The acai berry and acai berry products are being touted by some websites as a weight loss aid. Acai has been anointed as one of the “super foods” that can be used in a weight loss diet in order to obtain substantial results. One product promises “450% more weight loss than with diet and exercise alone.” Another commits to the loss of twenty pounds in one week.
These statements are directed at people who have a strong desire to believe, because they have no rational basis in fact – there are no diet supplements that can accomplish such fantastic results. Acai berries cannot contribute to muscle growth, cannot “flatten your belly,” cannot be substituted for the work and self-denial that is required for a successful weight loss program.
The value of acai products in for weight loss is in substituting them for other foods that are less healthful and more harmful. A smoothie made with acai powder is a good substitute for an Italian sandwich at noon. Inserting acai foods into your diet while subtracting others is the method by which acai can contribute to a weight loss program. Drinking that smoothie after an hour of exercise will make it even more effective.
The nutritional value of the acai berry was recently touted by a guest on the Oprah Winfrey show, and she suddenly found herself positioned as an endorser of some of these outrageous dietary claims. She was forced to sue several companies that peddle acai products online in order to try and get these false endorsements removed. The fact that she had to sue not one but many companies is a measure of the degree to which acai products are over-hyped.