Is Acai really healthy?

**evil_e** · Posted On: 4/16/2007 2:29pm

What is the consensus on Acai (a type of Brazilian berry)?
Is it as healthy as everybody says?
It sure is expensive and not exacly low carb...
On the other hand, lots of anti-oxidants and omega fatty acids...

-E

**PirateJon** · Posted On: 4/16/2007 3:03pm

It's "good for you" food.

worth the money? Never tasted it so I don't know. I did read that grapes and strawberries (much more common here) have more antioxidents.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A%C3%A7a%C3%AD_Palm

**isol8d** · Posted On: 4/16/2007 3:48pm

I've had it on oatmeal from Planet Smoothie, and eh, I'd just go with blueberries myself.

Dr. Perricone did just say it is one of his top ten health foods, so that makes me trust it a wee little less.

**Featherstone** · Posted On: 4/16/2007 4:02pm

Funny I should see this, a friend of mine just gave me a bottle of Mona Vie, it is mixed with the acai berry as well as several others. Not bad tasting. I'll let you know. www.monavie.com for more information.

**Equipoise** · Posted On: 4/16/2007 10:44pm

Originally Posted by evil_e

What is the consensus on Acai (a type of Brazilian berry)?
Is it as healthy as everybody says?
It sure is expensive and not exacly low carb...
On the other hand, lots of anti-oxidants and omega fatty acids...

-E

It's very expensive here. However in Brazil, it's much cheaper. Minha brasiliera says it's very good for you. I don't like the concentrated juice form of it. Tastes weird. I'll stick to my Guaranah Antartica.

**Torakaka** · Posted On: 4/17/2007 12:00am

I ate Acai Xtreme sorbet before my last fight. It seemed to give me a really good boost in energy. It's pretty expensive so I wouldn't recommend it as a daily thing, but as a pre-fight food it was really good.

**UpaLumpa** · Posted On: 4/17/2007 12:56am

Fucking dirty brazillians.

**Equipoise** · Posted On: 4/17/2007 5:06pm

Careful, my girlfriend will cut you. Or she'll get her mother to do it with a knife she made.

**Judah Maccabee** · Posted On: 4/17/2007 5:24pm

Acai is very tasty. Sambazon makes a sorbet and a "popsicle pack" you can buy in the freezer section of Whole Foods or similar grocers.

The health benefits are good, but honestly, if you're eating good fish or taking a good Omega-3 supplement, you're covered for that. Fruit isn't the best source for O3's, not even acai.

Also, for antioxidants, frozen blueberries or red beans are far more economical than pomegranates, acai, and other "superfoods."

That said, again, it's damned tasty.

**Phrost** · Posted On: 4/17/2007 7:07pm

I've had a few smoothies with it, and even an acai/mangosteen juice drink yesterday because I was fighting off a cold. It tastes great, and does seem to give an extra buzz of sorts.

Then again, I'm constantly hopped up on caffeine so results may vary. Still tastes good.

I'd love to find out more about both of those from unbiased/scientific sources, especially since the supplement industry runs on hype and ignorance.