Decades before in the rain forests of Brazil, the Acai berry was simply an unusual fruit consumed by the people of this region. Today, the Acai berry is not only costly but it is also in great demand. How did Acai come to be esteemed is such a short amount of time?

As you might expect, the introduction of Acai berry to most Americans was on television. Losing weight and hampering the aging process is what Opray Winfrey had experts on to acknowledge were true about the Acai berry.

The Acai Berry Today

Because of the acclaim and all of the publicity about being a super food, the Acai berry can be found in a large number of products when you conduct a simple Google search of Acai. Curing cancer is another benefit that some people believe is true about the Acai berry.

Acai is a tiny round fruit that is a bit smaller than a grape and is dark purple. Native Brazilian tribes have been consuming the berries for hundreds of years since the Acai berry originates from their region of the world. In fact, it is said that the Acai berry is eaten with such frequency that it comprises over forty percent of their total food intake. Growing and selling the Acai berry provides a generous living for these local tribes.

Coming to America

The Acai berry was the highlight of an Oprah show causing a stampede of desire for the berry. All around the country food stores were getting overwhelmed by the demands for this berry. The reputation for the berry hit the roof in a very short time span forcing the market to establishing many different products from the Acai. Currently, the most popular product is Acai berry juice, which can be found in most supermarkets and health food stores. Many people are surfing the internet to find Acai berry products and have had great success.

Fact and fiction need to be separated regarding the Acai berry. We will attempt to distinguish these in the next few paragraphs. The Acai berry consumers and their most prevalent claims is where we will begin.

The Claims

Speeding up a person's metabolism and therefore burning more calories is one of the frequent claims of sellers and consumers. This has aroused Americans who are ever searching for the best diet plans to seize the juice and other products related to the Acai berry in record numbers.

There are allegations too that the Acai berry can assist people with sleep disorders and it can also increase sexual desire and performance. Many people also claim that it can improve mental clarity, much like Ginkgo Balboa.

This is what we know

The greatest antioxidant-rich products on earth is the Acai berry, without question. The importance of this is that antioxidants help the body fight off free radicals that can cause the DNA harm and can also clog arteriers. However, in spite of reports by many eager users that the wonder berry can actually reduce the aging process, it has never been proven that high amounts of antioxidants can reverse, stop or even slow aging.

LDL, the good cholesterol, is increased by antioxidants while bad cholesterol, HDL, is decreased. And in lab tests, researchers have discovered that the berry has ten times the antioxidants of grapes and double the antioxidants of blueberries.

The fruit is also said to be the perfect blend of antioxidants, essential fatty acids and amino acids. Athletes and people concerned about their health have contributed to the immediate success of the berry because of these factors. It is no wonder why professional South American soccer players often snack on Acai berries before any big game.

The question now is, how do they taste? There are numerous consumers that acknowledge that the Acai reminds them of a strangely different and yet fascinating array of berries and chocolate. It is possible that that is the reason why the fruit is used in so many applications such as flavoring cocktails, making smoothies and as a topping for ice cream in Brazil.

The Hype Mechanism

Like lots of things in a society driven by consumer demands, people can often obsess about a product that is proven to be so effective. The fruit offers such a diverse and wide variety of health benefits that make it one of the healthiest fruits in the entire world. However, there is no proof that this berry can cure cancer or significantly alter the effects of aging. Unfortunately this is simply wishful thinking.