Acai Berry Research Into Weight Loss

Can the Antioxidants in Acai Berries Boost Metabolism?

Mar 30, 2009

There has been a lot of claims recently that the benefit of the acai berry fruit can aid metabolism and weight loss. But how much truth is there to this claim?

The acai berry, or cabbage palm, is a variety of palm tree that produces small black purple drupes, similar to a blueberry. They grow in clusters around the floodplains of Central and South America. Traditionally, they have been used for centuries to treat digestive and skin disorders. The Western retail industry, however, has been touting the acai as a weight loss aid.

The seed within the berry contains lanolic acid, which is similar to the fats found in fish oil and flaxseed. Instead of being stored as fat, however, it is used by the liver to aid metabolism, which could be viewed as a metabolism booster. The fruit also contains a high amount of minerals and amino acids that help the body function better. This and the high fibre content of the fruit, suppresses appetite.

Acai berries are also classed as a superfood, which means that they contain a high amount of anti-oxidants in the form of flavonoids, which has been proven to benefit health. Studies by the University of Florida have discovered that the fruit contains no fewer than 50-75 unidentified compounds.

The fruit has yet to be evaluated by the FDA. However, “The Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry”, conducted by the University of Florida in 2006 found that the antioxidants of the acai berry killed cancer cells. Future studies on how the acai berry affects cholesterol levels and blood pressure have yet to take place. Their effect upon metabolic actions on the body has also yet to be tested scientifically.

From this, it would seem that the acai berry has yet to be proved to be a miracle weight loss cure, but there is much to be learned about this complex berry, and further studies have yet to be conducted. But when one considers that it is high in fibre, contains essential fatty acids, minerals and antioxidants to help the body function better, it is perhaps no wonder that weight loss will occur, particularly when the recommendation is to combine the acai berry supplements with a healthy diet and exercise.

Because the fruit is highly perishable, research into it has proved difficult. Furthermore, there is no audit system in place that controls the quality of the dietary supplements that are flooding the market; some brands may contain an inferior quality and others might contain potent active ingredients. This makes an evaluation of its effects difficult.

The acai berry is crammed with health giving properties that help the body function better. This and the recommendation of a healthy diet and exercise will indeed aid weight loss. Whether it is a miracle weight loss cure is yet to be established. However, there is much to be learned about this berry, particularly when one considers that it contains up to 75 unidentified compounds.

The copyright of the article Acai Berry Research Into Weight Loss in Weight Loss Methods is owned by Rachel Wills. Permission to republish Acai Berry Research Into Weight Loss in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.