Acai bowls have taken off on social media with #acai has approximately 2.9 million posts; meanwhile, the market value for acai, specifically in the food industry, is only expected to increase. Online and in-store marketing portrays these bowls as a healthy breakfast choice and a good post-workout meal with ample nutrition. These bowls are very accessible for Berkeley High School students and hence, it is important to see through the marketing and address misnomers about their nutritional value.
There are several acai chains in Berkeley — popular spots being Rush Bowls, Palm Acai Cafe, and Juice Appeal. Acai berries are about 1.5 centimeters in diameter and are grown in the Amazon and other parts of Brazil. They have a high fat content which causes them to perish quickly, so berries are exported in powder form or flash freezed. Usually, acai bowl restaurants buy the frozen version to use as the base for their bowls.
Acai bowls are known and promoted for their health benefits. The acai berries are high in antioxidants and other phytochemicals that do have positive health benefits. The National Library of Medicine discovered that acai berries may protect against cell oxidation, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Bowls also include chopped fruit as toppings which can be a good source of Vitamin C and manganese.
Nevertheless, the possible nutritional benefits of acai have become inflated. Consumers thought that acai could be a treatment for medical conditions or to help them lose weight when there wasn’t scientific evidence of these effects. The misinformation got so exacerbated the Federal Trade Commission ordered online acai marketers to pay 9.4 million dollars in settlements for misleading claims.
Although parts of acai bowls can be healthy, commercial production adds many unhealthy ingredients to them. These include sugary granola, honey, and added sugar in the acai puree. This factor is dependent on the source of one's acai bowl, and it is important to check nutritional labels to make sure that consumers aren’t falling into the trap of eating acai bowls because they are super “healthy.” Specifically, the American Heart Association recommends about 25 grams of added sugar per day for women and 36 grams of added sugar per day for men. At Rush Bowls — an acai bowl spot near BHS that offers coupons to students — there is about 50 grams of sugar per acai “beach” bowl. The obesity among U.S. children is now considered a public health issue and only 39% of youth ages 2-19 met the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) that recommends limited intake of added sugars. It is important that more youth are adequately informed about their added sugar intake so they can reach the DGA.
There is no doubt acai bowls are super yummy with their refreshing acai base, crunchy granola, and layered fruit. However, the potential opportunity for antioxidants can distract from the true sugar content. Making smoothie bowls at home so the ingredients are clear or buying acai bowls in moderation are both great alternatives to limit your added sugar intake while still getting the benefits of acai.