Acai

The benefits of Acai are

Acai, a palm tree native to Central and South America, produces reddish-purple berries that are similar to blueberries and cranberries. Bearing a rich, chocolate-like flavor, acai berries have recently popped up in scads of nutritional supplements and juices.

In Brazil, native people use acai berries to heal skin conditions and sip acai seed tea to soothe fever. Native Brazilians have also long used boiled preparations of acai root to treat conditions ranging from menstrual pain to diabetes.

Benefits of Acai

In recent years, supplement manufacturers have begun marketing acai as a top source of antioxidants (substances that help protect cells from free radical damage). In fact, 53 new acai-containing products were introduced in the United States in 2008. That same year, sales of products with acai as the main ingredient surpassed $106 million.

Acai proponents claim that the "superfruit" offers 10 times more antioxidants than red grapes and delivers a remarkable synergy of amino acids, essential fatty acids, and fiber. According to acai advocates, the fruit's nutritional profile qualifies acai as a powerful defense against heart disease, cancer, digestive problems, allergies, and autoimmune disorders. Some supplement manufacturers also suggest that acai promotes weight loss.

The Science on Acai

Although research has proven that acai is indeed high in antioxidants, very few studies have tested the fruit's effects on humans. Among those human-based studies is a 2008 trial including only 12 people; the key finding was that acai can in fact be absorbed by the human body when consumed as juice or pulp.

In test tube studies, meanwhile, scientists have shown that acai extracts can trigger cancer-cell death and lower inflammation. However, until human studies can replicate these findings, acai shouldn't be considered a surefire cancer-fighter or anti-inflammatory agent.