Acai Berry, Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Oz, Colon Cleansing, and Fake Blogs! What?

Is it possible to buy raw acai berries in a store? If it is, I haven't seen them. Perhaps in a health food store? Do you have to buy them in pill form?

Thanks for the info!

- Dave

Acai berry probably does us some good, but its benefits are obviously greatly overhyped. Nothing wrong with keeping some high qiality acai berry juice in the fridge and mixing it with water (1 part acai juice 4 parts water and ice) for a refreshing anti-oxidant packed beverage but don't expect any miracles…..Looking forward to the report.

Hey Rusty,

Great news about the supplement report. That is info that people definitely need! There is so much money being wasted… The other problem with supplements is individuals taking good supplements that are completely wrong for them. This year, I started using Charles Poliquin's Biosignature Modulation methods to make sure my clients are getting exactly the supplements they need to help them with their goals.

I'll be interested to see how your personal experience with Acai goes. I keep resisting it as "hype." Keep us posted.

Cheers,
Adam

It's a good call Rusty, this is a growing problem, greedy liars are spreading around the internet with their fake miracle solutions to burn fat or to gain muscle with no effort. The plain truth is that most people are lazy when it comes to exercise and diet, and they'll try anything to reach their goals with no sweat, and those scammers know that, so they keep making promises of fantastic bodies without a sweat, and people keep falling for those schemes with no results and with their wallets ripped off.

Another thing you've pointed well is that these scammers usually use good foods, or products made of good foods to support their lies, but they promise what the product or food can't give. In this case it's a powerfull anti oxidant, but in a near future the acai berry will have its reputation burned, and people who don't know will think of that food as something related to a scam, instead of the good benefits given by acai berries.

Well, I can't buy into the hype of the Acai Berry because I'm allergic! So I did an interview with a registered dietitian/licensed nutritionist and I learned some pretty interesting stuff.

Pumped for the report, I know it will be solid! Thanks for doing that Rusty.

All the Best,

Andrew R

Ok, the only Berry that can make you lose weight just by looking at her is Halle Berry…and if you could make her part of your life it would sho wonderful results on your body.
About Acai Berry…do people still believe what Oprah says? What has hapenned with the books she has endorsed?

Yup, you're right on Rusty those are two good products (colon cleansing and acai berries) but if the marketing behind them is dishonest, that's no good!

Later
Caleb

In regards to Oprah, let be honest, you wouldn't hire a fat personal trainer. Then why would you listen to a woman who calls herself a cow? She's not wrong on everything, but she tends to overhype or exaggerate things, like the magical properties of the acai berry. My mother watches it on a daily basis and takes health tips from her, and I'm always trying to urge her to read sites like yours and a couple others and get better information. I don't beleive her credibility at all after she started making these excuses about her weight gain being about the thyroid, since my brother has the same condition and I'm familiar with it. She claims to have a rare manifestation of thyroid problems which would mean she would have more severe symptoms if she hadn't known about it and didn't receive treatment for it until now. Oprah, you have the means but not the desire, stop making excuses.

Sorry about that rant. Looking forward to the report on supplements. I haven't been taking any besides for whey to get enough protein. Also, I was wary of the acai berry, it's good to finally get an impartial opinion that I trust and is not trying to sell me anything.

Sure Acai berries are high in antioxidants and is in fact a pretty decent berry… but now they are overhyped and overpriced. Geez, thanks Oprah.

The SoG

Seems like this topic has struck a nerve with you Rusty. I've read a few blog posts on acai berries but never tried them. However, I'm not that surprised with the health benefits of acai berries being over exaggerated by marketers. I'm not saying it's right but the number one aim with marketers is to make money.

I work at my local food co-op and before Oprah sang the praises of the acai berry, we had lots of acai products which said just about the same thing as was said on her show. The silly thing about this being, that really only the staff and a few, choice customers who actually read labels realized what this potent little bugger can do, and that it tastes good as well. Those that happened to buy a product with acai in it just found it nice, and didn't really realize what was going on with it.

