Saturday, June 15, 2013

Acai: Miraculous Weight Loss Miracle, Or Just Hype?

Acai. You see it everywhere – cleanses, weight-loss supplements, infomercials and talk shows.

The blueberry-like fruit from Brazil's acai palm certainly is trendy the past few years. You hear a lot about its antioxidant properties and positive impact on your health, but is it really the miracle cure those Internet weight-loss gurus want you to believe?

Maybe.

Acai berries, while high in antioxidants, may or may not be the weight-loss miracle the world has been awaiting. Any diet that incorporates daily balanced servings of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and protein promotes wellness and may help you lose weight. But the truth is, most of the research on acai has centered on its antioxidant properties and not on its ability to aid in weight loss. So, if this fruit has any sort of “miracle” weight-loss properties, science has yet to prove it.

Researchers have reached preliminary conclusions on the wellness properties of acai. Most are attributable to its high level of antioxidants:
  • Research conducted at the University of Florida suggests that acai might be beneficial in destroying cancerous cells associated with leukemia.
  • Acai aids in preventing serious conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.
  • The properties in acai help to heal and repair skin cell damage and to fight inflammation, making it a popular additive to skin creams and oils in the fight against aging.
  • A single serving of acai has almost double the recommended daily allowance of fiber -- meaning it's beneficial in preventing constipation and in regulating digestion.
  • Unlike most fruits, acai is high in monounsaturated fats. Foods high in these fats make you feel fuller for longer periods of time.
While clinical nutrition is the backbone of a good chiropractic treatment program and your overall wellness, that is not to say that you should necessarily count on acai as a booster for your weight loss plan. However, science has proven it to be a part of a healthy diet.

For weight loss, it’s better to focus less on hype surrounding one particular food or compound, and more on watching meals and portions and getting regular exercise. After all, those methods are backed by science.

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