This wonder berry is native to South America, and has been used historically as a medicine in Amazonian cultures. It is known to have powerful health benefits due to its high antioxidant values, high vitamin C content, abundance of amino acids and omegas, the good-for-you fatty acids. Acai is being promoted as the latest fad in weight loss; the berry has been attributed with the ability to suppress appetite and increase metabolism. The acai berry is also said to increase digestive functions, maintain liver health, promote longevity and youthfulness, and inspire supple skin, hair, and nails.

However, some of these claims may be exaggerated. Though the berry is very nutritious and extremely valuable in terms of its medicinal applications, many consumers are not profiting from their acai purchases. Because of the berry’s high fat content, it is an extremely perishable fruit and therefore cannot survive the trip from tree to the shelves of our grocery stores, which means it must be preserved if it is going to be transported. Preserving the berry’s nutrition is a careful process, one which can compromise its precious advantages. If exposed to heat in freeze-drying, or mixed with other juices, sugars, or flavor enhancers, the benefits of the berries may be compromised.

Also, the amount of actual acai present within an acai product may be insubstantial. Some face creams and juices may market themselves as bearing the beneficial properties of Acai, when in actuality acai is just a minor ingredient.

Your best bet? Read the labels of your acai products; if mixed or heavily processed avoid it. Buy ‘pure acai’, or acai which is unfiltered and free from additives and preservatives.