Açai is all the rave in new fad diets, beauty products and juices, but can this berry hold up to the hype?
Taking number one in Oprah’s Superfoods list, the açai berry — pronounced ah-sigh-ee — is claimed to be the most nutritious food in the world. It has more than two times the amount of antioxidants of blueberries and almost 30 times the amount of antioxidants in red wine.
With its unique fusion of loaded antioxidants, fiber, protein and fatty acids, Brazil’s secret rainforest gems were bound to be snatched up by health-hungry San Diegans.
Sold in most smoothie shops across San Diego, açai is often said to taste like berries and chocolate. The small, purple berry is about the size of a grape and is native to the Brazilian rainforest where it has been Brazil’s “youth food” for ages.
About 90 percent of the berry is an inedible pit; the rest is skin and a small amount of pulp, which can only be preserved and distributed to San Diego if it’s freeze-dried.
While many San Diegans are becoming supporters of the açai trend, the actual health benefits of consuming the berry are under review. Still, there are claims that açai improves energy levels, stamina, vitality and focus, according to Sambazon, the largest açai distributor which distributes to Juice it Up! on campus.
The high concentration of antioxidants and fatty acids, found in the açai berry, have been praised for their “anti-aging” qualities. The benefits found in the fatty acids are similar to that of olive oil, which revitalize the hair and skin. Also, according to Sambazon analysis, the proteins found in the açai berry are compared to the ratio of the amount of protein in eggs, which can improve and rejuvenate muscle functions.
Although it’s considered healthy, when mixed with other ingredients you could get a lot more than you asked for, such as in Juice It Up’s! Ultimate Açai Bowl, which has 685 calories. The Senior Manager of San Diego State Dining Services, Edna Hernandez, said she couldn’t believe such a healthy food could have so many calories.
“People are most surprised by how many calories are in the açai bowl,” Hernandez said. “ I have had customers that literally will see the calorie content and say they don’t want their order anymore.”
Still, the Ultimate Açai Bowl is the number one seller at Juice it Up! on campus, which sells an average of 180 bowls each week.
“It’s a craze … people buy into the hype of the nutritional benefits,” Hernandez said.
The açai berry’s popularity is even leaking into the San Diego bar scene as a trendy açai spirit dubbed VeeV that claims to have antioxidants that save partyers from an all too familiar hangover.
The “healthy” spirit is a fusion of açai berries, all natural fruits including prickly pears and cherries, and 60-proof vodka mixture that is said to have a sweeter taste than other alcohols.
This swanky drink is available in more than 30 bars around downtown San Diego and Pacific Beach such as Bar West, Belo, Firehouse, The Ivy Hotel and Stingaree.
But it’s still alcohol, and just like the açai bowl from Juice it Up, it’s packed with calories, so just because it has açai in it doesn’t mean that it’s slimming.
This trendy berry has quickly become as popular as Ugg boots and, although the stated benefits sound amazing, everything should be taken with a grain of salt; the jury is still out whether the benefits of açai are really all they’re cracked up to be. In any case, it’s still a great tasting fruit full of antioxidants and a delicious alternative to those sugary sweets.
The Daily Aztec > Features > Food & Drink
Açai: fact or fad?
Published: Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Updated: Wednesday, March 4, 2009
 "Photo: Maura Ochoa / Staff Photographer")
Maura Ochoa / Staff Photographer
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