Acai Berry Scam - the Untold Truth about Acai Berry Scams
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By HealthFreak2009
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With all the media coverage, you probably already know that the acai berry has become one of the most popular and controversial health supplements in the world. As with almost anything controversial, there are 2 sides that think they are right and the other is wrong. The truth, as it usually does, lies somewhere in the middle.
I will share some facts obtained from independent sources then make what I think is a logical conclusion. The rest is up to you. In the end, only you can decide if acai berry supplements are good for you.
When you are done reading, take the poll at the bottom and leave a comment so we can see what everybody thinks about this controversy.
Now lets get started talking about the acai berry scam.
Acai Palm
What is the Acai Berry
Let’s start with what an acai berry is. It is a small, purplish berry that grows on the acai palm tree. They grow primarily in flood plains and swamps of Central and South America. The berries are small and similar in appearance to a grape. They grow in clusters of 700 to 900 berries and are harvested twice a year. They have been a large part of the diet of the native people for centuries.
The berry is high in fiber, omega fatty acids, and antioxidants. All of these have been showed by numerous studies to promote health and even weight loss.
Quick Video on Antioxidants and Free Radicals
Acai Berry Scams Part 1
ANTIOXIDANTS
We all know that anitoxidants are beneficial to people. There are tons of studies that indicate antioxidants can improve health, help cure disease, and even promote longer life. If you don't think antioxidants are a good thing, you might as well stop reading because I consider their benefits a fact.
There are 2 arguements here. The supporters of acai berries say that they are the highest source of antioxidants of any food. The opponents of acia berry supplements say they are no better than red grapes. Who is scamming who?
According to OracValues.com, freeze-dried acai berry ranks 6th behind the spices cloves, cinnamon, and oregano as well as the grasses sumac and sorghum. Acai is only one that is widely used as a health food supplement. I would say in this case it is the acai berry opponents that is scamming you.
For this one, I have to say the acai berry is legitimate.
Have You Tried Acai Berry Supplements?
Have you tried acai berry supplements and if so how did you buy them?
* Never tried
* Yes, acai berry juice drink
* Yes, acai berry capsules free trial
* Yes, acai berry capsules non-free trial
* Yes, acai berry powder
* Yes, fresh acai berries
See results without voting
Acai Berry Scam Part 2
ARE ACAI BERRY ANTIOXIDANTS USABLE BY PEOPLE
Some opponents of acai berry supplements say that the antioxidants are not absorbed by people and that processing the berries destroys any potential benefits. Obviously, acai supporters maintain they have given the native people of Brazil tremendous health benefits for hundreds of years and the supplements do the same thing. Who's scamming us on this one?
As reported by Science Daily, a study done by a professor at Texas A&M showed that the human body does absorb antioxidants from the acai berry. Click here to read the article in Science Daily.
Based on this information, acai berries are legitimate health supplements.
Extreme Acai Berry Weight Loss???
Extreme Acai Berry Weight Loss???
Acai Berry Scams Part 3
EXTREME WEIGHT LOSS
One of the biggest things that acai berry supporters have used to get peoples attention is to claim that it will lead to rapid, even extreme, weight loss. Acai opponents say that it is a complete lie and there is no proof of weight loss.
Acai berries are high in antioxidants which should make you feel better and make you more active. This will burn more calories and could lead to weight loss. They are also high in fiber which can help regulate your body and also lead to weight loss. There are even reports that it acts like an appetite suppressant so you may eat less. With that said, there is absolutely nothing documented that will substantiate any weight loss, let alone extreme weight loss.
While acai berry supplements may make you healthier and be a part of an overall weight loss program, there is no scientific evidence to support it.
If you are being told acai berries are going to make you lose weight all by themselves, you are probably being scammed.
Alternatives to Free Trials
High quality acai berry supplements are not cheap. Expect to pay $30 or more for a months supply. This breaks down to around a $1 a day so it isn't too expensive. If you consider a free trial, make sure the terms are spelled out completely. I trust the two offers listed below and have not had any problems with either company.
One of the most respected companies is Amazon Thunder. They offer pure acai berry puree, powder, and capsules.
If you want an acai berry weight loss supplement, go to the Acai Berry Store and check out an acai berry supplement that has acai berries and other ingredients like green tea. Buy one bottle or take advantage of the Buy 2 Get 1 Free or Buy 3 and Get 3 Free to save money. There is also a free trial that has been certified by Visa and Mastercard so you should be safe if you choose the free trial. They have a lifetime supply program that gives you a free bottle every month that is worth looking at.
Acai Berry Scam Part 4
FREE TRIALS
This is probably the most highly debated part of the acai berry controversy. If you are not familiar with these promotions, basically what happens is a company gives away a free trial of a given supplement. It is usually weight loss related, but I have seen them for everything from Dr. Suess books to teeth whitening treatments. The thing is, you have to pay for shipping and handling which is usually around $5 or so. What some people don't realize is that you are agreeing to a monthly auto-shipment unless or until you cancel. This can lead to unexpected shipments and charges on the credit card you used to pay for the shipping on the free trial.
