The Boomer Berry and Me

I usually resist Madison Avenue's siren songs about products that promise a younger looking me, a thinner me or a more energized moi. Been there, bought that before I became a more discerning shopper.

So what advertising drivel lured me to the consumer rocks? --- an explosion of spam praising the "boomer berry".

I've done my best to avoid "boomer" anything. I don't like being clumped into that stereotyped demographic....until the Acai Berry. I had no idea what this little plant was or where it came from. I just know that I wanted it enough to fork over $35 for a box of 60 fruit flavored servings.

Thirty-five sounded cheap if it indeed delivered. According to the box it's a natural energy booster loaded with B vitamins, high in antioxidants, green tea, yerba mate, guarana seed extracts (no clue what an actual grown guarana looks like), plus a trademarked ingredient called Chocomine (some sort of dark chocolate). And that's just a partial list. All that's missing is a partridge in a pear tree -- but even that might be in the small print.

I take a slew of vitamins and minerals every morning to achieve the same results and here it all was in powdered form -- just add water. I thought the vitamin goddesses were truly shining down on me -- except for one big thing. The stuff tasted dreadful, like swallowing a packet of grape Kool-Aid.

I'm back to counting out my pills and brewing pots of healthy tea. But if you'd like an acai sample........