There are numerous advertisements, blogs and web sites all marketing the acai berry as the ultimate weight loss product. Can you really lose weight with acai, or is this all just a massive scam? You bet it is! It’s got all the hallmarks of a scam: crazy claims of huge weight losses, increased energy levels, improved sleep, improved sex drive – you name it and acai delivers it. Given the opportunity acai can probably change the personality of your mother in law too…
It is difficult to understand how this supposed weight loss product, totally unsupported by any scientific evidence whatsoever with regards to its effectiveness in the battle of the bulge, gained so much popularity so quickly. Everywhere you look on the internet people are telling stories of how incorporating the acai berry into their diets helped them reach their optimal body weight. How did the acai berry fad diet gain such momentum?
The acai (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) berry is just another fruit after all. Acai berries are harvested in the Brazilian rain forest from acai palms that reach heights in excess of 60 feet. These same palms are also used to harvest edible hearts of palm. Acai Berries are naturally lower in sugar than many other berries, and the flavor can be described as something between berries and chocolate.
It is much, much easier to get people to believe that an exotic berry from the rain forests of Brazil offers the magic cure to their weight loss woes than it would be to convince these same people they will magically lose weight by introducing apples, blueberries, grapes or even bananas into their diet! Even though acai berries offer many health benefits, it will most probably be as effective as any other berry in helping you lose weight. Yes, you will lose weight if you incorporate fruit into your diet, but only if you do so in moderation as part of a calorie controlled diet.
The quick rise to fame of the acai berry as the ultimate weight loss product had much to do with discussions on the Oprah Winfrey show. Two of Oprah’s regular experts, namely Dr Perricone and Dr Oz, highlighted the general health benefits of the the acai berry. The berry was included in Dr Perricone’s list of top 10 super foods, as it contains a remarkable combination of antioxidants, monounsaturated fats, dietary fiber and amino acids.
Interestingly, even though the benefits of acai for general health were explained, none of the Oprah discussions really touched on the benefits of acai for weight loss. Still, the mere mention of the berry on the show was a green light for many unscrupulous businesses to claim that the acai berry was endorsed by Oprah as the ultimate weight loss product. Oprah’s lawyers are pursuing a number of companies for false claims of association with Oprah Winfrey.
The scam went even further than false claims as to the weight loss benefits of acai in some cases. Incidents were reported where consumers, excited about a 14 day free trial offered by acai vendors, got a nasty surprise along with the product. It was delivered with a letter informing them that unless they canceled by phone, they will automatically receive and be charged for the product on a monthly basis from then on. The telephone number provided turned out to be invalid. These clients did eventually, after many frustrations, manage to get the banks to stop and reverse the transactions, but the experience left them with a bitter taste in the mouth.
The objective of this article is by no means to belittle the health benefits of acai berries when introduced into your diet, or even to imply that all acai vendors should be avoided like the plague. Acai has 10 times more antioxidants than red grapes. It really does promote cardiovascular and digestive function, and provide amino acids vital for muscle regeneration. Many suppliers of acai products are honest and really provide value for money. Just be careful where you buy acai products, and make sure you buy them for the right reasons.
Joana Campbell is an expert in the field of weight loss and management. She writes for OptimalBodyWeight.com. For free weight loss tools; including online weight tracking, online food diary, journal, nutritional analysis, and many more check out MyOBW.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joana_Campbell
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
What do you think about the Lemonade Diet? I am about to try the Acai Berry diet.
I do the lemonade diet 2-3 times per year for about 10 days each time to detox. It works great and I always feel a lot better afterward.