Acai Berry??

[Over50Newbie]

Okay, a question for all of you nutritionists (or anyone else, for that matter) :)

And I'm not sure where to post this - here or in the Health section. But I'll start the thread here and depending on the response, I might move it over to the health section.

I was watching a rerun of Oprah and Dr. Oz mentioned the benefits of taking an Acai Berry supplement.

I respect Dr. Oz, but when I looked on the Internet, everything I read about Acai Berry sounded like SPAM, so now I am not so sure about trying it.

Has anyone tried it?

At the moment, the only suppements I take are a daily multivitamin, calcium, fish oil, and flaxseed oil. That's all. And I am not on any other medications.

Would adding acai berry be beneficial to my health?

And as long as I am asking - what would you recommend for a woman in her mid-fifties take for daily supplements? Do you think that I am taking too much, too little, or just the right amounts?

Thanks for any input.

Lynette

[shootingstar]

If there was anything beneficial for acia berry in terms on safe benefits like any other fruit eaten in small, reasonable amounts, you would have found more information by now...especially if it was common knowledge used for centuries (like aloe vera).

Your doctor, if s/he hasn't already, provided you with best supplements to suit your specific health needs.

[tulip]

Acai is very common in Brazil. When I was there I had acai smoothies almost every day. I can't say that it provided any knock-out benefits but the smoothies sure were tasty!

[divingbiker]

And as long as I am asking - what would you recommend for a woman in her mid-fifties take for daily supplements?

No idea about the acai berry, but I'm also in my 50s (and a vegan) and I take the following supplements:

multivitamin
vitamin B complex (to get enough B12)
calcium
iron
lutein (macular degeneration runs in my family)

I'm going to check how much Vitamin D I'm taking, since I keep reading that most of us don't get enough.

[tzvia]

I drink a supplement with green tea extract, acai and other fruit extracts every morning and take a bottle of it when I ride. The bioflavonoids can't hurt and it tastes good and is refreshing on long rides. It's also cut the desire for sugary drinks so I have not had a cola in about 6 months and don't miss it. Along with Hammergel, water and a banana I'm good for a long road or mtb ride.

[katluvr]

Found a "free trail" on line and I guess this has been talked about on Rachel Ray and Oprah.
Thing is...I just cut out wine for about 2 weeks and really watching what I eat and keeping up w/ my running/biking.
But it is always so slow....anyone using this and finding it "helps"?
I try and do the right thing...burn more calories than take in...but it is always a struggle and SLOW!

Oh--now I found the fine print...if I "like" it charges me almost $100!

Just curious anyway!

[Zen]

You can find this juice in most any organic food store. It is very expensive.
Just eat lots of blueberries and other colorful things, it's a whole lot cheaper ;)

[mumbles]

I recently read about the acai berry too and got to looking around. Found v-8 fusion that has acai berri, blueberries and other stuffs in it. Probably not enough acai to make a difference but it tastes good and I haven't had a coke in a week.

[Tabby]

So the acai cuts the desire for sugar/sweets?

I saw the "free" bottle (tablets) too, paid the shipping and got it yesterday and left for the weekend so I haven't started taking it yet, but this thread is apparently timely. I will check my "fine print" and make a decision before my time is up, but would be interested if there is anymore discussion on this.

[Zen]

Please, I beg you -save your money!
Superfoods (http://americanfood.about.com/od/keytipstechniques/a/5superfoods.htm)
Acai berry (http://caloriecount.about.com/acai-berry-ft122562)

[jobob]

You suppose if Acai berry worked, Oprah would be using it (and, she wouldn't be back to 200 lbs)? :cool:

[bmccasland]

Wouldn't it make more sense to eat fruits and veggies in their natural state (although maybe frozen) grown HERE, than some pill or extract thingy grown way over there? I mean if you lived in Brazil, like Tulip did, then having an acai berry smoothy made sense, having a blueberry one probably didn't.

So, I'll wander off to the kitchen to put some blueberries on my yogurt for a mid morning snack and get writing on my dang club annual report. And brew another pot-o-coffee.... :)

OK, one other idle thought. Back in college, my swim coach said there's only one exercise to guarantee weight loss - the push-away. "Push yourself away from the table." I think we 'A-mur-i-Kans are a lazy bunch. We want to take some pill for weight loss, instead of being responsible for what we eat and drink, and not get enough exercise. Or rather we still eat like we have to go plow the back 40 with a mule, but we're 3 generations removed from farming stock.