If you know the shipments are coming unless you cancel, this isn't a big deal. If you stay on top if it, this is a great way to get free samples of many different products as long as you remember to cancel the auto-shipment. Unfortunately, if you don't pay attention and get hit with extra charges, it can quickly turn a positive experience into a negative one.
If you have been burned by unexpected charges, you will have a negative outlook and nothing is going to change your mind. If you have had a good experience, you won't accept that somebody else may not have. Both sides will tell you a story based on their personal experience. I will make a couple observations then leave you to decide.
* Nothing is free. If you expect to get something for free, you are not living in reality.
* Acai berries are not the only thing available in free trials with automatic shipments. You can get DVD's, children's books, and even collectible plates like this. Acai berry free trials are not unique.
* Some companies are dishonest. This goes for every industry.
* Some acai berry promoters don't go out of their way to let you know that you will get additional shipments or how much they will cost. Just remember, if you are getting something free up front, there is probably a recurring shipment you will have to cancel or face extra charges.
I originally scored this one a tie, but there are just way too many problems and less than honest websites associated with acai berry free trials. While I have had good luck with them, too many people have burned. Most free trials are unfortunately scams.
Free trials are what most people think of as the acai berry scam and I have to score this one for the anti acai berry argument. You are better off to just purchase supplement in the beginning and save money in the long run.
Acai Berry Scams Part 5
ACAI BERRIES ARE WAY MORE EXPENSIVE THAN OTHER FRUIT
Another common claim about acai berries is that they are way more expensive than other fruits and don't give you any benefits. I already covered the benefits of acai berries versus other fruits. Now let's talk about the costs. I will use $US and local US prices for my comparisons.
Let's talk about a couple common fruits. Depending on where you live and time of year, fruit costs are very different, but in general you are going to pay $1 or more for a large apple. You will pay around $2 for a pomegranate. A small container of blueberries (2 or maybe 3 small servings) will cost you $3 to $5. This means your cost per serving is $1 to $2 (or more) for common fruits.
So what does an acai berry supplement cost? If you purchase your supplements up front, you can usually get a bottle of acai berry puree or bottle of acai berry capsules for $30 to $40. Sometimes the cost will be as high as $50. These are almost always 30 servings so they last you one month. At $30 a bottle, you pay $1 per serving. $40 equates to $1.33 per serving. $50 equals $1.66 per serving. If you buy a package deal like Buy 2 Get 1 Free, you can get the cost down to about $25 a bottle which equals $0.83 per serving.
Even if you are paying $50 a bottle, acai berry supplements are less than blueberries. If you get a package deal, you pay less for acai berries than apples.
Based on this price comparison, the acai berry is definitely a legitimate and cost effective health supplement.
Acai Berry Scam Conclusion
Now that we have went through most of the key points of the controversy, it is time to weigh in on the score and make a conclusion. I tried to quote non-biased sources when I could and invite you to check out the links. Before I score this controversy, I want to list a quote from a WebMD article. Click here to read the whole story, but I think it sums up this controversy nicely:
Scientists are learning more about the functional power of superfoods, such as the acai berry. Although acai is touted in some weight loss products, few studies have tested the benefit of acai in promoting weight loss.
For now, plenty of research supports eating a diet rich in antioxidants. There’s no doubt that berries and other fruits are a key part of any healthy diet promoting weight loss. The jury’s still out on whether there is something special about acai’s ability to shed excess pounds.
To score the above debate, I would score the acai berry as 3 parts legitimate and cost effective health supplements and 2 parts scam. If you stay away from free trials and don't expect them to melt off 30 pounds of fat without exercise, the acai berry is 100% legitimate.
If you take acai berry supplements in combination with a little exercise and a healthy diet, they should be able to help you improve your health, but they won't work if you continue to eat junk food and don't exercise. The quote above from WebMD pretty much says the same thing.
For the record, I am a supporter of acai berry supplements. I have not tried every one and I am sure there are some scams, but if you are smart about what you do, you should be able to get health benefits from them.
Helpful Links
* Acai Berry Juice
If you are looking for the best acia berry juice, there are a couple questions you need to ask. First, should I purchase acai berry juice at the local grocery store? Second, and most importantly, you want...
* Acai Berry Cleanse Scam
The acai berry cleanse scam is giving acai berries a bad name. We have all seen the fake blogs with pictures telling you the owner of the blog is a 30 something mom that lost 30 pounds or more with free...
* Acai Berry Side Effects
Helpful article on Ezine Articles about benefits and possible side effects.
Final Notes
I am not a doctor and have not had any medical training. I am not making any health or medical recommendations. You need to contact your doctor for any health or medical advice. Also, I do operate other websites including some of those linked to in this article. If you click on a link on those sites, I may be compensated if you make a purchase.
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