Now, of course, after the big Oprah thing, we have twice as many acai products and the first day we had the new ones out they were gone by the end of my shift. I've been answering calls where people butcher the pronunciation viciously as they ask if we have it, and have tons of relief in their voices when I say we do.

That being said, I, personally, like acai (wish we could get some fresh ones in, but damn that would be expensive) but I won't be swearing up and down it was the thing that made me lose weight, nor will I be leaving it anything in my last will and testament-I don't think it's THAT good. So, in all earnestness, thanks for another good article, Rusty! I hope you don't mind if I make mention of it at the co-op? Just as a preventative measure for those who are hoping for a weight loss miracle.

I have seen these "blogs" before as well. I even tried to track down how they are being setup since they do not seem very real and the comments on them are never negative.

I would love to find some Acai Berries if for no other reason then to see what they taste like and if they are any better than eating blueberries.

Now about this report that you are coming out with. I am really excited to see it. I know that apparently anyone can go to a lab and say I want these ingredients and they will ship it to you in whatever bottle sizes that you want. Because of the ease of entry lots of people are able to get shoddy products on the market.

The sad part is I actually know the guys running them, and they're making a killing off it.

In all honesty, they know nothing about nutrition and probably actually do think they make people lose weight. You can thank Oprah for that one…

-J

i really have to loose weight around my hips and legs is there something else besides the running i can do? what about high rep weight training on the legs? i also do all the other stuff u recommend.

I tend not to trust anything that is distributed MLM style….Noni Juice….Acai Berry Juice….etc. Plenty of antioxidants in all sorts of fruits, but most fail to mention that the #1 antioxidant is made BY the body. All in all, most supplementation is preventative guesswork on what really brings any long term health effects. Oprah just needs to stick to things she knows about….as obviously fat loss and health is not one of them.

This kind of reminds me of the hype of the goji berry. Apparently same amount of hype like the acai berry.

Funny story one of my friend's hippie friends swore his health on these things. He said that they were so potent that if you just ate one it could "power" you for a day. Well me and my buddy in spite ate his whole week supply of goji berries in one day and guess what? Nothing happened. He was freaking out thinking that me and my buddy were going to die right there on the spot!

After that little incident he never bought goji berries ever again.

Moral of the story: Don't believe in hype, research and really find out about the product.

You take weeks to shop around for "useless" Ipods and such, can't you put the same effort in to something for your own health?

Rusty,
Love the articles on training but can we get some diet info.. What's your diet? Nutrition is 75-80% of the battle, as I've seen guys do all the clean and presses, turbulence training, circuit training, power lifting, etc etc in the world, but still look puffy, or too skinny (There's a difference in skinny & lean as you know..) How many carbs do you eat? Also, don't you think because you've laid that foundation of muscle from years of powerlifting and bulking, that you look good on a low cal diet, where as a thin person may be justified in bulking a bit to put on some lean tissue.. I'm sure you agree with that and we all know that the goal is not to look like Jay Cutler, but more like a Fitness Model or GQ model thats lean with natural muscle.. Gregg Avedon is a great example of a guy who used to bodybuild, but has "slimmed up" and transitioned into runway model.. BUT, he initially layed that foundation of muscle which only requires maintenance now & he can eat clean squeeky clean without concern of getting too thin & dropping muscle.. So, do you think the strategy is, Get as lean as possible, then add muscle here and there as you see fit? Many guys fear "looking small, toooo thin, sickly (common among the grandparents as they like us looking nice and plump which is their view of "healthy" which I understand to a certain extent.. Which could be a good article for you.. "Avoid Grandma's Trap of, Put on Some Fat!).. So, #1, whats your diet look like now? #2 do you agree that laying that foundation of muscle first, is the key to looking healthy at 7-8% low body fat (Similar to your situation)? Maybe a good plan would be to bulk for 2 weeks, then turn up the cardio & cut the calories for 2 weeks.. bulk for 2 weeks, cut calories for 2 weeks.. etc etc.. All while continuing to lift heavy to build that density.. I love your site Russ.. Great info. & incredible resource.. I see too many guys looking to beef up all year and puff out of their clothes, and we're seeing that lean natural Hollywood look is much more attractive & the real goal.. I think it ALL comes down to diet, and I'm hoping to see some info. from you on carbs, fat, (protein is obviously important) & the quanities/types you eat now.. Thanks Russ.. I'm a fan.. man..

