The acai berry is one of the most popular and controversial health supplements in the world right now. It has been featured on health segments of news programs and popular talk shows. The acai berry industry has also been under fire for deceptive advertising practices of some companies. I want to spend a few minutes talking about what is fact and what is fantasy.

Let’s talk about what the acai berry is. The berry grows in the South American rain forests and flood plains on the acai palm tree. It has been a staple food of the local people for a long time and is harvested twice a year. It has a lot of antioxidants – more than blueberries and pomegranates. There is also omega fatty acids, dietary fiber, and protein in this berry. Unfortunately it spoils very quickly if not processed so you probably won’t see it very far from where it grows.

You can now find acai berry supplements almost everywhere. They are featured on news programs and talk shows. There are internet advertisements on almost every website. There is even a network marketing company that distributes acai berry supplements.

There are a lot of people that will tell you they feel better when taking acai berry supplements because of the antioxidants and other beneficial properties. Some companies add other natural ingredients like hoodia for appetite suppression or green tea for metabolism boosting and market them as weight loss supplements. Many people will also tell you these are very effective.

The way some companies market acai berry supplements has caused some controversy. One common, deceitful practice is to use celebrity pictures to make it look like they endorse a specific product which they don’t. Another common problem is that some marketers create fake blogs that chronical fictitious weight loss and try to get people to sign up for a free trial of supplements. In both cases, the free trials being offered turn into monthly shipments that are not free. While this isn’t a big problem if you know about it so you can cancel if you don’t want it, many dishonest companies don’t do much to make sure you know about the part after the free trial.

Many people, myself included, think that acai berry supplements are very good for you. They may help you lose weight and be more energetic. With that said, there is no scientific evidence that acai berry supplements do anything. There are studies that indicate antioxidants have beneficial effects. Some studies have shown that the acai berry does in fact have more antioxidants than other foods. There are studies that show that the antioxidants in acai berries are absorbed by people when eaten. However, nothing has been conclusively proven to tie acai berries directly to any specific health benefit. They will probably help you, but there is no guarantee.