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Be Wary of the Berry Scams

 
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Most of us have received an e-mail or seen an advertisement endorsing the Dr. Oz or Oprah diet using acai (ah-sigh-ee) or resveratrol. When I see their faces, I so want to believe that there is a magic juice to make me thinner, younger looking and more energetic. Now if it was that easy, it would be on my shelf already. I still want to believe.

Is there such thing as an Oprah or Dr. Oz diet or secret weapon?

No, Both Dr. Oz an Oprah are pursuing legal action against the companies that use their name and likeness to dupe people into ordering products that they do not specifically endorse. See Oprah: http://www.oprah.com/article/health/nutrition/20090105_orig_acai.

The companies seem to primarily originate in China and will often try to get your credit card so they can charge you on a monthly basis. Even if it says “free trial” and just pay for shipping. Don’t do it! It is all a scam to get your credit card, and they will continue to charge your card monthly.

What about other juices sold in the United States by individuals or in stores?

There are many products sold by individuals, most notoriously MonaVie, that are part of a multilevel marketing strategy. They rely on many distributors with only a very few at the top making lots of money, as these bottles are very expensive. Their product claims to contain acai and other juices, but they do not release in what amounts, as that is considered proprietary information. I am very wary of these products because there is so much financial incentive in their pyramid system. You can look at their income discloser statement: http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:VKOAObEHkKQJ:media.monavie.com/pdf/corporate/income_disclosure_statement.pdf+monavie+disclosure&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us&client=firefox-a.

Many people claim to get tremendous benefit, which could be from the juice or even placebo, but it is important to know how these things work financially. Please check with the Better Business Bureau (http://www.bbb.org/) before buying any of these products from individual companies. It is very difficult to even research, as you will find so many sites that claim to be giving information but are actually pushing their own product. I would like to see some randomized double blind trials to support their claims.

These products are grouped as antioxidants. What is an antioxidant and how do they help us?

Our body produces something called free radicals, which are bouncing reactive oxygen particles that can damage our DNA, proteins or fat. This can lead to cancer, heart disease and aging.

We use antioxidants to suck up the free radicals and prevent the damage that could be caused to our organs. Antioxidants are mostly found in nature in fruits, vegetables and nuts. Dark cocoa is also a great source for antioxidants. Antioxidants are very important, and we really don’t know the full extent of their potential benefits.

Tell us about the specific antioxidants that these Web sites are targeting: acai and resveratrol.

These are both very good antioxidants. ORAC is the Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) and is a method of measuring antioxidant capacities of different foods. This is a relatively new term, and you can compare different antioxidant properties here: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2007/071106.htm. An apple with skin has a very high amount of ORAC.

Resveratrol comes from grapeskin and does appear to have some cardiac benefit, and perhaps some anti-aging properties. Click here to learn more: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/red-wine/HB00089. Researchers think that it is one of the ingredients in red wine that makes it so heart healthy. However, we need more studies in humans.

Acai berry come from Brazil and is rich in antioxidants as well as healthy fats. We don’t have a lot of data to support drastic health change from it, but it does look promising. Again, not enough studies in humans yet.

However, there was a recent study comparing the amount of antioxidants in acai to other juices. Pomegranate juice, red wine and concord grape juice all scored higher in antioxidants than the acai juice. Study link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18220345?ordinalpos=11&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum.

Interestingly, in another study, cocoa scored higher than red wine! Study link: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14640573?ordinalpos=1&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DiscoveryPanel.Pubmed_Discovery_RA&linkpos=2&log$=relatedarticles&logdbfrom=pubmed.

The bottom line is to eat more fruit and vegetables, and consider one of these supplements to help you increase your antioxidants. Americans eat way too many empty calories, meaning food with little nutritional value. Super juices like acai and resveratrol won’t likely hurt you, they may really help you, but don’t break the bank doing it.

Thanks for checking in,
Dr. Deb

Link to blog: http://www.drdebraines.com/2009/06/03/be-wary-of-the-berry-scams/

Add a Comment49 Comments

EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

How is fruit juice garbage? Just curious

June 10, 2009 - 9:43am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Thanks Dr. Deb. Good article.

Monavie is G-A-R-B-A-G-E, but saying so will get you bombarded by irate Monavie distributors who can't accept the truth about their ripoff products.

