Amazing acai berry… or is it?

Recently there has been a lot of discussion about the acai berry. It is showing up in a lot of MLM products and has become the next ‘miracle’ product, that will provide cures for whatever you can imagine.

I don’t always have the time to really research such thing when they come up. And most, honestly, eventually die out a natural death (remember the Atkins diet??), but colleague and registered dietitian Lisa Harkins shared the results of her own research in an article she wrote.

It was so good that I asked her if I could post it! So, enjoy reading the REAL scoop on acai berry.

The amazing (?) acai berry…

By Lisa Harkins, RD

Wondering what the fuss is about the itty bitty acai berry? Does your neighbor order Mona Vie by the case load? What IS it about this puny purple fruit?

No question about it, the acai berry (or Euterpe oleraceae Mart for you botanists) DOES have powerful antioxidant properties, that is, the phytochemicals in its pulp scavenge free-radicals, molecules known to damage cells and cause mutations. But what makes it better than a glass of red wine? Or a half a cup of berries in your smoothie? That my friends, is up for debate.

In a 2007 study by Schauss et al, researchers found that the acai berry had “the highest antioxidant activity of any food reported to date”, as well as significant anti-inflammatory and immunity benefits, and concluded it could have serious potential in disease prevention. Jensen et al reported scientifically significant results in a 2008 study regarding antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in the acai berry blend juice Mona Vie. Note though, Mona Vie supplied the product used, and the study only included a mere 12 (healthy) human subjects.

Now the flip side. In a study published in 2005, researchers lead by Lichtenthaler compared the total oxidant scavenging capabilities of 11 different acai pulp varieties and found that although the berry scored high on certain tests, it failed to perform on others, leading the team to believe that there was something else in the pulp not yet identified that was responsible for the free-radical foiling. Seeram et al published their study in 2008 that bluntly stated the acai berry wasn’t quite the antioxidant wunderkind it was cracked up to be. In fact, plain old Concord grape juice beat the berry when run through four standardized antioxidant potency tests.

So what’s the deal? To drink or not to drink? Acai berries have potent potential as a powerful preventive. But so do a lot of other foods that are widely available and far less costly. Mona Vie can cost consumers up to $40 per week per individual based on suggested consumption (two ounces in the morning, two ounces in the evening). You could put two tablespoons of blueberries on your cereal for seven mornings for about $3.00.

As a registered dietitian, I am all for people increasing their intake of foods that contain antioxidants due to the overwhelming amount of evidence supporting their health benefits. But I believe (along with many other respected health professionals), that eating the whole food itself (versus in juice or supplement form) is the best way to take advantage of these benefits. Although certain compounds have been identified and isolated as antioxidants, the other substances within the whole food itself may also play a part in the prevention of disease. So enjoy your Mona Vie, but drink it with a big salad, some lentil soup, a slice of whole grain bread, and cup of fresh fruit!

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So, what is the bottom line? All things in moderation and make sure you understand where you are spending your money!

Margie