[mumbles]

Didnt mean to imply that drinking the v8 cut my desire for sweets. Been a cokeaholic all my life. Just been trying to find something I can sip on all day at work instead of coke. Not many drinks I like the taste of.

[tzvia]

The supplement I take is a small dropper bottle that I can add to water or any other drink. Runs me about $25~$30 a month. I also take another supplement that has Amla fruit concentrate, Guarana seed extract (supplies 150 mg caffeine), Green tea leaf extract, Raspberry fruit puree, Cranberry fruit concentrate, Grape skin extract, Grape seed extract, Wild blueberry extract, Raspberry seed extract, Tart cherry, Wild bilberry, Strawberry, Prune and Stevia leaf extract 60 mg. Also about 30 bucks a month. I mix the two together and have it every morning, and use it on my bike rides too. Best part is that it tastes good and is low in refined sugar. While I own stock in Coke (KO), I don't buy or drink the stuff ;). It's a great wake-up in the morning, and refreshing on long rides. And no, it's not from one of those 'try it free' places that then charges crazy prices, it is from a company that I am an independent consultant for (mainly to get the discount for my use) that is legit and offers health and beauty products but I will not provide the name here because I am not here to hawk it; I use it.

Of course, I take a lot of other vitamins/minerals, but I think the most easily digested ones are going to be in powder or liquid form, not in hard little pills that are put together with L@&d knows what to keep it from breaking apart in shipping. I wonder sometimes if we can actually extract what is put together like that.

[Over50Newbie]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

I love a nice heated discussion, don't you?

As I was reading Zen's post about Superfoods, I was pleased to see that I include every single one of them in my diet right now.

So, no acai berry supplement for me at this time.

Thanks for all of your input.

Lynette

[Aint Doody]

I just drank a Fuse that was pomegranite and acai berry. It's the "slenderize" version. It was delicious and 20 calories, but too expensive where I got it, and Safeway doesn't have that flavor.

[channlluv]

I buy juice concentrates at my local health food store - vary between acai, concord grape, cranberry - and use about a quarter cup in my protein shakes. I mix in frozen berries, water, and a scoop of chocolate or vanilla protein powder.

I'm not really a poster girl for a healthy weight just yet, but I do have to say that when I was drinking these smoothies on a regular basis, I noticed a marked improvement in my energy level and overall feeling of joy and balance.

I need to get back on that regimen. Maybe blend in some spinach, carrot, and cucumber.

Yum.

Roxy

[cylegoddess]

well, Ive been studying alt medicine, complementary medicine, vitamins, and such for 20 odd years.
We dont get enough vitamins in food, due to many factors. ( depleted soils, etc) This can make you eat MORE as your body is starving for nutrients!
Also, scientifically,you cant eat enough food to give you enough to stave off baddies like environmental pollution( youd need to eat 25 avocados to get enough vit e to help prevent heart disease).

I take daily:
Usana( the only known pharmaceutical grade vitamins in world( you only get em thru net,or network marketing, as they are too expensive if they were sold thru stores and guy who started company wanted everyone to be avle to take them)
muti vitamin, multi antioxidant( fill out what I cant get thru food and help prevent free radicals)3xd
selenium
calcium
zinc
phytelle( womens supplement that balance hormones and keeps PMT and cramps at bay) has dong chai, chaste tree berry, black cohosh
lysine( other problems)
magnesium( helps high fibre diets and prevents bloating)
iron and copper( I had blood tests and Im low in these.only take iron if doctor says, its dangerous!)
andrographis( for immune system)
chromium picolinate( burns fat)
l-leusine, l-valine, l isoleuscine( helps speed recovery after workouts)
L tyrosine( for ADD)

It may seem like lots but believe me its not just because I have a chronic illness. Most of us dont know that most degenerative illness can be prevented with diet and vitamins( that includes, cancer, diabetes, heart disease.)

Sorry to get on soapbox, but I want everyone to ride, healthy forever!!