Acai Berry Maxx

From LoveToKnow Vitamins

Although acai berries have been declared a "superfood," beware of supplements like Acai Berry Maxx that claim to offer the berry's nutrients in concentrated, capsule form. You may be better off investing in alternatives, like acai berry juice or frozen pulp.

Official website no longer takes orders.

Acai Berry Benefits

The acai berry is a purple-red berry harvested in the rain forests of Brazil. Similar in appearance to a grape, the berry has been used in the Amazon for hundreds of years for medicinal and health purposes.

Though most of the berry is a pit, the pulp part contains a high amount of antioxidants. Some studies have suggested this content is even higher than what is found in other super-fruits, such as the blueberry. As WebMD notes however, "the jury is still out."

Many are convinced of the acai berry's health benefits. Dr. Nicholas Perricone for instance, ranked the acai berry first in his list of Top 10 superfoods. Given the berry's high concentration of antioxidants, it is believed that consumption of the berry can help with premature aging, muscle pain, and weight loss.

Unfortunately, as a result of the berry's newfound popularity, various supplements claiming to be the "#1" acai berry product have popped up.

What is Acai Berry Maxx?

A supplement distributed by FX Supplements that claims to be the top acai berry product "on the market today." It offers no evidence to back up such a claim.

The product is said to help people lose weight by cleansing the body of toxins. Among its various other claims, taking the dietary supplement will help:

Increase body circulation
Aid the digestive process
Up one’s metabolism
Strengthen the immune system
Normalize cholesterol levels
Promote better sleep

As for weight loss, the supplement purports to naturally boost one's metabolism and consequently help the body burn calories faster. Like most "magic pills," Acai Berry Maxx claims that even stubborn calories will be lost after you begin taking it.

Consumer Concerns

The first concern is that this supplement is not available in stores. Not even health stores like GNC. The only way you can obtain it is through its website or a special offer.

What's more, the "official" website is no longer taking orders and most of the reviews that promote the product, now lead to a different acai berry product altogether. It seems that Acai Berry Maxx has been taken off the market. Whether or not this is temporary remains to be seen.

Buyer Beware

Should the supplement become available again, it would be a prime case of "Buyer Beware."

You should always be wary of products that aren't available from reputable, trusted sources. If this is the case, ask "Why?" Why isn’t this product offered at GNC?
Be extremely careful of ingesting anything you have questions about. Would your doctor approve? What are the alternatives?
Take into serious account the consumer complaints about the product. Their misfortune could very well save you.

Opt-outs and Avoidance

Among the consumer complains for this particular product:

A one-month "free" trial is offered, but in fact, the first real charge is made after 14 days -- unless you opt out. By 14 days however, you may not have even received your free trial to make a decision on the product.
Some consumers didn’t get the advertised supplement, but instead got another "acai berry" product to try.
The company would not answer customer requests by phone; it was difficult to get in touch with them to cancel before it was too late.
There is no physical address for the company.

Get Your Acai Berry

As with any fruit or superfood high in antioxidants, adding acai berry to your daily diet is a good thing. It just might be better to look at products other than the latest pill, such as juice or pulp. Dr. Perricone recommends the unsweetened pulp of the acai berry, which is available in health food and gourmet stores. This pulp can be incorporated into your diet in a number of ways, from juice and smoothies to toppings and desserts.