Oprah and acai are two terms that have recently become practically synonymous. Rachael Ray and acai have also become strongly linked to each other. The reason these two celebrities have become so closely associated with acai is because they both mentioned the health benefits of acai on their respective talk shows.
Oprah and Rachael Ray both referred to the nutritional value of acai on their shows as a point of information for their viewers, not as official promoters of any particular manufacturer of acai supplements. But because of the huge popularity of Oprah and Rachael Ray and the amazing news about acai as a "superfood", both celebrities have been exploited by companies selling acai giving the impression that Oprah and Rachael Ray endorse their specific products.
It all started when Oprah featured a book called The Perricone Promise authored by Dr. Nicholas Perricone. Dr. Perricone, professor of Human Medicine at Michigan State University, has studied many foods to determine which provide the maximum benefit to human health. His recent book, The Perricone Promise, caught media attention because it provides a list of the most beneficial foods and at the top of this list is the now infamous acai berry from the Brazilian Rain Forest.
Oprah of course was enthusiastic about this information and, as always, her viewers caught the enthusiasm. As we all know, when Oprah says something good about a book, that book and its author become overnight sensations. As a result of Oprah's show that featured Dr. Perricone's book and therefore, the acai berry, acai products went into major marketing campaigns immediately.
Websites popped up all over the internet claiming that Oprah endorsed the superfood, acai. Oprah and acai have been linked every since. After the Oprah show, Rachael Ray also did a show that touted the many health benefits of the acai berry. Like Oprah, Rachael Ray and acai soon became household names that are nearly impossible now to separate.
This media hype is out of control. It is too bad that celebrities can not freely express themselves and provide meaningful information to the public without having their words taken out of context and used with such liberty as has been the case with Oprah, Rachael Ray, and their comments about acai.
It is too bad because acai is in fact a very powerful "superfood". The nutritional value of acai is truly impressive. We do not need the names of Oprah and Rachael Ray to promote acai because this nutritionally packed fruit easily stands on its own.