All the hype with Acai.

I've been getting a lot of SPAM lately, mostly referring to the Acai berry. When I first said the word, I pronounced it as A-Kuy!!! Like Kung Fu, I want to beat you down town...to Chinatown. I was wrong, it's actually pronounced as Ah.Sigh.EE.

Basically, it's a fruit that studies have shown to have many excellent health benefits. BUT...don't go jumping in all at once. There are also some side effects and I've listed them below. The effects are listed mainly due to the Acai having not been thoroughly tested their effectiveness and safety in humans.

- There is no proven safe or effective dose for acai in adults or children.
- Avoid acai in patients undergoing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or using oral contrast agents for MRI, as acai has been used as an experimental clinical oral contrast agent for MRI of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Acai may aggravate or initiate hypertension (high blood pressure) or edema (swelling). It may also aggravate or initiate gastrointestinal disorders (ulcers or intestinal bleeding).
- Use cautiously in patients taking antineoplastics (anticancer agents).
- Pregnant women or those breastfeeding should not take Acai.
- Acai may have cyclooxygenase COX-1 and COX-2 inhibition properties. Use cautiously with anti-inflammatory medications due to possible additive effects.
- Acai may have antiproliferative effects. Use cautiously with medication used in the treatment of cancer, such as antineoplastics, due to possible additive effects.

These were taken from Healthline.Com