Are Acai Bowls Actually Good For You?
The Truth Revealed.
By Sarah Borland
You see at least ten of these brightly colored acai (ah-sigh-ee) bowls in the hands of college students daily, you favorite about two photos on Instagram of the colorful treats a week and you probably drooled just looking at the photo above. This Brazilian berry took over the states as a popular food that many deem healthy and rich in antioxidants. But have people actually done their research? Or are they just jumping on the newest trend? Are they even that beneficial to one’s health? Let’s look at the facts.
Facts:
- In an Amazebowl acai bowl there are roughly 35o calories, in a Juice It Up acai bowl there are 510 calories and in a Nekter acai bowl there are about 600 calories.
- As far as sugar goes, one bowl can have upwards of 75 grams of sugar depending on the specific toppings and the type of toppings.
- Every website highlights the many benefits of acai and acai bowls, such as the antioxidants and its fiber content, but none post the full nutrition facts online. They actually make it quite difficult to access. Maybe they are hiding something…
- Many doctors and nutrition specialists believe this berry to have some great health benefits, but they also say it has the same health benefits as other fruits (so basically, nothing too special). Take a look at this WebMD link — I promise by reading this you won’t self diagnose yourself with a dire disease — and see for yourself.
Familiar Names:
Juice It Up: Acai Bowls have 75 grams of sugar
Nekter: Acai Bowls have 35 grams of sugar
Amazebowls: Acai Bowls have 350 calories
Paradise Bowls: Couldn’t tell me nutritional facts when I called since they “put a lot of different stuff in them”(maybe the guy was new?)
Put In Perspective:
Here is some visualization of sugar content in some popular snacks and treats. Remember that one acai bowl has the ability to contain over 70 grams of sugar.
- One McDonalds vanilla soft serve cone has 20 grams of sugar.
- An In N Out Chocolate Shake has 65 grams of sugar.
- A Chocolate Overload Cake from Jack in the Box has 32 grams of sugar.
- A Grande Starbucks Mocha Frappuccino with whipped cream has 60 grams of sugar.
Verdict:
It all depends on the topping.
Yes, there are some health benefits to consuming this foreign berry, but there are health benefits in so many other fruits too. The toppings are really what drive the bowl in a negative way. But what is the main culprit? The ingredient that isn’t, in fact, very healthy? Granola.
This is one of those highly debated foods that a lot of people believe to be secretly unhealthy. There are some that can be good for you, but checking labels and reading nutrition facts is important here. Next time you are going to indulge in one of these bowls, know the ingredients and ask about the granola. People should start treating these bowls as a sweet treat or dessert rather than substituting as a lunch or dinner. As far as the sugar goes, fruits contain good sugars. The sugar that we need to worry about is the artificial kind, the one that is showing up in granola and toppings. A balance is necessary.
What Now? EAT! EAT! EAT!
Go! Go and buy that acai bowl you have been dreaming of this entire time you have been reading. You deserve a nice treat, a reward even, for reading this and educating yourself on everything acai (especially now that you’re a pro at pronouncing it, since you have probably read it over thirty times in this article). But remember, know what goes into your acai bowl to make sure it is made in the healthiest way.
Contact Staff Reporter Sarah Borland here.
