Acai Berry Extract - GymBeam

Acai berries are the fruit of the Euterpe oleracea palm, which grows in the tropical regions of the Amazon basin. Local people have included its dark purple berries as a natural part of their diet for generations. They have a mildly fruity flavour, but fresh berries spoil very quickly. They lose quality during transport, and importing them over long distances is both logistically and economically challenging. As a result, fresh berries are virtually unavailable outside their native region.

The extract addresses this very problem. Processing the berries into a concentrated extract at a 10:1 ratio makes it possible to transport and store the benefits of acai without the risk of rapid spoilage. Producing 1 kg of extract requires 10 kg of the original fruit, so each capsule contains the equivalent of up to 5,000 mg of acai berries. Unlike fresh berries, the stable powder in the capsule does not spoil quickly, needs no refrigeration, and can be kept with you wherever you go.

Acai berries are rich in polyphenols, particularly anthocyanins, and also contain vitamin C. This is why they appeal to people who value a varied diet. For them, the extract is a practical way to include fruit from the other side of the world in their daily routine.

The pulp and skin of acai berries contain high levels of polyphenols, particularly anthocyanins.¹,³ These are plant pigments that give acai berries, blueberries, blackberries and red cabbage their dark purple colour. The plant produces them as protection against UV radiation and stress. They belong to the flavonoid group, and the predominant ones in acai are cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-rutinoside. The darker the berry, the more anthocyanins it usually contains.

In laboratory tests (the DPPH and ABTS methods), acai extracts show a marked ability to neutralise free radicals, but in vitro—that is, in a test tube.⁴

In a test tube, anthocyanins bind free radicals, which is why they are also called antioxidants. In the body, it is somewhat more complicated. Only a small percentage reaches the bloodstream; the rest travels to the large intestine, where gut bacteria break it down into smaller phenolic acids.² Some of the effects attributed to anthocyanins may come from these breakdown products.

Their possible effects on blood vessels, inflammatory markers, and blood sugar and fat levels are also being studied. Most of the evidence so far comes from laboratory research or small studies.

Acai extract is a convenient and stable source of polyphenols from a fruit that can be difficult to find fresh—and that is exactly how we offer it.

Thanks to the 10:1 extraction ratio, each capsule contains a concentrated dose equivalent to ten times the amount of fresh fruit—an amount that would be difficult to consume through fresh or frozen fruit alone. The capsule form also takes care of the practical side: there is no need to stir, thaw, or blend it into drinks. The dry extract in the capsule can withstand room temperature and long journeys. Just one capsule a day, at any time. With its 100% plant-based composition, including a gelatin-free HPMC capsule, it is also suitable for vegans. And because it contains none of the major allergens, it is suitable for practically anyone looking for a simple way to add this polyphenol-rich fruit to their diet.