When it comes to losing weight, people often look for an easy solution. Because of this, companies have been marketing miracle weight loss products to consumers for years. The latest of these miracle weight loss products is acai berry, the fruit of the Brazilian palm.
Many who have been consuming acai berry in Brazil for years strictly as a food would surely be surprised to know how it is being promoted in North America and other parts of the world. While acai berry does have many beneficial properties such as being high in antioxidants, it will do just about nothing in regard to weight loss. In order for it to be an effective diet supplement it would have to increase an individuals metabolism or have thermogenic effects, neither of which it does.
Those antioxidants which acai berry contains could be very effective at combating oxidative stress on the body. In other words, acai berry could legitimately be used as a type of anti aging supplement. There is some truth to the claims when the berry is marketed in this way.
When consumed as a whole fruit acai berry makes a great snack. In Brazil it is commonly consumed in puree form, as part of a mix of berries and fruits or blended. Acai juice is also common. Both the fruit and the juice contain more beneficial properties than the extract form it is commonly sold as in North America.
The encapsulated extract form may appear more effective due to the likeness of legitimate diet pills, but that is not the case. Many of the beneficial properties are lost in whole or in part during the drying process. Only when consumed as a whole fruit can one obtain all of the berries beneficial properties. However one should not expect to lose any weight regardless of the form it is taken in.
Many who have been consuming acai berry in Brazil for years strictly as a food would surely be surprised to know how it is being promoted in North America and other parts of the world. While acai berry does have many beneficial properties such as being high in antioxidants, it will do just about nothing in regard to weight loss. In order for it to be an effective diet supplement it would have to increase an individuals metabolism or have thermogenic effects, neither of which it does.
Those antioxidants which acai berry contains could be very effective at combating oxidative stress on the body. In other words, acai berry could legitimately be used as a type of anti aging supplement. There is some truth to the claims when the berry is marketed in this way.
When consumed as a whole fruit acai berry makes a great snack. In Brazil it is commonly consumed in puree form, as part of a mix of berries and fruits or blended. Acai juice is also common. Both the fruit and the juice contain more beneficial properties than the extract form it is commonly sold as in North America.
The encapsulated extract form may appear more effective due to the likeness of legitimate diet pills, but that is not the case. Many of the beneficial properties are lost in whole or in part during the drying process. Only when consumed as a whole fruit can one obtain all of the berries beneficial properties. However one should not expect to lose any weight regardless of the form it is taken in.
About the Author:
Alex Stern is a fitness and nutrition adviser who's interest in acai has piqued as a result of the recent hype. Expect more articles in the series about the acai berry.
No comments:
Post a Comment