Did you happen to see this analysis that showed Monavie is less nutritious than apple and grape juice?

http://www.mensjournal.com/superjuices-on-trial

June 10, 2009 - 9:24am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Seems like MonaVie is a target lately. Makes me wonder why...

Is it the visibility they are getting from sponsorships?

The number of distributors talking about the product?

Would it be different is the product was priced lower or distributed through GNC instead?

What is probably the primary cause is the number of distributors that make anecdotal and unscientific claims about the product (and maybe even the business opportunity). To qualify that statement - it's not every distributor making hypish claims - it's probably only a small percentage. And I doubt it's on purpose or a strategy - it's a by product on not understanding all 3 dimensions of network marketing success and how to work in them ethically.

There was some critique from CNBC on MonaVie recently - in this case the reporter wrote the story with a clear bias to mislead his reader with distorted numbers. The analysis is interesting: http://www.network-marketing-works.com/blog/did-cnbc-reporter-distort-facts-about-monavie-960/

June 10, 2009 - 7:42am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I just started with Monavie and there has been no mention of Oprah from anyone. I did however search the word "acai" on the Oprah website and it is considered the #1 Superfood. Oprah has nothing to do with Monavie unless she is smart enough to drink it! I'm making an extra $1000 a month. Not as much as the top distributors make but enough to make a huge difference to my bank account. Try and get your day job to give you an extra nickel right now is like pulling teeth.

June 9, 2009 - 10:39pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Dr. Deb, Your statement are way off base. I am not sure where you are getting your information, but think you should really research the Mona Vie Company before making such claims against them and the product. I for one am not a top level distributor - but have been able to make good money. Enough to keep me going through these tough times where even my 28 year old plumbing business is barely surviving. The juice is not expensive to drink...much less than a Starbuck's a day...and many more benefits. My entire family from my 80 year old parents to my infant grandchildren drink the juice and have realized numerous benefits. There are a number of studies done with the results available. Not all acai is the same and the nutritional value can be compromised. Wondering what acai juice you tested for antioxident levels? Please give this another look and if you do find that there's another side to your story I would hope you would print it. Thank you!

June 9, 2009 - 4:28pm
(reply to Anonymous)

Hi,
You said there are "a number of studies done with the results available", and it would be helpful if you could post a link (or at least authors or journals published in), so readers can be as informed as possible.

thanks!

June 9, 2009 - 4:54pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I think you wrote this and did not do your research. Here is the results of a pilot and randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.
http://www.aibmr.com/news/story.php?id=2

Here is another Study done: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2008; 56(18): 8326-8333

Here is another statment you made "I am very wary of these products because there is "so much financial incentive" in their pyramid system.

You don't think we have been bombarded with the Kobe/LeBron Vitamin Water commercial throughout the entire playoffs and they did'n GET PAID MILLIONS! That they were not INCENTIVED to talk up & drink that product? Why is it ok for them to get rich off of a product but if you or I do and we are INCENTIVISED and watch out it must be a scam?

Last point. You said " They rely on many distributors with only a very few at the top making lots of money, as these bottles are very expensive.( less than $3 a day for 13 servings of FRUIT. How broke are you?)

How many people outside of Kobe/LeBron made money with Vitamin Water? Just the two at the top/
and just so you know the same company that backed VW. Backs Monavie. The name? TSG Consumer Parners.

June 9, 2009 - 2:18pm
(reply to Anonymous)

Hi,
Thanks for the link to the study.

What I learned from the study is that it supported most of what the original post's message is: acai berry has been shown as a powerful antioxidant, and more research needs to be conducted, as there is a belief that even more benefits are being obtained that researchers and scientists do not know of yet.

The other message from the article referred to other fruits and veggies that also are powerful antioxidants, and not to rely solely on a TV host (Oprah) or Dr. Oz to "sway" consumers into a particular product (besides, as mentioned, even Oprah and Dr. Oz are telling these manufacturer's "enough!" with using their name and product-endorsement without permission).

I appreciated both the original post and your link; it's helpful for everyone to have all views and make informed decisions.

June 9, 2009 - 5:05pm

Thanks for that! I feel like I am being bombarded with ads for Acia Berry juice. Sounds like another 'miracle' product being marketed very well.

I think I'll stick to my fresh juices I make up in my Breville juicer.

June 9, 2009 - 1:46pm
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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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