Like many other products that claim to contain Acai Berries the ingredients are a bit deceptive. The first give away was the phrase “New Exotic Acai Flavor” which caused me to read the rest of the package carefully. I read the ingredients and didn’t find a trace of acai, acai berry juice, or acai berry powder. In fact there was no trace of strawberries, or strawberry juice either. The product is flavored to taste like strawberries and acai berries, but doesn’t actually contain any juice.While the Jello only has 10 calories there is nothing on the package to indicate that it will help with weight loss if you read it carefully. It does have Vitamin E and Beta Carotene, but it contains more Red 40 than either of these ingredients. The front label clearly advertises that this product contains antioxidants which are a good source of Vitamin A and Vitamin E. When you read the nutritional information you find that there is only 10% of each of these vitamins.

Kraft, the manufacturer of JELL-O clearly wants you to think this new type of Jello is great for you. This is just not true, at least not any more true than any other Sugar Free Jello product. Anytime you hear about something that is too good to be true you should always look more closely. Luckily the Jello does taste pretty good, though I’m not sure I can tell the difference between Strawberry and Strawberry Acai Jello.

If you do want to add a little acai to your Jello it is easy to find many supplements online that you can mix in with your Jello. Even Amazon.com sells Acai Supplements now and I’d recommend you take a look at a freeze dried Acai Berries like Navitas Naturals Organic Acai Powderor Acai Berry Juice such as Acai 100% Juice by Genesis Today. You can read the reviews on Amazon.com and decide which will work best for you. Since acai juice tastes tart mixing a little bit of it with Jello can give it a great flavor. If you want a special treat you can mix some low fat whip cream or CoolWhip in with your Jello for a really tasty desert!

It wasn’t until the late twentieth-century that scientists were able to isolate P57, the active ingredient of the Hoodia plant that causes appetite suppression. This was patented in 1996, and released to the general public by Pfizer in 2002. Ever since, the popularity of this supplement has increased and a variety of products have been released containing Hoodia. Many of these products contain other ingredients which can dilute the effectiveness of P57 so it is important for consumers to research any Hoodia Gordonii product thoroughly before purchasing it.

To add to the confusion of Hoodia products the US Department of Agriculture has imposed restrictions on the Hoodia plant which require a permit to import it. This has caused manufacturers to severely dilute their products since Hoodia is expensive to import. The best way to verify that a product contains the P57 ingredient is to look for reports from independent labs which test for the presence of the Hoodia Gordonii plant.

Hoodia products only suppresses hunger, they do not actually make you lose weight like Alli Pills or similar products. For those of us who know that we’re not hungry and still eat anyway we will not see much benefit from Hoodia Gordonii. Hoodia is ideal for people who find themselves hungry between meals. It is important to not use it to skip meals or eat portions to small too satisfy your daily nutritional requirements. If you do so you may find yourself feeling less energetic and could end up with serious medical complications.

Since Hoodia curbs your thirst as well as your hunger it is important to make sure you drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. There have been some reported side effects for people with specific medical conditions so it would be a good idea to consult your doctor before starting this, or any nutritional supplement.

Because it can be difficult to find Hoodia products that actually contain Hoodia Gordonii and the P57 supplement I researched the most popular products that actually contain Hoodia. I recommend that you research the ingredients in these products to make sure they won’t effect you adversely. Amazon.com has a lot of reviews on these products so I suggest that you take a look there first.

Power Pops with Hoodia come in 8 different flavors and have approximately 28 calories. Star Magazine and Extra TV have both recommended these pops, they are one of the most popular Hoodia products because they taste good (according the the reviews on Amazon.com) and are a great snack that will hold you over until your next meal. It is important to remember they are not candy, and only consume them when you need to suppress your appetite. The ingredients in power pops are: Hoodia, Citrimax, L-Tyrosine, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Guarana, Natural Flavors, and Corn Syrup.

Hoodia Gordonii Plus capsules are the most recommended Hoodia pills on Amazon.com. These are designed to be taken one hour before each meal (lunch and dinner) and allow you to eat less food during the meal without feeling hungry afterwords. Two capsules of Hoodia Gordonii Plus has the following ingredients: Hoodia(400mg), Magnesium(250mg), Garcina Cambogia Extract(50mg), Green Tea Extract(50mg), Gelatin Capsules, Protease, Amylase, Cellulase, Lipase, Invertase, Lactase, Maltase, Papain, and Bromelain.

