ACAI Berry Supplement??

[Zygala87]

This supplement keeps showing up on my computer with rave reviews. It is for weight loss. Does anyone here know about this and do you think it is IC friendly? Hugs, Ziggy

[leelee88]

I am doing research on it now.. I will get back with you on it..:)

[gueritasarita]

I have wondered the same thing and keep getting emails about ACAI. When you find if it works well for IC, please let me know as I would love to try it! :)

[Goldfinch]

I wondered about this too, and at one point tried to figure out whether it was worth trying, since its anti-histamine and cholesterol-fighting potential sounded pretty good to me. In the end I couldn't find any indication that it isn't an acidic berry and didn't have the nerve to try it. I learned a couple of things, though.

1) Acai juice has very high levels of proanthocyanidines, which are chains of flavonoids. These are anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatory; they reduce histamines and are supposed to help lower cholesterol. Sources high in flavonoids include red wine, citrus, fruits (esp berries), soy, green tea, chocolate, apples, pears, legumes (especially black and pinto beans), cabbage, parsley and onions. So some--but not most--can be IC friendly. Howevermuch is in red wine it doesn't seem to be enough to overcome the amount of histamines in red wine, though! Quercetin, by the way, is also a flavonoid.

2) The evidence that it can help you lose weight is, to say the least, thin. You may have noticed that it hasn't done much in that department for Oprah, who apparently is a major Acai fan. I love her, and I hope it is helping her cholesterol levels, but drinking a lot of fruit juice has never been a successful weight-reduction technique.

So...if it resembles blueberry juice it might have some promise for an IC bladder, but if it resembles almost any other berry juice it might as well be cranberry as far as I'm concerned.

[leelee88]

Well I am going out on a limb here and am trying it! My sister has been on it awhile and is having great results from it BUT she does NOT have IC..

I really am wanting something to help with inflammation and water retention..I will let you all know my results..BUT PLEASE know this is my PERSONAL decision to try this.. I am in NO way suggesting anyone else go out and try it! I have discussed this with my Dr!!

BTW I am trying the juice..And from MY research it is more like the blueberry and less acidy!!

[Goldfinch]

Science in action! Please report back here with your test results. Exactly what kind of results is your sister getting--and for what reason?

[ICNDonna]

I just did a very little bit of research on the Nutritional content of acai fruit. Here's one thing I found (I don't think I'll try it due to the acids):

Most of the research to date on açaí has focused on a particular freeze-dried form referred to as Opti-açaí.[2][5] This powder preparation of freeze-dried açaí fruit pulp and skin was reported to contain (per 100 g of extract) 533.9 calories, 52.2 g carbohydrates, 8.1 g protein, and 32.5 g total fat. The carbohydrate portion included 44.2 g of fiber.[2] The powder was also shown to contain (per 100 g): negligible vitamin C, 260 mg calcium, 4.4 mg iron, and 1002 U vitamin A, as well as aspartic acid and glutamic acid; the amino acid content was 7.59% of total dry weight.
The fat content of açaí consists of oleic acid (56.2% of total fats), palmitic acid (24.1%), and linoleic acid (12.5%).[2] Açaí also contains beta-sitosterol (78–91% of total sterols).[2][6] The oil compartments in açaí fruit contain polyphenols such as procyanidin oligmers and vanillic acid, syringic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, protocatechuic acid, and ferulic acid, which were shown to degrade substantially during storage or exposure to heat.[7]

One of the other things I found is that frequently the supplements add green tea, which is a real big "NO" for me. I suggest that if you do try any of these supplements, you do it with extreme caution.

Donna

[leelee88]

Yeah Donna I agree the juice my sister is using is a different version is NOT a pill and was a combo of juices.. BUT she just informed me that is does contain some Cranberry juice in it so take me off that list..

I thought is was just acai juice and blueberry juice and pear juice combo.. She said No it had some cranberry in it..

So :tsk:NOPE.. She can keep it..lol

[Kara Isabel]

I'm so happy to see this thread! I have the same question. I accidentally bought Blueberry-acai yogurt instead of blueberry yogurt, which I have been craving for weeks now, and I am afraid to eat it because of the ACAI. I do not even know what that is, I had to ask my 14 year old. lol

I haven't had yogurt in probably over a year and I can't remember if it bothers me and how badly. :(

[leelee88]

Antioxidant activity of açaí juice

When three commercially available juice mixes containing unspecified percentages of açaí juice were compared for in vitro antioxidant capacity against red wine, tea, six types of pure fruit juice, and pomegranate juice (provided by Pom Wonderful, the sponsor of the study), the average antioxidant capacity was ranked lower than that of pomegranate juice, Concord grape juice, blueberry juice, and red wine. The average was roughly equivalent to that of black cherry or cranberry juice, and was higher than that of orange juice, apple juice, and tea.[11]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Açaí_Palm

So according to Wikipedia encyclopedia.. It seems that blueberry juice actually has higher antioxidant capacity in them than the acai juice.

This just goes to show us once again if it looks to good to be true it prob is.. And I about was suckered..LMAO

I knew better than to listen to my sister!