Acai Berry and Colon Cleanse

Hi J.! I'm sorry this is a bit long but I thought you should be informed. It's sad to see that so many people were scammed with online companies selling the Acai berries. People don't realize what kind of "trouble" they can get into ordering supplements online.

I am a manager at a health food store and we have seen a huge demand for acai and cleanses in the last few months since Oprah, Rachel Ray, etc. have started talking about it. Acai berries have the highest ORAC value of antioxidants than any superfruit (meaning the high antioxidants eat up the bad toxins we get exposed to), they can speed up your metabolism, but maybe most important they make you feel better and energized. We carry an acai juice (tastes kind of like blueberries) and acai capsules for $19.99 each, depending on which way you want to take them. I'm not sure what they would run in your area. We sell the MonaVie, which is a great one, also but it is pretty pricey since it is a multi level company. We had a man and a his wife come back the other day and reported that he had lost 42 pounds and she had lost 24 pounds since Thanksgiving by taking the acai capsules and eating smaller portions.

As for a cleanse, you should do a whole body cleanse at least semi-annually. Cleansing is great for "unclogging" all the channels from build-up we get from poor diet and that kind of thing. Plus, cleansing will give you an instant flatter stomach since you are cleaning out that buildup. Some people are sensitive but most do fine. You can get them where you just take capsules in the evening or morning and evening.

2 moms found this helpful

I too have seen these produsts and wondered but agree with others that no product can do it alone, watching what you eat, portion size and exercise are very important. That said, my son had some special needs and Drs. recommended the mangosteen juice for my son. I researched and found out about the 4 power fruits (Acai is one). I did find a lot of products are not pure and mixrd with other juices and stuff, however I did find a pure one by Genisis Today. My boys and I take the Power 4 which includes all 4. I take 2 ounces (in my own juice b/c it isn't the best tasting) in the morn and 2 ounces at night. (The boys take 1 ounce morn and night) There are many benefits....I have lost 20 pounds and kept it off (since Oct) annd wasn't really trying, I think it helps with mood swings, I am more active and my joints hurt less, to mention a few things, It also claims to help with brain maintenance and cancer fighting porperties as well as much more. You can go to their website to learn more. Good luck !

1 mom found this helpful

I have not tried those products specifically, and after reading only a few responses...doesn't seem like a good idea. However, I have had great success with a couple of things, so I will share these with you. I am a firm believer in the need to cleanse your colon/intestines. I take a supplement called Florify that I order from Melaleuca.com (company mentioned many times on here) This supplement is very effective for cleaning out the bowels. When you first start taking it, your bowels will go crazy for a couple of days....be patient, take a "sick" day and stay home. After the initial shock is over, you will be more regular than you have been in your entire life. I have been taking it daily for 3 years now. In addition, I follow Weight Watchers (sort of). I'm not a drill seargant about it, but basically do eat green beans, carrots, grapes, nuts (in lieu of a lot of meat). I learned these habits from Weight watchers. The carrots and grapes especially will move the bowels along, as well as lettuce, grean leafy veggies. I lost 20 lbs. doing all of this prior to getting prego, and have also lost 25 lbs. after baby. The down side???? of course there's always one, I noticed an increase in gas...so far haven't found solution to that as WebMD recommends that you change your diet if you have gas...go figure. Good Luck! The Melaleuca website can sometimes be confusing, so if you need help please don't hesitate to ask me, would be happy to help.

1 mom found this helpful

I absolutely agree with what the other two have already said...the only person who is helped by the various weight loss "aides" on the market are the people who are selling them!!!
The only way to lose weight...unfortunately..is the old fashioned way....eat fewer calories that you expend everyday. I have a wonderful website that may be of help to you.... go to SparkPeople.com and sign up...it is absolutely free and there are TONS of things on there that can be of assistance to you. I have been a member for almost 2 years now...if you want to talk to me about it..just send me a message and I will be happy to go over the details with you. I managed to lose almost 50 lbs in a little over a year...but unfortunately I got frustrated after hitting a plateau and started packing the pounds back on. Now I am ready to get back on the program again and get back into shape!!
I went from a couch potato to doing about an hour on the treadmill 4 times a week...and I am 60 years old and terribly out of shape so if I can do it...anyone can...lol.
ON this site you will find exercise tips, recipes, a place to log your daily foods and exercises, and best of all there are literally hundreds of little support groups that are there for you....some wonderful folks are part of Spark People...and they all want you to succeed!!!
Good luck...and do contact me if you would like me to tell you more about it.
R. Ann

Kelly M. is right on!!

