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• Acai is a grape-sized purple berry found in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil. It has a high nutritional value and is a dietary staple among indigenous people in the Caboclo region of Brazil.

  The berry gained recent recognition when Britney Spears claimed it as the success of her recent weight-loss. http://www.news3insider.com/health/Britney-weight-loss.html

• Fast Facts

  1. Pronounced: ah SAH ee
  2. Scientific name: Euterpe oleracea
  3. Fruit of the Acai palm
  4. Taste: Cross of chocolate and blueberry
  5. Common uses: juice, smoothies, ice cream, Diet Aide
  6. Region: Central America and South America
  7. Trees: Grow to be 15 to 30 meters tall with leaves of up to 3 meters http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%A7a%C3...

• Nutritional Benefits

  Acai fruit is high in antioxidants, anthocyanins, monounsaturated fats vitamins and minerals. A University of Florida laboratory study showed that extract of acai can kill leukemia cells.University of Florida News: "Brazilian berry destroys cancer cells in lab, UF study shows" (January 12, 2006) however laboratory results are not always duplicated in the human body.Dr Weil.com: Acai: A Better Berry? (December 8, 2006)

• Highly Perishable

  Distribution outside of South America is difficult, as acai berries spoil quickly. In the United States, acai is usually provided as juice, or as frozen, dried, or freeze-dried fruit pulp.

• Acai Weight-loss Controversy

  On January 6, 2009, the Better Business Bureau warned consumers not to be taken in by claims of certain Acai berry-related weight –loss products. Many companies currently selling the berries for this purpose are making false claims about acai's ability to reduce weight and are falsely stating that their products are endorsed by celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey. Dozens of companies throughout the U.S. are offering free trial of acai berry weight-loss supplements which many customers are trying. The customers then become locked in and it extremely difficult to get out of the monthly credit card payments. A spokesman for Oprah Winfrey has publicly declared that she is not associated with and does not endorse acai berry product. Oprah and a number of other celebrities have got their lawyers investigating the false claims.ABC: Buyer Beware of Online Acai Offers

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Smoothies | Ice Cream | Brazil | Amazon Rainforest | Diet Pills | Britney Spears Weight Loss

• Description and Taste

  The acai berry itself is dark purple, almost black in color, a size of about 1 inch. About 80% of the berry is the seed, and the fruit itself is describes as "similar in appearance" to a grape. http://acaiberryphilippines.multiply.com/journal/item/1807/Acai_Berry_Diet_Pills_-_What_You_Should_Know_About_Acai_Berry_Before_You_Buy

  The taste is described as a cross between a blueberry, a pomegranate, and chocolate, with a bitter bite.

• Acai Weight Loss Scams

  A rampant internet scam that currently targets those desperate for weight loss involves the popular Acai berry. An ad is placed offering a free 30 day trail of Acai supplements, the consumer only needs to pay for shipping with a credit card. Once the credit card information is on file, the consumer has a short time span to cancel the order or they enter into a binding contract to continue a costly subscription to a huge supply of supplements. It is unknown how many people have been affected by this scam. http://www.bbb.org/us/article/weight-loss-berry-claiming-oprah-endorsement-makes-wallets-slim-and-consumers-angry-warns-bbb-8493

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