Luke

good post rusty and it seems there are a lot of people out there thinking that this or that kinda pill or food is gonna help them with their fat loss, but it really all comes down to exercise and eating less. i also find it funny people like dr. phil and randy jackson from american idol are coming out with diet books telling people how to lose weight. lol

David,

I'm not sure if you can buy these in the store in berry form. Good question.

Chris,

Yeah…I will probably just include it every now and then with other antioxidant sources (like blueberries). I like to mix up the fruit, even though I'm naturally drawn to Honeycrisp and Fuji Apples.

Adam,

I'm pumped to put together the supplement report. It is going to take a while for the 2 guys to respond to all the questions, but this should be a very eye opening report.

Helder,

It is a bit of bummer that Acai Berry may be tied to this growing scam. It really seems like a great nutritional find.

Andrew,

How did you find out you were allergic to Acai Berries?

The Spaniard,

Some people believe Oprah 100%…she has a massive following. I'm totally impressed with her success, but not a big fan of some of her endorsements. To be honest, she didn't hype this supplement really hard…people tied it to her name and use her as a way to hype it. Hope she loses that weight she recently gained. I never enjoy seeing people gain back weight after working so hard to lose it.

Yash,

Totally agree wtih you on taking advice from people who "walk the walk". Hopefully she will be able to lose that weight, but I'm not sure why anyone would listen to her dieting advice. If someone wanted to become a "yo-yo dieter" she could definitely teach them how to do that.

SoG,

Supply and demand…I bet the y would be much cheaper if they weren't the rage right now. The positive side is that a lot of people are getting a great antioxidant. At least it isn't a "fluff" product.

Tom,

The best marketers can sell without any hype, but they are in the minority. True…I'm not surprised by their tactics. Some of these Google Adwords professionals make 7 figures per year perfecting this type of advertising.

Bonnie,

Please feel free to mention this post at your Co-op. I'm actually excited to take the product as a supplement to the days I don't get as many fruits and vegetables. It does look like a solid product.

Fitness Guy,

Thanks for the comment. You gave me another idea for a question to ask these guys. As far as the blogs go…they are static sites with fake comments. The comments are basically sales copy.

Justin,

I know a few Adwords pros and many of them use "aliases", but this is going a bit too far. I guess I wouldn't feel good about myself if I setup a page with a picture of a woman and make up a fake testimonial.

Mike,

The problem with MLM is that they have to inflate the price a bit to pay the many levels of distributors. You are right about Oprah…she has no business talking about weight loss.

Al,

I'm kind of a coffee and green tea type of guy, so I never feel energy from these types of food.

Luke,

You have some great points. Yeah…nothing wrong with skinny younger guys wanting to put on a bit of muscle. I think this can be done quickly as most guys just need to build density. The point you made is spot on…never bulk too many months in a row, because then you are sure to gain a lot of fat.

For the younger guys looking to gain a bit of muscle, I would tell them to see what happens when they work on improving strength with low reps. If they gain strength and stay lean, they should display a natural amount of muscle for their frame. If at that time they need a bit more muscle, then a short period of time gaining muscle could be a good call. As long as they monitor their bodyfat levels and don't put on more than 3-5 pounds of fat while gaining muscle, they should be good. Once the muscle is at a natural level, they can spend the rest of their lives increasing muscle density and definition while remaining the same size…this is what creates an amazing physique. Solid comment…and thanks for the compliment on the site.

