Obesity in the United States has reached endemic proportions. And many are turning to weight loss surgery as a quick-fix solution. Somewhere in the Amazon jungle, there lies the safest alternative to gastric bypass surgery – the Brazilian acai fruit.

Just like any other invasive surgical treatment, stomach stapling and intestinal bypass are not 100% safe. Risks and complications include blood clots in the legs, leaking around the staples, and hernias in the incision. Many suffer from dehydration and vitamin deficiency. Some develop gallstones, kidney stones and bleeding ulcers.

The Brazilian acai fruit presents no such side effects. By speeding up the body’s metabolism and burning fat quickly, acai has proven to be extremely effective in weight reduction. Acai is also a valuable detoxifying agent – removing toxins and accumulated fat can trim down body mass.

While acai juice drinks and powder formulas are not for the budget-conscious, they are still way cheaper than bariatric procedures such as laparoscopic adjustable gastric band surgery, vertical banded gastroplasty, biliopancreatic diversion, and extended (distal) Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery which can cost a fortune.

Why go under the knife and put your life in danger when obesity can be treated through non-surgical means. But first, one must believe that habitual eating and physical activity behavior can be re-learned. Stick to a low-calorie diet even after you’ve achieved your ideal weight. Most people regain most of the weight they lost within a year or two of crash dieting.

Although acai can help you burn calories, exercise is still the most important, and difficult, factor in keeping excess weight off. Exercise is hard work. But you don’t even have to go to the gym to shed those extra pounds. You can lose 15 pounds in 50 weeks by just walking your dog 20 minutes a day.

The Brazilian acai fruit and its byproducts are intended to work with fat-free diets by replenishing the body with the energy you burn and supply essential vitamins and minerals that might be absent in the food you eat.