The Acai (pronounced AH-SAH-HE) berry is one of the best antioxidants on the market. Although it does have a musky taste, which I do not like, I have found putting it in a smoothie that I make with berries, yogurt, etc. in the morning and evening, you do not even taste it! The benefits are incredible.

Although pricey at around $40 per bottle (looks like a wine bottle) from Monavie, it is worth every penny.

Good luck!

My husband had MonieVi for a while. I am not sure if that is spelled right. It is made from the acai berry. He was going to be an independent seller. He got a bottle from a friend. He really liked it at first and then didn't feel any effects by the second bottle. He didn't end up selling it and never ended up drinking it. It did totally clean him out, if you know what I mean. I began to get bottles stacking up so I decided to trade someone and he eventually canceled him membership. The woman I traded it to had a daughter going through kemo and she said it was the only thing she found that truely helped her daughter through the treatments. She said it practivally eliminates most of the side effects. I think alot of the results are going to depend on the person just like most things. I know the monievie was, as a member, $50 with shipping and tax for two bottles and it gets cheaper the more you have shipped a month. The recommended amount is two shots a day which will put you through more then two bottles a month so it can get expensive. I don't know it this is any help at all, just the what little I know

Ihave not tried them because my Dr. says the best weight loss program is diet and exercise. I have been curious about these two products though. Interested to see the responses. Good luck with your weight loss!

I am really against diet supplements. My sister has tried several, and had damage caused to her gall bladder, hepatic ducts, and pancreas-all resulting from diet supplements. I have also had a weight problem, and my excuse for no exercise or eating right was the same-too busy with fulltime work and 3 kids. But I joined the Biggest Loser club online, bought the cookbook, and started exercising as a family in the evening. The kids love the food, we have fun exercising together, and I lost 20 pounds in about 2 and a half months. It really does take some effort. With supplements, they work for a while, then you're back to your old ways, and possibly in worse health like my sister. Good luck. I know it's not easy!

I tried both and didn't really see a difference. The colon cleanser did seem to kick in shortly after taking it but nothing unbearable. I was worried that I would be in the bathroom all day but it was nothing like that. As far as the Acai Berry goes.... My mom bought a $14 bottle at the GNC(general nutrition center) here in town and I'm wondering if it was just a weeker supplement then the $40 shown on the internet, I haven't finished my bottle yet and am still waiting to see some results. Don't know if it's the quality(weeker then shown in internet ads) or just not all it's cracked up to be? I also didn't really do much exercise, shame on me. I'll lay on the floor or bed while I'm watching tv and do leg lifts and crunch holds??? whatever they do in pilates. I can't afford a gym membership and when it's been 15-30 degrees out I'm not going out walking. Although that may help me freeze my butt off HA HA!! And my diet is pretty bad too. Although I did eat a healthy breakfast like raisin bran or yogurt and healthy lunch like chicken strips and cottage cheese. My husband and I are very bad about eating fast food for dinner. I do home daycare so by the time the kids go home in the evening I DON'T feel like cooking and then turning around and having to clean up the kitchen AGAIN. I know some women out there would suggest to have my husband help out but if you tried his cooking you'd change your mind. In the 2 years we've been together he made 1 batch of potato soup that turned out, but he had to call his mom to get all the details.

I just read a lot of the responses. Same thing happened to me - I ordered the trial for $4.95 and then was charged for product I never received on my credit card (over $100 total). Lucky for me, the fraud department from my credt card called me and I cancelled the card. Still have not seen the product they tried to charge me for last week.