Jon,

Please tell me that Randy Jackson doesn't have a diet book!

Rusty

Rusty,

your site is pretty awesome and I've been following your recommendations for about 3 weeks now and I'm making some pretty good progress. Anyways, I wanted to post a comment about a supplement called "salba seed". I read about it in a nutrional magazine that one of our local health food store gives out if you make a purchase at there store. I did some researching on this natuaral seed in a addition to the article I read in the magazine and it appears to be VERY beneficial from a health standpoint from what I've read. Some people also call it chia seed (yes the same seeds they used to sell during the chia pet craze). I believe that salba seed is similiar to chia seed, but I think there are differences based on the brief scanning I did over a couple internet sites. Salba appears to be more nutrional than chia seed. One of the claims of salba seed is that it can suppress appetite by extending the time it takes to digest a meal because of it's tendency to gel or "thicken" in water (or the stomach). It also claims that it can prevent or reduce blood sugar spikes from high glycemic food as a result of the slowed digestion process. I don't know if the second claim is true, but I believe the first because I bought some several days ago from the health food store and when I used it in a morning protein shake it took my sensation of feeling full from the normal 2 hrs I get without Salba to ~4 hrs. You can buy it as the actual seed or "ground" up if you don't like the seed texture. It is flavorless and can be used in baking as well since it helps retain moisture. Anyways, I only used one teaspoon in a ~12 oz shake. I've tried Salba three different times now with the same results. I do have one word of caution. At one meal I used a serving of 1 tablespoon and got a pretty bad upset stomach. It usually takes quite a bit to upset my stomach, so my recommendation would be to start out with a teaspoon (or may be less if you have a sensitive stomach) added to a meal/snake and work up to higher amounts if you're not getting the full feeling. Hopefully this information will help people maintain low cal diets easier since it should reduce hunger pains. Sorry for the long post, but I hope this information peaks your interest since you really get into the research aspect and summarize all the good information for everyone's benefit in your posts.

Rusty,
Thank you for this article! You said that a reputable colon cleanse product may help with a few pounds. Is there a particular brand that you recommend?
Thanks again,
Nadine

Great post! These "weight loss success" blogs popping up all over the place really are a joke. It's extremely apparent that they're all fake and set up just to promote these acai diet pills and "colon cleanse" products. Thanks for the good info.

I did order the acai berry along with the colon cleanser and I have been extremely tired and getting headache almost all day long. They say that this combo will give you the extra energy to go through the day and to my surprise I have been the total opposite. I guess I have learned my lesson and I would love for the media to bring that up on TV. I have stopped the pills and hopefully I will feel better soon.

Hey Rusty,

So what is a reputable colon cleans product? Thanks for all of the good info!

how and where do you buy products

Nadine,

I don't really have a reputable colon cleanse product to recommend. I would probably type in "colon cleanse reviews" into Google and read a few review pages. Make sure it is a "one-time" purchase. Many of these are monthly autoships. You don't need to take colon cleanse products month after month.

Nathalie,

Sorry to hear about the stomach aches, but sometimes that is to be expected with cleansing type products. You should find out if that is common. It could be a temporary symptom and mean the product is working.

Jackie,

I plan on giving one a try, but haven't yet. I will do some online research and get back to you, if I find one that works well.

Patrick,

I like bodybuilding.com best. It has the cheapest products, fastest delivery time, best customer service, etc.

Rusty

Please let me know when the report comes out…I'd like to read it

About this question "Is it possible to buy raw acai berries in a store?"

I've read that you need to freeze dry the berries within 24 hours or they lose thier antioxidant properties. This is probably why we don't see any in stores.

The acai berries get turned into a powder after they are freeze dried and used in drinks.

