May Improve Cholesterol Levels

Acai has been shown in animal research to help reduce cholesterol levels by lowering total and LDL cholesterol. It's also likely that it has a similar impact on people. In a 2011 research, ten overweight people had acai smoothies twice daily for one month. At the end of the research, they had decreased total and "bad" LDL cholesterol. This study did, however, have a few flaws. It was tiny, had no control group, and was funded by a major acai supplier.

While further study is needed, it's probable that the anthocyanins in acai are responsible for their beneficial effect on cholesterol levels, since studies have connected this plant ingredient to increases in HDL and LDL cholesterol. Acai also includes plant sterols, which inhibit your body from absorbing cholesterol.