Maqui berry (pronounced “mah-kee”) is one of the hottest new berries being marketed for “weight loss,” “detoxification,” and for “general health.” But, does it work? Or not?
Maqui is an evergreen shrub from the Patagonia region of Chile and in Argentina. It has toothed leaves, greenish-white flowers, and purple berries.
The purple berries contain a high concentration of antioxidant flavonoids, similar to other berries like acai, blueberries, grapes, pomegranate, and others.
Maqui juice and capsules are often marketed for weight loss, detoxification, and for general health.
However, according to the Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database, “There is insufficient reliable information available about the safety of maqui when used for medicinal purposes.”
In addition, “there is insufficient reliable information available about the effectiveness of maqui.”
Nevertheless, theoretically, maqui might lower blood glucose.
Patients with diabetes should use maqui cautiously and monitor blood glucose levels closely. Dose adjustments to diabetes medications might be necessary.