Great post Rusty! i actually fell for the scam. I think the biggest point to make is there no "quick fix" to weight loss. There's not a magic pill you can take and then the weight will fall off. I ordered this stuff and then have attempted to cancel it several times. You cant reach these people. Ive read horror stories about people being charged for the products even after they cancelled them! I think its taken me a long time to learn that weight loss takes effort and really watching what y ou eat!

I didn't know that companies were hyping Acai as a weight loss product. That's sad, because that was never the intention of the product in the first place.

Acai's best features are not only the anti-oxidant properties, but the amount of Omega 3 and 6 that the fruit contains.

One of the only companies that I know of that seems to be the real deal when it comes to purity is Sambazon.com.

I can't imagine that most companies pushing Acai will go through the hassle of developing the products because they can loose their nutritional value after 24 hours..

And, you can't just grow them in your backyard. This is a Brazilian/South American product exclusively. I think that they are one of the few companies that have set up shop there..

In addition, according to their website, (Sambazon.com) the product, after harvest has to be..

"Pasteurized (required by law) and quick frozen into the smoothie packs or bulk drums to be used for the RTD Smoothies."

So I wonder about the quality of those products that claim to be the real deal, knowing the slightly complex and time sensitive nature of processing the berry correctly..

I guess the point here is that people who buy into the weight loss aspect of the product, might be getting ripped off twice.
A false promise and a fake product..

That's all I got…

Great fitness blog..

Robert C – The Wholesale Products Guy

I like this blog a lot, its a refreshing change from the macho bodybuilding look-how-pumped-up-I-look crap. I also appreciate your respect for good exercise and nutrition science. That said, you mentioned that colon cleanses are worthwhile… I've never seen a shred of evidence that colon cleanses are anything but quackery. As I understand it, the only reason to cleanse one's colon is in preparation for a colonoscopy or some other procedure involving the colon. Do you have other information on cleanses? I'd love to hear it.

Cheers,
Cameron

Lana,

Read "Robert C's" recommendation below. He has great info regarding Acai berry's.

Sandy,

Yeah…it basically comes down to eating less to lose weight. Even when someone exercises, it is all in vain if they eat too much. That sucks about the Acai companies that are putting people on autoship and making it hard to cancel. They are giving a bad name to the honest companies out there.

Robert C,

I really appreciate all the info on the Acai Berry. I didn't know about what to look for, because every time I typed in Acai into Google it was mainly just advertising. People advertising the pills weren't about to tell me the truth! Very cool of you to take the time to outline what to look for.

Cameron,

That is a good point, because it is something that I was about to research. In theory they seem like a good idea, but I will dig deep before I post any information. I have never done a colon cleans myself, so I certainly can't speak from experience. Need to really read both sides on the subject, before I do a post.

Thanks,

Rusty

Rusty sez…

Quote..

"Robert C,

I really appreciate all the info on the Acai Berry. I didn't know about what to look for, because every time I typed in Acai into Google it was mainly just advertising. People advertising the pills weren't about to tell me the truth! Very cool of you to take the time to outline what to look for."

End Quote..

You are mostly definitely welcome. I really like your blog and more then appreciative that my "1 1/2" cents is worthy of your praise. A few more additional "amended" comments about Acai and I will put this issue to rest.

Acai Berry as it is served in Brazil, is presented in the form of a slurry, or a "pudding" like consistency if you will. Usually a breakfast food. If it was on the menu – it would be served to you in bowl with granola and sliced banana.

Some Ultimate Fighting Champions who are from the region swear to it's ability to supply much needed energy.

So what is the "take away" for such a pedestrian observation?

Well, going to your point about the pills. They (Acai pills) as well as the powder are pretty expensive. In addition, (as I said before) I just do not know about the quality of the product in that form.

Supplements of any variety for that matter are not subject to strict regulation likes drugs. What is a drug? Anything that causes a psychological or physiological change.

In other words, you make claims about a product or drug you have to prove it. To my knowledge, the Food And Drug Administration does not have strict over site when it comes to the supplement industry.

So, there is no way to determine whether "pill or powder" contains the labeled ingredient the supplement company claims to be selling. See here..

