Açaí berries and juice (Euterpe oleracea Mart.)

    Pronounced "ah-sigh-ee"

[follow the Wikipedia links]

There is still mystery about açaí.

The Brazilian palmberry (Euterpe oleracea Mart.) has been noticeable in the North American consumer market for only 5 years and scientific knowledge about it is just beginning -- by far the least researched of major berries.

Yet açaí is commonly included among superfruits, a position based mainly on its exceptional antioxidant strength demonstrated in test tube studies.

These features -- 1) exotic origin, 2) growing popularity as a smoothie ingredient or juice, 3) nutrient value and 4) antioxidant interest -- have been enough to launch superfruits like açaí into mainstream retail and network markets.

Marketing Far Ahead of Science: Spawning of Açaí Scams

The danger of market excitement in the absence of science is that unscrupulous manufacturers and marketers will overstate what is known about a supposed health product like açaí.

The goal of their deception is to stimulate sales through exorbitant claims of benefits from using their products, when no science supports such statements.

Açaí has been claimed in various fraud programs to

• help lose weight
• cleanse the digestive system
• improve neurological functions
• enhance sexual performance
• maintain an active and healthy lifestyle

... among many other claims one can see by searching 'açaí' with Google -- over 14 million websites!

All of the antioxidant  and other health benefit marketing statements about açaí are fabricated -- none derives from science!

Açaí Scam Warning: Center for Science in the Public Interest

CSPI is a leading voice for the American public on nutrition, food safety and health. As a watchdog against consumer fraud, CSPI released in March 2009 a report on açaí products marketed with claims of health benefits that have not been scientifically proved, click!

"If Bernard Madoff were in the food business, he’d be offering 'free' trials of açai-based weight-loss products," said CSPI senior nutritionist David Schardt, who authored an exposé of the scam in the April issue of CSPI’s Nutrition Action Healthletter.

"Law enforcement has yet to catch up to these rogue operators. Until they do, consumers have to protect themselves."

Summary of Scientific Facts About Açaí

1. açaí is a nutrient-rich fruit -- it has high content of vitamin E, omega fats, dietary fiber, essential minerals and phytosterols
2. the widely reported exceptional ORAC value for açaí is a distorted, misinterpreted value, as no other comparable fruit was prepared for analysis in the same way click!, and is meaningless for functions in the human body, click!
3. açaí has rich levels of anthocyanins and proanthocyanidins -- the putative 'antioxidants', but the biological importance of these polyphenols is not yet known and is subject to scientific doubt -- read here, click!
4. polyphenols from açaí stimulate apoptosis (inhibit cancer onset mechanisms) in leukemia cells in laboratory test tube studies
5. a polyphenol-rich oil containing high levels of oleic acid (similar to olive oil) and phytosterols can be extracted from fruit pulp and juice

What's the Bottom Line?

Relatively new to Western research, açaí is a fascinating fruit having high content of nutrients and polyphenol pigments but with no specific health properties confirmed by science.

açaí palms, Brazil