Bija Hoodia Slimming Tea is an excellant way to take the edge off your hunger during the day. This can be prepared before a meal to allow you to feel more satisfied with smaller portions, or you can have a cup of tea during the day to prevent yourself from getting hungry before your next meal. The ingredients in Bija Hoodia Slimming Tea are: Hoodia, Green Tea, Magnolia Bark, Oatstraw Herb, Garcinia Cambogia, Bitter Orange, and Grapefruit.

For those of you who haven’t heard of this fruit yet, Acai Berries (pronounced a-sigh-y) are small, black berries which looks like a smaller variety of a grape. The fruit has a large seed at its core, surrounded by pulp on the outside. This pulp is used in a wide range of health foods and used to make capsules and added as a supplement to smoothies. The pulp contains a large amount of antioxidants and fiber which is a great benefit to anyone who is trying to lose weight. The berry has also been linked to a decreased appetite which is especially helpful when on a diet.

The first thing I do when I hear so many benefits is look for the catch, so I spent numerous hours researching Acai Berries. Since there were no definitive articles on the side-effects of Acai Berries I decided to write this article to compile my findings. All healthy choices should be done in moderation or you may risk throwing your health out of balance. One of the most common side effects people experience is over consumption of the supplement. Recommended doses range from 500 to 1000 milligrams per day, however some people consume significantly more than that. Between Organic Acai Berry Pills, Acai Berry Smoothies, Acai Berry Juice, and even Acai Berry Ice Cream there are many ways to ingest this fruit, and if you do all of them at once you’re just begging to experience side effects.

Fortunately the most common side effects from over ingesting this berry are mild and can include stomach cramps, diarrhea, and dizziness. With any supplement its best to start out in smaller doses and gradually increase the dosage as your body gets accustomed to the supplement.  An overdose of Acai Berries isn’t what I’m focusing on in this article. I am concerned with more serious side effects, and while everything I found indicates that Acai Berries are safe for most people, there are some concerns you should be aware of before you take this pill.

Acai Berries and IBS (Irritable Bowl Syndrome)

Acai Berries are known for their ability to cleanse your entire body, but especially your digestive system. For most people this translates into an increased number of bowel movements (to a healthier level), but for people struggling with IBS or other digestive tract problems this can be a serious concern. Acai Berries contain the highest concentration of antioxidants found in any natural food. They have more antioxidant than blueberries and pomegranate, and for people with controlled IBS this can be a good thing. However for people with uncontrolled IBS, or who are struggling to keep their IBS under control this can be a detriment. The increased bowel movements may make it more difficult to develop a healthy, regular digestive system. When suffering from IBS it is always best to consult with your doctor before adding any new supplement to your diet.

Allergic Reactions

People who suffer from severe allergic reactions to pollen or who have a hypersensitivity to acai, blueberries, grapes, or similar fruit are at risk of having an allergic reaction to Acai Pills, which contains the pulp of the Acai Berry. These allergic reactions are typically mild and can include:

• Itchy, watery eyes
• Rash
• Congestion

In some cases moderate reactions can occur and the allergic reaction can spread to other parts of the body causing Itchiness and Difficulty breathing. In extremely rare cases severe allergic reaction can occur causing Anaphylaxis which is a life-threatening reaction in which the body’s response to the allergen affects the entire body. This may begin with itchy eyes or face and within minutes progress to more serious symptoms, including:

• Swelling of the throat making it difficult to breathe or swallow
• Mental confusion or dizziness
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

Allergic reactions to Acai Berries are rare, and can be identified before becoming serious by starting with small doses of the Acai Berry Supplement and slowly progressing to the recommend dosage. If you have concerns about allergic reactions you should consult a doctor prior to taking Acai Berries.

Guarana and Other Additives

Many manufacturers of Acai Berry Pills include additives in their pills. Since one of the primary reasons people take this supplement is to increase their energy levels additives such as Guarana (which contains caffeine) give a more instantaneous boost in energy levels.  You should carefully read the ingredients of any Acai Berry supplement you purchase to ensure you are not allergic to any other ingredients. People with a sensitivity to caffeine should ensure they purchase a supplement which contains 100% Acai Berry Pulp.

When comparing different Acai Berry brands you will find that the prices differ significantly. Many companies offer free trial offers which enroll you in monthly subscriptions at high costs. When making any purchase online it is important to read the website carefully and only provide your credit card to companies with a secure website and positive customer feedback.