From The Office Of Legislative Policy And Analysis – 107th Congress..

Six Years After the Enactment of DSHEA: The Status of National and International Dietary Supplement Regulation — Hearing before the House Government Reform Committee — March 20, 2001.

Link to full story below..
olpa.od.nih.gov/hearings/107/session1/reports/dshea.asp

Excerpts And Random Comments From Various Participants At OLPA..

Quote..

During his opening statement, Chairman Burton said that FDA has "a bias against the marketing of supplements under anything other than the drug framework" and that FDA is not implementing the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994 (DSHEA).

In his opening statement, Representative Waxman said that the supplement industry is unregulated because FDA does not have enough resources to conduct appropriate oversight. He urged the FDA to issue "Good Manufacturing Practices," which are required under DSHEA."

End Quote..

Quote..

Mr. Silverglade testified that the FDA does not have enough resources to protect the public from adverse effects related to some dietary supplements.

He also warned that U.S. regulations on dietary supplements could be seen as a trade barrier by members of the World Trade Organization and CODEX."

End Quote..

So, at the sake of being repetitious, I would go to the Sambazon.com site and find a local retail store that carries the Acai whole food product. I would just buy the frozen smoothie packs or the sorbet if your store has it..

When I can afford it, I get the smoothie packs. I think it is four to a pack for six dollars. You can put it in a blender as a smoothie or follow the instructions to consume it in the Brazilian tradition – cold – as acai na tigela – ("acai in the bowl").

Sambazon also has sorbet that comes in "pints". If I am not mistaken, it is probably a little more expensive then the smoothie packs. Just how much more I do not remember.

I have had it, (the sorbet) and it does not have a particularly distinct taste. Neither does the smoothie packs, which is why you have to add something like apple juice and other ingredients to it..

Bottom line, I think that this is the only way to get the full benefits of this particular product. If anyone is looking at this product for weight loss, I say again, you will be disappointed.

It does not contain any amphetamine/ephedrine like substances. There is some "gurana" as a byproduct, but I do not think that it is enough to boost metabolism and help facilitate fat reduction.

But since I am not an expert – I could be wrong.

However, if your goal is to get your daily dose antioxidants, or "ORAC" (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) which is suppose to be about 6000 a day, then consuming Acai will get you there.

If it is for upping your energy quotient – then you might be on the right track as well. However, most of the evidence is anecdotal at best.

Once again, I am not sure how much Gurana is in the products, and your "mileage may vary" when it comes to the promised energy level.

Here are some FAQs about Acai..

ACAI Fact FAQs
acai-health.org/Acai_FAQs.html

And with that FAQ link – I end this rambling diatribe..

Sorry about the bloviating Rusty..

Here endth my rant..

Don't get me started with "colon cleansing".. (LOL!)..

Robert C – The Wholesale Products Guy

I've always known a "Too Good To Be True" ad and the acai weight loss scams are just that. But, I always look for the information that reveals why its too go to be true. Thanks for the voice of evidence and reason

I write here as someone who fell for the scam. The worse thing about these deceptive advertising techniques is the promise of "free samples" on all of the fake blogs. I signed up for these "free samples" figuring it couldn't hurt. (I never really expected amazing results – but I knew about acai as a generally good antioxidant and figured a little bit of fiber and colon cleansing elements couldn't harm too much either. And hey, it was "free.") What they don't tell you about is the trick – the tiny disclaimer that is hidden on the website that explains the sample is free for only a short period of time (that starts when you place your order) and then you will be signed up to automatically be charged roughly $78 a month (each) for another bottle of both. The other side of that scam is that the product doesn't arrive until the time limit is almost up and doesn't allow anyone time to try anything at all before money starts being automatically withdrawn from your account. By the time I recognized what was going on, I'd already lost $234.

This is predatory and should be shut down. Thanks for your blog – people need to know more about this hype.

