Açaí berries: Miracle food or just a fad?

Açaí berries are everywhere - in smoothies, drinks, as supplements - and they are touted as a miraculous weight loss aid and energy booster. Have you tried açaí berries, and did you notice a difference in energy or weight loss? How do you like your açaí berries - in a smoothie, by itself or in a pill? Açaí berries are said to taste like a combination of red wine or berries with chocolate ... what do you think it tastes like? Tell us in a comment below!

One tiny purple-black berry could increase your energy, detoxify your body, and improve your sexual performance. Or it could simply be a tasty little fruit.

The health and fitness community is divided. One thing is for sure, the açaí (pronounced ah-sah-ee) berry has stirred up some very real controversy.

Euterpe oleracea, also known as the açaí palm, is one of the species of palms that is harvested for its core, known as hearts of palm. The fruit of the palm is the açaí berry, which has only been discovered by Americans in the past few years, though inhabitants of the Amazon region have made the berry a part of their daily diet for many years.

When the berry came to the United States, marketing campaigns exploded in Web sites, magazines and television ads, claiming the little berry could do everything from increase energy to reverse diabetes.

"There has not been near enough research on the berry to make those claims. Just looking at it, I don't see how that could be warranted," said Jennifer Ventrelle, who heads the Nutritional and Wellness Center at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

There have been few studies on the effects the berry with the bitter chocolate-raspberry flavor have on humans, but some studies have shown promising results in the fight against cancer.

In 2006, the University of Florida published a study of the açaí berry's effects on cultured human cancer cells. It showed that the berry extract triggered a self-destruct response in as much as 86 percent of leukemia cells tested, said Stephen Talcott, an assistant professor with the university's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

What has been determined about the açaí berry is that it contains vitamins and minerals such as vitamins B and C, iron, potassium, phosphorous, calcium and, amino acids or protein. It also has a high amount of fiber and heart-healthy fats in the form of monounsaturated oleic acid. The fruit is often touted for its high levels of antioxidants, which have been shown to prevent and even repair damage done by free radicals, which are by-products from cells using oxygen.

"It definitely has a higher percentage of antioxidants than other fruits such as pomegranates, grapes or red wine. The piece that's a little bit unknown, at least to my knowledge, is the concentration of the fruit that's used in the products," said Ventrelle.

Chris Cuvelier, president and founder of Zola Açaí, said his company offers two products which showcase the berry.

"All of Zola juices are 93 percent juice and feature açaí as the number one ingredient," said Cuvelier. Zola juices can also contain pineapple, blueberry, graviola, caja and cupuaçu fruit.

The açaí berry can be found in several products on a local grocery store's health food aisle, and several smoothie shops, like Smoothie King, offer a drink made with the popular berry.

Ventrelle said açaí berries are a good idea because the fruit is unique in that it contains protein and essential fatty acid, which is not typically found in fruit. However, the nutritional information on açaí berries is still unclear. In Ventrelle's research, she found that 100 grams of açaí berry extract contains eight grams of protein and about 500 calories. If a single serving is a fraction of those 100 grams, then the protein and fat benefits of the fruit likely become negligible.

Claims that the açaí berry aids in weight loss aren't completely unwarranted. Ventrelle noted that the fruit does contain the components that are responsible for keeping one full and satisfied, which means one will eat less.

"But you could do that with an apple," she said.

While some nutritionists and doctors have labeled the fruit a "superfood," the bottom line may be that it's just a fruit.

A diet rich in antioxidants, which are found in several fruits and vegetables, will help you maintain a healthy lifestyle and even promote weight loss, according to scientific research. Don't expect one magical fruit to be the grail to your quest for youth, beauty and fitness, though.

>>> Açaí Berry Scam?

Those who wish to try the relatively new and somewhat expensive fruit get lured in by companies claiming all sorts of benefits and free offers to try açaí in supplements, drinks and pulp.

Some are legit, while others are falsely advertising celebrity endorsements, neither Oprah nor Rachael Ray have given their endorsements to these products as some companies have claimed, such as MonaVie, according to information on oprah.com. Beware of ads that claim extreme weight loss with their product that's free to try --- often those companies will require credit card information, and then charge customers monthly, in spite of their free offer. Always read the terms and conditions. If you want to try açaí berries, find a reputable company online or go to your local health food store to purchase the product.