Acai berry diet-loss claims a fraud

In 2009, acai berry became the new weightloss fad, yet health and nutrition experts say consumers should be skeptical about the drugs ability to promote weight-loss as well as the free trial that requires buyers to give a credit card number.

According to the Center for Science in the Public Interest (US), there is no evidence to suggest that the pills shed pounds, flatten tummies, cleanse the colon, enhance sexual drive, or any other function advertised. The popularity of the drug comes, not as a result of its effects, but bogus marketing claims and celebrity lures.

All berries such as strawberries, blueberries and acai, act as an anti-inflammatory and are high in antioxidants, says Johnny Bowden – nutritionist author and certified nutritionist. This new berry is considered to be more exotic as it’s marketed as a Brazilian berry, but all in all, the berry may only help to reduce swelling – not burn fat.

The berry, like most, has good properties, but there is no research to support any of it’s claims. But companies producing the berry supplement in pill and syrup form have created a financial trap through fake blogs and websites promising free trials after payment for shipping and immigration is billed for. Talk show hosts such as Oprah Winfrey and Rachael Ray have disassociated themselves from sites selling the drug after it appeared on their shows.