We have been drinking Monavie. It's 2oz in the morning and 2oz at night. It is the only juice on the market that retains 100% of the nutrients in the acai berry. They have a patent on the processing the acai berry and no other company can claim that. I drink it before breakfast and dinner in a shot glass and it helps fill me up so I don't eat as much. It has helped me sleep better which is attributed to weight loss, my moods are better and so many more benefits. When you take a pill you have no idea where the products in the pill come from, what the quality is and with Monavie you know everything about the 19 organic and wild picked fruits. When you drink a liquid it is absorbed within 20-30 seconds and you get it all. With a pill you only absord about 30% of what's in it. I can send you some more info links if you're interested and on how to get it.

I haven't tried that yet, but I'm wondering the same thing!

I thought of doing this too. So I googled it to get info from others who may have tried it. Do not send this company money. It is a scam. I would send you the link, but I searched for it a couple weeks ago. Just do a google search, and you will get the info you need on these products and the company who sells them.

I know you have a lot to read and everyone has seemed to try this stuff and gotten scammed but my mom did Weight watchers and lost 60lbs. When she got to her goal weight she continued for a couple more months and then she stopped. However, that year or so that she spent on weight watchers taught her how to not only loose weight but how to maintain it. Its been like 8 years since she lost all that weight and she hasn't gained more than 15 pounds back and has always been able to lose it. I urge anyone who feels strongly about learning more and needing a little help with staying accountable to themselves to lose the weight. Weight Watchers does help.

I ordered the sample of Acai Berry because I kept seeing it everywhere. But I am still nursing and our pediatrician advised me not to take it. However when I ordered it I got the 14 day free trial. 10 days later I was automatically charged $90.00 for a full bottle that I had not recieved. 7 days later I recieved that bottle and was charged another $90.00. When calling to cancel and clear up this mess it took me a week to get to an actual person after being on hold numerous times a day. Then when I spoke to them about it, they would not refund me, all they did was cancel the order.

So just be careful on where you get the acai berry. And everywhere I have looked it tends to be expensive.

DO NOT USE THESE!!!! i need to loose some weight too so i thought I would try them- Here is the deal- they say they are going to send you a sample (i never got mine) they billed my 3.97 for he Acai berry and then in the very fine print it says if you don't canel within 14 days they will bill you 79.99! So I tried to cancel- 5 days i tried to get through- i left messages to which they reply - we will call youback within 24 hours- no calls. When i finally got through after 39 minutes on hold i told her i wanted to canel my order and she hung up on me!! another teacher friend tried them too and had the same thing happen!! I had to go through my credit card company to stop the payments! what a hassel. PLUS you will be automatically signed up for some on line newsletter that they bill you for each month too! You have to calel that too or it is automatically charged to your account!!!

As for the cleanse- i canelled that right away with much less problems. I did recieve the sample for this and when i took it NOTHING! happened. I had better luck with a laxitive.....

PLEASE SAVE YOUR MONEY DON'T USE THESE PRODUCTS!!!

Hi J.,
Sorry no advice on that, but I just started weight watchers, I didnt join, our jobs suck right now and I cant afford it. My friend gave me her old books and a points finder. I have lost 5 lbs in less than two weeks and I DONT feel like Im starving either. I bet If I was actually a member it would be a lot easier too. They teach you so much. Anyways just thought I would share whats helping me. I think the pills are a scam, I would say the majority are not FDA approved. Iv tried a lot of them, and its a waste of money! Good Luck!

It is hard to lose weight when you're working and trying to be everything to everyone else. But take this time to do something for yourself. It will make you feel better the rest of your life. The bottom line from everyone seems to be that there is no easy way to lose weight and keep it off. It takes a shift in thinking, eliminating processed foods, and adding more whole foods. Did you know that just drinking one can of soda a day can put on 15 pounds a year.? Eliminating that and substituting water can help reach anyone's goal. I'd like to recommend a good book, The Vice Buster's Diet by Julia Havey. She lost 130 pounds and has maintained that for 10 years. Julia will be speaking in the St. Louis area on Wednesday, February 11. Contact me if you'd like further info.

