Acai juice, but for me it's too expensive to buy all the time, the same for Mangosteen.
I like to drink Pomegranate juice and other juices like Cranberry, Grape, Cherry, Aloe Vera, etc. I think of berries as a 'superfood', and buy lots of blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries when they're on sale.
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I've recently researched this topic. My upcoming acai column, which includes numerous scientific citations, will be posted on Friday on www.healthyfellow.com. Basically, the conclusion I've come to is that there currently isn't enough compelling data on acai to recommend its use, IMO. Even though it's rich in antioxidants.
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Last edited by Harry Hirsute; 07-13-2010 at 08:24 AM.
For awhile, Acai was being vastly touted as a weight loss biggy and Acai
pills of all kinds were being advertised/pushed. Many products had very little
of the Acai fruit actually in them, and turned out to be Scams. Oprah even
did a program on it and I think had alot to do with the multiple false products
popularity for a time. Not meaning Oprah was part of any Scams but her show
is so widely watched.
Anyway, Acai popularity went down when no weight loss took place.
I do think the actual fruit does probably have antioxidant properties though.
It's quite expensive and probably many can't afford it. I use Pomegranate
juice as well as eat all kinds of other fresh berry products.
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I've recently researched this topic. My upcoming acai column, which includes numerous scientific citations, will be posted on Friday on www.healthyfellow.com. Basically, the conclusion I've come to is that there currently isn't enough compelling data on acai to recommend its use, IMO. Even though it's rich in antioxidants.
That's too funny b/c I did a good amount of research as well and the conclusion I came to and put on my website about acai is that the verdict is still out but has a promising future.
I guess great minds think alike. I'll be sure to read the article... thanks!
I don't understand the Acai obession sweeping the nation. I definitely notice it being spammed everywhere. I barely understand anti-oxidents. I can read it over and over again but I feel like I am missing something. It doesn't make sense to me. I would stay away from fads until they are thoroughly proven... unless someone wants to buy my snake oil =)
I personally take a supplement that has Acai in it, and I have had a decent amount of weight loss. Whether it is due to the Acai or not, that is what is supposed to be the weight loss ingredient (it doesn't have anything thermogenic in it). My weight loss has probably been due to my change in appetite; I don't crave suger and fat like I used to, and I attribute that to the supplement.
I personally take a supplement that has Acai in it, and I have had a decent amount of weight loss. Whether it is due to the Acai or not, that is what is supposed to be the weight loss ingredient (it doesn't have anything thermogenic in it). My weight loss has probably been due to my change in appetite; I don't crave suger and fat like I used to, and I attribute that to the supplement.
That's great that you're making progress with your diet and losing weight. funny thing is that a good portion of 2009 I was practically addicted to sugar and eating sweets. It wasn't good at all. I think it was just a phase but I still remind myself of the slippery slope to remind myself to keep my edge.
As far as the acai is concerned, about 40% of the nutrition content in acai is from the fiber alone. And fiber, with regards to digestion & weight loss, makes you feel full faster and hence you eat less. Hope this makes sense.
I'm wondering, though, what else is in the supplement you're taking?
Acai is awesome. Is it a superfood? Yes, but then so is goji, mangosteen, pomegranate, blueberry, pineapple, raspberry, orange, apple, papaya, apricot, cherry, bilberry, blackberry, strawberry, plum, cranberry, and just about every other fruit there is.
The point is that all fruits should be utilized, rather than this or that, and the fruit/berry extracts are much more potent than just eating the fruit, although I recommend consuming both on a daily basis.
Scientists haven't even begun to understand phytonutrients, nevermind the synergistic effect from mixing several varieties of berries.
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Acai is awesome. Is it a superfood? Yes, but then so is goji, mangosteen, pomegranate, blueberry, pineapple, raspberry, orange, apple, papaya, apricot, cherry, bilberry, blackberry, strawberry, plum, cranberry, and just about every other fruit there is.
I agree that all fruits are "super" in there own respects and having variety is definitely beneficial to have in your diet. The funny thing is the term "superfood" is really just a marketing term used by the companies selling these fruits/products. No doctor, dietitian, or anybody in the health industry will use the term "superfood" to describe a fruit or vegetable.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pinballdoctor
Scientists haven't even begun to understand phytonutrients, nevermind the synergistic effect from mixing several varieties of berries.
This couldn't be anymore accurate. On my site I talk about complementarity when I talk about sources of antioxidants (https://www.antioxidantsdetective.com...ioxidants.html). Heck, scientists are just discovering the synergistic properties of Vitamins & minerals... and we've known about these much much longer than phytonutrients.
I just heard about the benefits of the acai berry in January. My friend sells MonaVie which is an acai juice blend that's only sold by independent distributors. I thought he was off his rocker because of how expensive it is -- $130 for a case which is a one month supply. I did end up buying a case, though, and I liked it so much I signed up as a distributor myself! Acai does seem to be everywhere these days, Jell-o even has an acai blend!
I just heard about the benefits of the acai berry in January. My friend sells MonaVie which is an acai juice blend that's only sold by independent distributors. I thought he was off his rocker because of how expensive it is -- $130 for a case which is a one month supply. I did end up buying a case, though, and I liked it so much I signed up as a distributor myself! Acai does seem to be everywhere these days, Jell-o even has an acai blend!
That's funny you mention Monavie because I was with another network marketing company (NuVerus) who's product is called Euforia that also had acai in it as well. I say "was" because with my website I am doing reviews of various products and I want to make sure I have an unbiased opinion on products and I'll give recommendations on ones I think are of quality.
So, did the Euforia work well for you? I've never heard of it, but I'd also never heard of MonaVie before my friend told me about it, either. My co-worker likes the Xango with the mangosteen, but she couldn't really tell me much about it (other than it makes her feel better, lol). I had also read some articles about acai and was blown away by the purported benefits. I know my hair looks better, so whatever I was missing in my diet before with regards to that, I'm getting it now. I need to start eating better, too. I'm guilty of trading good nutrition for convenience. But I'm trying to change my evil ways!
The Euforia definitely worked well for me and it's especially great for those who want to get their fill of fruits & veggies but either don't have the time or have dietary restrictions. I'm guilty of the same thing but as I learned in my nutrition class "a little is good, a lot is not better."
So doing a little something each day (ie. eating a handful of blueberries) is much better than nothing. My site has recommendations on how to get antioxidant rich foods in your diet and I will soon have fun recipes as well.
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