Acai Berry??

[jobob]

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

[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!!