FAQ
What is an acai berry?
It is a purple colored berry that grows on acai palm trees. It looks like a blueberry, but is darker in color.
Where does the acai berry grow?
Acai palm trees (and their berries) grow in both Central and South America. They are mainly found in the Amazon rain forest of Brazil, but can also found in other countries such as Peru and Belize. The palms grow near floodplains and swamps where there is a lot of water to help with growth of the berries and the palm.
How do you pronounce acai?
It is pronounced ah-SIGH-ee. I have been messing up the pronunciation for a year, so I thought I would add this question.
What are its health benefits?
While I’m skeptical of some of the claims related to this berry, the most common benefits that people report are losing weight, detoxification, an increase in energy, and a possible reduction in cholesterol. There is a popular University of Florida study (Go Gators!) where the extracts of acai caused a self-destruct response in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells. This study was not done on humans, so it will be interesting to see if lab results can be replicated on real-life people.
What are its side effects?
From my research, the side effects are either minimal or non-existent because the acai berry is a natural fruit. I have read appetite suppression is one side effect, but this doesn’t really sounds like a side effect to me. Of course, if someone were to mix the extract with something else, then this could cause a health risk. That’s why I would only purchase acai berry extract from legitimate companies.
Where do I buy acai berries?
The craze right now is to buy acai berry extract as part of a free trial program, but I am against these programs because they end up charging you $50-$80 per month if you do not cancel in 14 days from sending the product. Right now, I am promoting a legitimate US company that sells acai berry extract at a cheap price without any monthly charges (no pressure, haha).
What is the difference between freeze dried and spray dried acai extracts?
As a result of acai berries oxidizing within 24 hours after being picked (and losing their healthful benefits), some manufacturers of the supplements will freeze dry the berries to prevent the oxidation process and preserve the full antioxidant capacity of the berry. The acai berry is then dehydrated at a low temperature, which leaves a powder that still maintains the nutritional properties of fresh acai berries, which can be placed into capsules.
Spray drying involves exposing acai berries to high levels of heat to dehydrate the berry and then spray drying them with different substances like maltodextrin. This spray drying process significantly lowers the antioxidant and nutritional properties of the berry (as much as 90%) because of the high temperatures. While this process is faster and cheaper, the ORAC value can be 50 times less than the freeze dried versions. This explains why the price of acai berry extract varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.
When do acai palms begin to produce fruit?
It normally takes four to five years for an acai palm to produce any fruit.
How high do acai palm trees grow?
I’ve read that the palms can grow anywhere from 15 to 30 meters(roughly 100 feet) high.
What is the scientific name of acai?
It is Euterpe Oleracea.
What is ORAC and how does it relate to acai?
ORAC stands for Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity. It is a measurement used to determine the anti-oxidant capacity of different foods, which can help with slowing down the aging process. Fresh acai berries have been found to have the highest ORAC value, but depending on how the acai is prepared, some acai supplements have a much higher ORAC value such as freeze-dried acai extracts.