I googled "acai berry colon cleanse" to see if there were more blogs that promoted the combination. The blog that originally caught my attention did seem fake and, oddly enough, the woman who claimed to have lost 30 pounds also came from my (tiny) town. Too many coincidences. With more and more people turning away from traditional entertainments (tv) and turning to the internet, I think we will see more of this stealth advertising. Anyway, thanks for the confirmation that I was right to be suspicious!!

My aunt was diagnosed with Hepatitis C about 15 years ago. She was given 3 months to live. She started taking Noni Juice and is still alive today. She owes it to Noni Juice, so don't knock it until you try it!

sunnyklb8,

Not saying the stuff is bad…it is just promoted as a weight-loss product, which it is not.

Rusty

NEVER ORDER THE FREE TRIAL. THESE TWO BUSINESSES ARE SISTER COMPANIES AND THEY ARE TOTAL SCAMMERS. THEY SEND THE "FREE TRIAL" SO LATE AND DON'T ANSWER EMAILS TELLING THEM YOU DON'T WANT THEIR STUPID PRODUCT ON PURPOSE SO THEY GET TO CHARGE YOU THE FULL AMOUNT. I'M STILL TRYING TO GET MONEY BACK FROM THEM. ABSOLUTE THIEVES.

IF YOU READ THE BOLGS, YOU WILL SEE THAT THE INFORMATION GIVEN BY THE PERSON WHO STATES THAT THEY HAVE LOST THIS WEIGHT, DOESN'T MATCH INFORMATION GIVEN. ONE CAN TELL, IF ANY COMMON SENSE, THAT THE INFORMATION OF ONES NAME IS INSERTED INTO A WEBSITE GIVEN TO YOU TO SELL SUCH NONSENSE. SAD THAT THE PUBLIC EVERYDAY CONSUMER FALLS PREY TO THIS. SHAME ON THEM!

I agree.

I'm not sure about the combo of Acai and Colon Cleanse.

The weight loss colon cleanse is more of a secondary benefit. Colon cleansing is used mostly to remove toxins and parasites that drag you down. I am seeing more weight loss cleanse products lately though.

BEEN TRYING FOR 2 MONTHS TO CONTACT THEM..ON HOLD FOR MANY MINUTES..SPENT $7.99 TO RETURN THE PRODUCT. STILL NO RESPONSE AND NO CREDIT FROM THEM. IF I DO NOT GET CREDIT, I WILL REPORT THEM TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL!

I fell for it too. Same as Sonia, I figured it wouldn't be this great weight loss thing but it would be good for me and couldn't hurt to try it, what the heck it was a free sample.

I just canceled the PROBDIET Acia Berrie 866-949-0138 will see what happens with that.

Tried to cancel the colon cleanse just keep getting disconnected. Not a happy camper.

please please please i want to order acai noni diet and thecolon cleanser ,ut ido not know how? i need the phne number

I got suckered into buying both products. I was told free trial only pay the shipping and handling of 4.95. On the internet I gave my credit card and was charged eighty something dollars for each product. The actual price was no where to be seen on the internet. The acai berry was apparently too strong for me as it made my heartburn problem worse. No problem they re-imbursed me. The colon cleanser charged me twice as they mailed another bottle to me even before 30 days was up. I sent it back refused, I couldn't take that one either. I did not have a number to call them. The colon cleanse cost me around $170.00. One bottle I use 7 pills. I cannot return it. The other bottle I returned did not open, but because I did not call them first, they cannot give me back my money. What a rip off. Never heard of anything like it. My bank is filing a claim for me. I am calling the better business bureau. I had the bank discontinure my credit card and will never, ever order anything off the internet again. I realize I should have been more careful, but was not used to the internet and my husband went into the hospital for a few days, not long after I received the products and just forgot about them until my statement came in. They may be very good productd, but know they are extremely expensive. Especially the colon cleanse states to only use 7 days and at a time, yet they send you another bottle before 30 days?

