Good tips to avoid acai berry scam

I was scammed too

by Sheree
(Glendora, CA, USA)

Sheree

I read up on the benifets of Acai Berry off the Dr. Oz website, and I decided to give it a try since he is so highly respected especially in regards to health. I signed up for my 30 day free trial, all I had to do was pay for shipping and handling. I thought, "wow, this sounds great"! The day I received it (which was today), they immediately charged my account. The trial didn't even have a chance to begin especially considering, I only ordered the free trial a week ago. I am consulting an attorney and trying to gather others who have been scammed like I have to shut Express Berry down for good hopefully so they can't scam anyone else. Please beware.

Acai berry tips (don't be scammed)

by Environmental Nutrition

Q. Are acai berries really as healthy as they’re cracked up to be?

A. Acai (pronounced ah-sigh-EE) berry is one of the hottest health foods on the market now. Harvested from acai palm trees in Central and South America, the acai berry looks a bit like a large blueberry with a big seed in the middle. You can’t miss the massive marketing campaigns for acai berry supplements and products in television, print and websites, many claiming that the acai berry can produce weight loss, increased energy levels, improved sexual performance, improved digestion, detoxification, high antioxidant content, improved skin appearance, improved heart health, improved sleep and more. But is there any scientific proof behind these claims?

The science on acai. Unfortunately, very little research has been done on the exotic acai fruit. Freeze-dried acai berry does have high antioxidant capacity and contains polyphenols, anthocyanins, flavonoids and pro-anthocyanidins. In the first study involving humans, a team of Texas AgriLife Research scientists proved that the fruit can be absorbed in the human body when consumed both as juice and pulp. The study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, involved 12 healthy volunteers who consumed a single serving of acai juice or pulp. Plasma was sampled over 12 hours, revealing that antioxidant capacity was significantly increased. In a University of Florida study, acai extracts destroyed cultured human cancer cells. Other fruits, including grapes, guavas and mangoes have been shown to kill cancer cells in similar studies. It’s still unclear what the effect acai antioxidants may have on cancer cells in the human body, because factors such as nutrient absorption and metabolism may alter the antioxidants’ activity.

Beware of acai scams. Some companies are finding the acai business to be lucrative, and are unscrupulously promoting acai with deceptive marketing and unfounded claims. The going price of acai berry products taken at suggested doses can make a serious dent in your wallet. Annoying ads for "free" acai trials are ubiquitous, and many consumers have complained of unauthorized charges and difficulty cancelling subscriptions for some acai products.

Acai scams have gotten such a bad name that the Oprah (Winfrey) website issued a notice that neither Oprah nor Dr. Oz have endorsed any acai products. The Better Business Bureau released a warning that acai web sites have used misleading sales and marketing practices. Remember that dietary supplements aren’t subjected to the same government scrutiny as prescription drugs, even though some manufacturers hint of curative properties.

The bottom line on acai. Acai berry is not a silver bullet. There is no research that supports many of the claims made about this small fruit. Instead of focusing on one fruit to provide you with antioxidant benefits, make the most of a rainbow of plant foods that provide a plethora of vitamins, minerals, plant compounds and fiber. While there is little reason to worry about risks of consuming moderate amounts of acai (other than to your pocketbook), you’re better off eating a variety of fruits and vegetables that you can find closer to home.