The answer is no. For real. I’m serious. (I know- this is coming from a guy who runs an acai berry website)
It’s been reported that there is a lack of evidence for the promoted benefits of acai berries and for consumers to be careful of acai berry free trial offers. Warnings have been issued by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the Better Business Bureau, and the Attorney General of Connecticut.
The reality is that there is evidence backing up the beneficial effects of acai berries and more studies are in the works. Just because there are misleading free trial programs of acai does not mean that this berry is not beneficial to your health.
The most famous study was performed by scientists at the University of Florida. It was found that extracts of acai berries destroyed cultured human cancer cells in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells tested. The link is here: http://news.ufl.edu/2006/01/12/berries/
A more recent study by Texas AgriLife Research scientists and published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry showed that the berry’s antioxidants from pulp and juice are actually absorbed in the body. The link is here: http://agnews.tamu.edu/showstory.php?id=764
Additionally, although I don’t have complete access, it appears there are a number of additional studies published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry after searching for the word “acai.” Here’s their website where you can search articles: http://pubs.acs.org/loi/jafcau
In regards to the acai berry’s weight loss abilities, the jury is still out because there are no studies that I am aware of testing this claim. However, I feel authorities are overreacting by totally dismissing the acai berry altogether since it does show promise to benefit one’s health and there are more studies to come.