To date, it is believed that certain berries can prevent cancer, heart disease and possibly even help you live longer. Studies are being published daily about the health benefits of berries and how they may protect the body from ailments, infections and diseases.  For some people, such as those Living With Crohns Disease Acai Berry will not work.

Becoming aware of your berry intake is the first step in maintaining maximum health benefits, but it is also important to know which berries are best for you. While dietitians and nutritionists recommend five to eight fruits and vegetables daily, taking supplements with berry extracts can help obtain the nutritional value needed from these food sources.

Always Ask for Acai

Grown on a special palm tree in the Amazon, acai berries have been considered to possess weight loss and anti-aging properties over the years.

Collective research has shown that its antioxidant activity may help prevent diseases such as cancer and heart disease. The powerful antioxidants, known as anthocyanins, help the body defend itself against stressful life situations. Acai berries are also rich in omega-6 and -9 fatty acids, which help increase the metabolic rate and can help lower cholesterol levels.

The question we are pondering today, how effective is the acai berry in dealing with irritable bowel syndorme? Irritable Bowel Syndrome is described as a constellation of symptoms; however,the diagnosis is often one of exclusion after considering other etiologies for similar symptomatology.  Medical researchers, Arthi Sanjeevi and Donald F. Kirby have concluded:

There are anecdotal reports of impressive response to the fruit of Euterpe oleraceae (commonly known as acai berry that has been demonstrated to exhibit significantly high antioxidant capacityin vitro, especially for superoxide and peroxyl scavenging), but there are no published clinical trials thus far evaluating clinical response in IBS.

While the acai berry may work to acheive various health benefits in the body, working on Irritable Syndrome is not one them, at least not by modern medical practices.  Know your supplements and always study what is fact and what is wishful thinking.

I hope to give you some truths if you are considering using acai berry as a supplement to drop some pounds.  Many vendors are selling the acai supplement as a cleanse.  While acai by itself is not a laxative some of the other ingredients mixed in the cleanse that have a cleansing/laxative effect.  Here are some facts about acai.

Eating the fruit has way more benefits than taking a supplement.  Think about it, if you can get vitamin C from an orange, why simply take a vitamin C pill?  You are missing on the other natural vitamins and minerals that come with the orange.  If you have the option take the raw fruit instead of a supplement.

The acai berry cleanse does cause most people to lose a few pounds by simply making you go to the bathroom and disgard more water and waste for a couple of days.  Many products offer this same effect such as castor oil and adding fiber to your diet.  This is not a miracle weight loss drug, just a natural side effect of your body losing excess water and waste.

There are two real ways to lose weight.  Eating right such as taking the proper nutrition and adding supplements are the first key.   Eating Acai Berry will work to your advantage, but so will eating anything from the ground such as spinach, apples, broccoli and sweet potatoes.  Without additives like artifical colors and flavors, cheese sauces and ranch dressing.   So to review, eliminate the extras and eat like your primitive grandparents did to lose weight.

The second key is regular exercise.  Losing weight taking a supplement and eating right is only the first half of the fight.  Walking, running, taking the stairs or going to the gym will have the greatest impact on your weight loss.  Trust me, I have lost several pounds, by simply taking the stairs instead of the elevator each morning to my third story office.

In conclusion, acai berry can be great for weight loss. But remember the order, eat the whole fruit first, then the juice and finally a supplement when the first two can not be found.  A supplement alone will not lose you weight, but combined with improved nutrition and exercise are key components to losing the weight you wish.

Sambazon is the leader in Acai products.  There offerings are pretty good as well. 

Sambazon products include:

Organic Acai Juices

• Acai Juice Original Blend - a blend of pure organic acai with blue agave
• Acai Juice Rio Energy - guarana & Guayaki yerba mate are blended with organic acai
• Acai Juice Antioxidant Trinity - a combination of organic acai, pomegranate, and blueberry

Organic Acai Smoothies

• Acai Smoothie Supergreens Revolution - organic mix of bananas, mangos, acai and Amazing Grass Supergreens
• Acai Smoothie Mango Uprising - organic combination of mangos, bananas, acai and guarana
• Acai Smoothie Strawberry Samba - organic blend of strawberries, bananas, acai and guarana

Organic Smoothie Packs - may be eaten straight from the Pack or for use in a home made smoothies or bowl.

• Original Acai - acai with guarana
• Amazon Cherry - organic Amazon cherry (acerola) pulp
• Pure Acai - organic acai pulp with no added sugar

Organic Acai Supplements  

• Power Scoop - freeze dried organic acai powder, may be added to smoothie, milk, juice or other
• Power Caps - capsules containing organic acai for daily consumption

Organic Acai Sorbet

• Original Acai - acai puree and guarana extract
• Mango Uprising - mango puree, blue agave and acai
• Strawberry Samba - strawberry and banana puree with acai and blue agave

Amazon Energy

• An energy drink to heighten awareness, boost energy and the immune system. Made of all natural ingredients including acai, acerola, guarana, and yerba mate.