Acai berries are truly one of nature’s miracle foods. They are loaded in antioxidants, B vitamins and essential amino acids. They contain phytochemicals such as anthocyanins, which protect the plant from infection and free radical damage. When we consume the acai berries, the protective properties of the phytochemicals are transferred to us.

Acai berry nutrients are thought to prevent disease, aid in weight loss and slow aging. More than likely, this is a direct result of the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory nature of the various nutrients.

The antioxidants neutralize free radicals and repair the damage already done. Inflammation alone is responsible for many disease processes such as atherosclerosis. Both free radicals and inflammation are behind the aging process.

Unfortunately, you probably are not going to find a nice little basket of acai berries in the produce. You may find juice, smoothie mixes and powders, but the acai berry itself is grown in the Amazon on giant palm trees. You need to check the label of these products to make sure there is enough pure acai berries for the product to be beneficial. You might find only trace amounts of the berries and loads of sugar or corn syrup instead.

On the supplement end, however, there are oodles of products. You might find acai berry supplements in liquid extract form, powders or pills. Though these might be great products, the bad news is there are quite a few acai berry frauds as well. When something becomes as popular as acai berries in the health supplement arena, there are bound to be some rotten eggs in the dozen.

One of the more popular frauds is a “free trial” offer fraud. Not all free trials are fraudulent, but many customers have reported companies who offer these free trials and then sign the person up for an auto-shipment of more acai berry supplement. Some of these companies charge more than $50 for a bottle of acai berry supplements, and the charge ends up as a surprise. It is also quite difficult to get out of some of these acai berry frauds because when the person calls the company to cancel and seek reimbursement, the operators put them on hold for 20 minutes or more and continually transfer them from one department to another.

The weight loss industry (the crooked ones in the bunch!) have also honed in on acai berry. Yes, acai berries can aid in weight loss, but nothing exists that aids in healthful weight loss without proper diet and exercise. Take caution in ordering acai berries touted as being this magic bullet in weight loss.

It is unfortunate that the con-artists have given a bad name to such a wonderful gift from Mother Nature. In the end, you have to check websites carefully to make sure they have some sort of seal by the Better Business Bureau or other entity that checks a company’s authenticity and business practices. As well, make sure you read the fine print. Look for credible companies with pure acai berry supplements or products.

Look for the acai berry fraud. Go there and discover which acai berry brands your can rely on.