There have been recent discussions about the magical benefits of acai berry (claims including its fat-burning, bald-reducing, colon-cleansing, sexual-enhancing and long-life producing properties), and I just read an article on CNN that much of this is due to marketing and an extreme exaggeration of its properties. "The expensive acai berry is triumph of marketing over science, that's the bottom line". "It's not useless, but it's not anything that people are claiming it is."
In fact, almost every berry, including the less-exotic blueberry and strawberry, also have anti-inflammatory properties and are high in antioxidants.
"Companies including FWM Laboratories of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and Hollywood, Florida, Advanced Wellness Research of Miami Beach, Florida, and other acai companies are accused of using fake diet blogs to steer consumers to sites plugging the free trials."
"After a doctor listed acai as a healthy food on the Oprah Winfrey show last year, and a guest on Rachael Ray's cooking show mentioned the fruit, ads popped up directing consumers to sites selling acai weight loss products as if endorsed by the celebrities. Winfrey and Ray have publicly disassociated themselves from those sites."
Bottomline: "Acai berries could be part of a well-balanced diet of different fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Gans said consumers should be skeptical whenever any one food seems too good to be true and should not to rely on one "miracle food" to boost health."
Some consumers have even been scammed out of money, by going to these acai berry websites that promise weight-reduction in the form of an acai berry extract pill, have provided their credit card number, and have been charged hundreds of dollars without the ability to stop the charges. Please be aware of internet scams, even if celebrity doctors are telling you on TV that it is the best thing since sliced bread! The BBB (Better Business Bureau) is a good place to start, before making a purchase online. You can search for a US business or charity on the BBB site before providing your credit card information.
What are your thoughts about acai berry, versus other (read: more boring, less exotic) fruits for improving health and/or losing weight?