Over the last couple of years, you have no doubt heard about the supposed wonderful benefits of the acai berry (also known as Euterpe oleracea) and it’s touted effect on weight loss and health. The popularity of this little-known fruit grew substantially after a segment was shown on the Oprah show touting the many benifits of acai.

The extract is taken from the berries which themselves come from the Acai Palm tree. Since it’s popularity has grown, this tree is now grown for the purpose of being put into the many hundreds of different products, mainly which are promoted in the weight loss niche.

The most popular products contain the extract in the form of tablets along with other nutrients that promote weight loss such as caffeiene and green tea extract. Many of these products are being sold by unethical marketers who have been found to charge their customers credit cards even after they had cancelled their orders. Customers are urged to use caution when buying any product online and to do some research on the company beforehand.

The eight different varieties are native to the Amazon areas in south and central America. The trees are usually found in swampy lands or floodplains and grow quite tall, usually maturing at about 16 to 31 meters with it’s leaves stretching up to around 3 meters each.

One of the most sought after properties of the acai berry is for it’s antioxidant potential. The extract contains high amounts of antioxidants which are well known for their ability to protect the body and it’s cells from the damage of free-radicals.

A recent study done on 12 volunteers showed that afterconsuming the juice of the berries, the antioxidant capacity in the blood had increased significantly several hours after consumption.

Other nutrients contained in the fruit include: vitamin C, calcium, iron, vitamin A, aspartic acid, glutamic acid as well as numerous amino acids which make the acai berry a very nutritious food and a great supplement for maintaining good health.

There have also been many unsubstantiated claims about other diseases and problems that the berry can treat. Among these include: The reversal of diabetes and other chronic illness, increasing the size of the male anatomy and virility as well as increasing attractiveness to females. None of these claims have been approved by the FDA and neither have any tests or clinical trials been done to verify these claims.

One possible exemption to the above is online forums, where people discuss the various products they have tried and any benefits they have received from taking them. It’s also a good way to learn about the current scams and which products you should stay well away from. If many people have been ripped off, you can guarantee they are going to let other people know about it in weight loss or related discussion forums online.

The berries have more use than just as a supplement though. It is commonly used as a flavoring agent in tequila and the tree itself has leaves that are made into baskets, hats, mats and even for building construction. The seeds are added to livestock food after being ground or used in organic-based soils.

Author Bio: If you would like to try an acai berry product but don’t know where to start, have a look at Acai Berry Select. It contains a good dose of acai extract as well as other wonderful weight loss ingredients. Acai Berry Select.

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: acai berry