• The acai berry is a relative of the blueberry.blueberry image by Lucy Cherniak from Fotolia.com
  
  The acai berry, pronounced "ah-sigh-ee," is native to the Amazon River region of South America. They are the berries of a tropical palm tree and, according to researchers at the University of Florida (UF), Brazilians have historically used the acai berry in medications specifically to treat digestive and skin issues.
  
  Acai berries look similar to purple grapes and are relatives of dark purple fruits like cranberries and blueberries. They contain anthocyanins and flavonoids, the same antioxidants found in red wine, and are said to taste like a mix between red wine and chocolate.
  
  

Claims

• The head UF researcher, Stephen Talcott, says that products made with processed acai berries have been available for less than 10 years and have not been widely studied. Despite the fact that there is little scientific research, the products have been marketed as a super food supplement used to treat arthritis, high cholesterol, obesity and erectile dysfunction, according to WebMD.
  
  

Antioxidant

• The supplements became popular after Dr. Nicholas Perricone touted their age-defying properties on Oprah. According to WebMD, the berries may delay the aging process because of their high antioxidant content. Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which are the toxins produced through body processes like metabolism and environmental exposure. These free radicals can destroy cells, leading to aging and certain diseases like cancer and heart disease.
  
  ScienceDaily published a study by Talcott and his wife, Dr. Susanne Talcott, which found that antioxidants in acai berries are absorbed by humans. Talcott says that there is a limit to how much can be absorbed at one time, akin to vitamin C. A separate study, published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry also found that antioxidant levels in the blood increased after the volunteers drank juice made with the acai berry. These findings indicate that some of the claims may be valid, specifically those that would be impacted by antioxidants like anti-aging and disease prevention.
  
  

Cancer Cell Fighter

• The Talcotts conducted a second study to see if acai berries could impact cancer cells and found that the berries "triggered a self-destruct response in up to 86 percent of leukemia cells tested." The researchers believe that more research can reveal what benefits dietary supplements may have in the future, but the results are promising.
  
  

Anti-inflammatory

• An additional study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that acai reduced the "PMN response across a wide range." PMNs are the most abundant white blood cells that circulate in the blood and according to the journal Blood, they are "the first-line defense against infection and are potent effectors of inflammation." The reduction of the PMN response leads researchers to believe that the berries are a strong anti-inflammatory. This could have a positive impact in treating arthritis, an inflammatory disease.