I just wanted to comment to Peggy Folse… don't let this mishap discourage you from ever ordering from the Internet again. The Internet is a great tool….for good and bad, unfortunately. Just make sure you only order things from reputable sites (companies you are familiar with). I hope your bank is able to recover your money.

As for the acai craze, I agree that it's over-hyped and misrepresented. BUT at the end of the day, it's still a good antioxidant…. though I may wait a few months for the craze to die down and the prices to stabalize before I replenish my supply, haha!

This is a great blog — thanks for trying to get some facts out there to counteract all the fake advertising.

If they really want us to believe that these sites are not accurately giving us the correct information then why not name those companies or sites so we can tell if they are the ones we possibly selected.. How can we tell if the one we chose was one of the "untruthful" sites or one of the "truthful" sites. Oprah and Dr Oz should at least let the public know who they are citing as hyping these products without the permssion so we can then see if the one we selected was on their list.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I had filled in the form and then saw the astric beside the 3.95 shipping and handling charge and went to read the terms and conditions and some other heading I didn't recognize at the bottom of the add. I printed the terms and conditions and I am never confident when I read, just call us toll free and we'll gladly return your product! Like Peggy and someone else said, the line was busy or they were put on hold! I thought I'd show the 'contract' to my husband and hear his thoughts but not now! Anything that seems too good to be true most likely isn't true! So thanks again – I'll go look at a health food store for the Acai and colon cleanse combo and see how that goes.
As for Noni – I lived in Nicaragua for 4 years and we grew it. It grows fast and is rather unusual and novel for a garden plant. However, I picked some and slipped them into the frig to use later and forgot about them. I found them while moving things about and thought I'd use them later. Almost immediately after closing the frig I kept smelling a vile foul odor worse than the bluest cheese you've ever eaten. I rubbed my nose to get rid of the smell and to my horror it was on my hands from the Noni bag!! So I can see how it makes you loose weight if you drink it. You most likely vomit up everything that you've ever eaten in your life! However, people along the Atlantic coast of Nicaragua have been eating and drinking this for ages (literally) and they swear by it for weight loss and a multitude of things. I'm just too chicken to drink something that smells that bad.

I emailed and called and still got billed on my account. I did pay the .99, called and cancelled and still was billed more than $82. I would like to know how to get reimbursed since I called and the calls are recorded.

This product is bogus the people that are selling it are scam artist I sent my money for the trial received it and got charged $83.00 after that twice and received. No product as if I wanted it anyway stay away from the sight there trying to get your money.

I agree! GOod thing that Dr. Oz and Oprah have filed a lawsuit against the companies that make it seem as if the two of them have promoted their products. There are a lot of ways to naturally lose weight, people!

Wow! Glad I read this blog before purchasing the "dream duo" of acai berry supplement and colon cleanse supplement! The fact of the matter is that you should follow your first instinct on these "fake" ads. My skepticism was confirmed when I scrolled to the bottom of 2 completely different site's testimonials, and BOTH blogs claimed to have been "closed for comments". If it's so great, wouldn't they be proud to display more sucess stories, AT ANY TIME??? Ha! Internet Marketing has become quite sophistocated I must admit, but don't fall for it. Wonder how many people didn't get to read THIS blog before ordering that crap!

Hey Rusty,

I'm actually friends with Mike Geary. He's a brilliant marketer AND he is extremely ethical. He absolutely hates – as we all do – the CPA networks that are responsible for these Acai Berry scams. They are able to drive incredible amounts of traffic to these fake blogs.

I know other fitness ebook authors that have had their customer Before and After pictures fraudulently used by these scum bags. They really just don't care about anything other than the money. It truly is a shame.

Anyway, great work on your blog. Thanks for spreading the good word. And please email me privately. I have a question for you.

Best,

Jim Labadie

With colon cleansing, you will be flushing out toxins and removing any hamrful pollutants, toxins, parasites, and unhealthy bacteria that is living within your system.