I believe that most of the internet remedies for overweight people is bunk. The only way is to eat better and eat light with a lot of vegetables and water. B.

I tried them & not impressed. The colon cleanse products gave me a burning in my chest & throat, so I discontinued them. My husband tried them & same thing for him. So my opinion...not worth a dime!

If you have lots of money it may or may not work. Internet sights show it is a scam. I stupidly sent off for the Acai Berry capsules. (Just $4.00 shipping for 2 weeks free) They send you a bottle of 60. After researching onthe internet I found out that on day 14 they bill your credit card $78.80 for the entire bottle and charge you that every month. I have tried and tried to call them and even called my credit card who tried to call them to cancel it and could not get through. My credit card now has record that I am trying to cancel and I am still calling every day trying to get through to cancel before my 14 days are up next Wed. In the meantime I have taken two capsules a day and I have actually gained a pound and do not feel more energy as is advertised. I have taken them for 5 days now. I say it is a BIG HOAX.

I tried just the Acai Berry. I took it at 7:30 in the morning and felt real jittery all day and then I went to bed and I tossed and turned till about 2:00 when I finally was able to calm down, it was not fun. Everyone has thought it was the greatest thing but I absolutely hated it. Maybe you just have to get past that jitteriness and it is the greatest but I just could not take it anymore. That was my experience with it best of luck if you do decide to try it.

J., don't do it. Please learn from my mistake! I clicked on it and ever since I have had problems with all kinds of new accounts taking money out. Too expensive and not worth it!

I would definitely recommend the Monavie like others have said. It sounds like these you are describing are products you buy from an advertising company. Instead, I would recommend going to a health food store and getting an all natural cleanse. They have lots to choose from and an employee would help you find the right one. I noticed you live in Jefferson City so HyVee (in their health food section) would be a great place to start, or Clover's Natural Foods in Columbia. I live in Columbia and I love Clover's because they will give you honest advice, they're not just trying to sell you something if it's not right for you.

Anyway, I would also recommend a book called, "If It's Not Food, Don't Eat It" by Kelly Hayford, C.N.C. It tells you how to change your lifestyle in manageable ways, not just dieting. It's a really great book, you could find it for cheap on Amazon.com.

I live close by, so let me know if you have any further questions.

C. G.

Hi J.,
I have been wondering the same thing...
Can you share the responses you get with me??
I would appreciate it!
C.

Hi J., My name is L., I have taken the Acai berry. I did not see much difference from it. I have not tried the collen cleans only because of the story I am about to tell you.
I ordered the acai through an add that I had seen. It was only 4.95 for a 1 month trial. I had never ordered anything from an add befor so I was a bit nervous. After I ordered it, I did some research and had discovered that a lot of people were being scamed.
When I finally got the bottle in the mail, it was only a 10 day supply. The strange part was that I was also charged an extra .04 cents. I called my bank and asked them why that had happened, they said it was because it was an out of country charge. The package that the bottle came in did not have a packing slip, and the address was from here in the states.
I tried to call the number that came on the bottle and it was always a fast busy signal. So I went to the web site that was also on the bottle and it was a site to order more, no customer service link anywhere.
With all that, I did cancell my card and got a new one. So I did not feel right getting the colon cleans after that.
I wanted you to know all this so you don't get more money taken from you than you need to. I was happy that I cought it before I had a bunch of money taken from me. With all that though, I did not have any side affect, but I did have to take either before I ate or right after or I got a real rush, like if I had 3 or 4 cups of coffee at once. But I did not have enough to show a real change in weight or anything. If I had more I would keep taking it to find out. I hope this helps you, just a piece of advice is to do some good reaserch on the particuler one you decided to get.

You can read about a lot of plans for losing weight. It is a good question, "Are they safe?" I personally would not want to use a Colon Cleanse. Eating properly and exercise are the safest way to lose weight. If you are truly serious about losing weight and don't know how to eat the right foods, you can receive help with clinically Proven help by writing me at ____@____.com as I am a former home economics teacher and have a masters in Nutrition. Give me your phone and I will give you help that I think you will find will work for a busy mother like you.