photo credit: gurucrusher

This is probably one of the easiest, lightest and most convenient ways of taking supplements with you when you're on the move. The capsules contain berries that have been dried to ensure that the nutrients remain available and are not destroyed during the storage and transportation process. The fresh berries do not keep very long after they have been harvested so this is a good way of retaining the goodness in them. It's best to opt for the ones which contain powder made from freeze-dried berries as this helps to preserve more of the natural nutrients which could be destroyed by drying at higher temperatures.

As is the case with the fresh berries , the acai capsules contain naturally-occurring  nutrients including antioxidants (said to reduce cell damage and help slow ageing), vitamins (nutrients essential to the body's functioning), minerals (also vital nutrients needed by the body), essential amino acids (aid in repair of  damaged muscle tissue caused by exercise), essential fatty acids (believed to play a part in reducing blood pressure),  and fibre (for maintaining a healthy digestion) .

They are therefore useful for people whose normal diet may be lacking in these important nutrients, or people who need extra nutrients e.g. those who do a lot of strenuous exercise (marathon running, triathlons etc.).

Most manufacturers' capsules are suitable for vegetarians as the part containing the powder is made from vegetable materials instead of animal-derived products. If you are vegetarian it would be a good idea to check with the seller that the ones that they are selling are suitable for vegetarians.

The usual dose for this supplement is one or two capsules per day. However, as the amounts of powder in each capsule can vary between manufacturers, it's important to follow your capsule manufacturer's recommended dosage.

Some people believe that taking these suplements helped them to achieve their weight loss goals, and sometimes it is sold as an aid to weight loss. However, at the moment there does not seem to be any independent scientific evidence that taking this supplement will directly cause weight loss. For people who are on a calorie-controlled diet and taking regular exercise, this type of supplement could be an easy and convenient way to help ensure that you meet the body's nutrient requirements.

photo credit: gurucrusher

This is an easy and convenient way to take acai berry.  The powder can be added to your favourite drink including juice, milk or even to your favourite type of smoothie to give it some extra nutritional value.  Freeze dried acai often has a higher concentration of nutrients than the same weight of the fresh fruit, and the freeze drying process retains the nutritional value of the fruits, ensuring that you get the same nutritional value from the powdered version.

It is worth noting that other processing methods such as spray drying are carried out at higher temperatures and can result in the destruction of some of the berry's nutrients.  This means that it is preferable to choose powders that have been produced using the freeze drying method.

As is the case with the fresh fruits, the powdered form of the fruit  contains naturally-found nutrients like antioxidants (believed to have an effect on reducing damage to cells and helping slow the effects of ageing), essential amino acids (assist the body in recovery from exercise, builds muscle), essential fatty acids (believed to have a role in the reduction of blood pressure), vitamins (nutrients the body needs to function), minerals (other nutrients required for normal body function) and fibre (essential for maintaining operation of the digestive tract) .  During laboratory testing, 100 grams of freeze dried pulp and skin has been discovered to contain 44.2 grams of fibre.

Although often sold as a weight loss supplement, there seems to be currently no evidence that acai speeds up weight loss. It could, however be a useful source of extra nutrients for people who are on a conventional weight loss diet.