In light of Acai’s increasing popularity, it is little wonder that large numbers of Acai products are making their way to the marketplace. But not all products are the same. 

Acai berries deteriorate rapidly after harvest.  As a result the whole fresh fruit is only available to those inside the growing area.  Freeze-dried powder or frozen juice and fruit pulp are the only products that are available to the rest of the world.

Several companies now manufacture acai juices and powdered supplements but processing methods differ.  Some methods appear to remove much of the nutrients.  A large amount of the Acai shipped from Brazil to the US or Europe is sent in large frozen blocks that fail to prevent nutrition degradation.  Other companies use inferior drying methods such as spray drying or air drying.  For that reason many products have low ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) levels.

On the other hand, exceptionally high ORAC values were found in the skin and fruit pulp when freeze-drying was used for preservation. Research studies suggest that freeze-drying is far superior to other methods in effectively preserving Acai’s high antioxidant capacity. 

So it appears that freeze-drying is the preferred method, but what about Acai extracts?  Since the whole berry – skin and pulp – contains important nutrients, why would anyone prefer an extract from just one part of the fruit.  Some companies do use the word “extract” when they mean concentrate.  When you see a 4:1 extract” advertised, that means that 4 grams of acai pulp are used to make one gram of acai powder.  The correct term would be concentrate.   Some companies claim a ratio as high as 6:1.

The important thing is to look for is a product that is 100% freeze-dried acai powder made from the skin and pulp.  If you are only looking for good taste, a juice made from frozen acai is great.  But if you want to maximize the full health benefits, stick with juice and powdered supplements made from freeze-dried Acai.

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The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute or advice from your physician or health care provider. You should not use information from this web site for the treatment of any health problem. As with any herbal or dietary supplement, talk to a heath care professional before making Acai a part of your regular diet.

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