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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
Based on what? Your opinion? Something other than company literature?
No, based on every article that's ever been published by a reputable source and that wasn't affiliated with the company -- and there are many...like Newsweek, Forbes, the FDA, etc:
http://www.mensjournal.com/superjuices-on-trial
http://www.newsweek.com/id/150499/page/1
http://www.palmbeachpost.com/health/content/accent/epaper/2008/07/16/a3d_susman_0716.html
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2008/0811/050.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-jonny-bowden/new-rules-no-more-claimin_b_106562.html
http://www.cnbc.com/id/30887734/
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086&sid=ai8WCgSJrhmY&refer=latin_america
http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400351/Thumbs-Down-on-MonaVie.html
The rest of us are missing some data here and you simply appear bitter and angry. Were you ripped off by them? What's your deal?
I resent the tactics that you are using in this discussion. First, you try to shift the argument to McDonalds, the Pharma industry, and religion, and now you are asking irrelevant questions about bitterness and anger. I am merely stating the obvious; I agree with the author of this article and with what has been written in the critiques of Monavie listed above.
Don't shoot the messenger just because you can't combat the message. Monavie stinks -- and I might feel sorry for you for having to stoop so low as to sell this sludge, but your attitude and reflexive denials prevent me from doing so.
You can't really make that statement based on what the company actually says...
The "company" isn't in the field marketing the product to customers; it is the distributors who do that, and they often misrepresent the composition of the product, overstate its nutritional value, and claim (illegally) that Monavie cures and treats diseases. The company has a convenient business model whereby they can attempt to deny responsibility even though consumers are being ripped off and lied to by distributors of the products.
And since there are SO MANY questionable nutritional products - SO MANY overhyped and under "facted" potions and pills - it's fair to ask why this has to be specifically about MonaVie?
Monavie isn't a "nutritional product" -- it's fruit juice -- and at $45 a bottle, it's an obvious ripoff. Maybe it's only one of many ripoffs, but it's still a RIPOFF.
If they are really fraudulent make your complaint with the FTC (they shut down plenty of vitamin scams) and your states Attorney General even the FDA.
Good idea. I see that a complaint against Monavie was filed already filed by the FDA in 2007. Maybe it's time for another.
June 10, 2009 - 6:07pmhttp://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/EnforcementActivitiesbyFDA/CyberLetters/ucm056937.pdf
This Comment
What a ridiculous crock! The gist of the defense for Monavie seems to be that it isn't the only company that rips people off. I agree; there are many ripoff companies in existence. However, we aren't talking about the evils of McDonald's here, or the trangressions of the Pharma industry, or the life and times of JC. Please keep your Attention Deficit Disorder in check and stay on topic.
Monavie is a valueless product that is aggressively marketed as being something that it clearly is not.
June 10, 2009 - 1:56pmThis Comment
I have this to say. YOU CANT PLEASE EVERYBODY! JESUS TRIED AND LOOK WHAT HAPPEN TO HIM! I have a friend who says that MC Donald's is place where heart attacks are born! Another friend takes his kids there to eat. THIS IS AMERICA! It's your money, do with it as you please.
If $40 or $45 is to much for you, then MAKE MORE MONEY! You don't hear people driving Bentley's talking about the car note is too high, or that gas is going up. Every time you say something is to high you are telling the WORLD that you are broke or simply broke minded and you ASSUME THAT EVERYONE IS BROKE LIKE YOU & YOUR BROKE FAMILY & FRIENDS!
Last question... What pharmaceutical drug works 100% of the time on 100% of the people? or for that fact.. What in this life does? Monavie people! No matter what you do you will have haters. Treat them like spam! Mark them, ignore them, and yes DELETE THEM!
June 10, 2009 - 12:03pmThis Comment
Good thing nobody has ever tried to rip me off with any Viagra or prescription drug e-mails!
June 10, 2009 - 11:51amThis Comment
> We are discussing Monavie here.
> ...pharmaceuticals are NOT relevant to this discussion
Actually most of these posts have very little bearing on or connection with the original article.
So they would all be irrelevant.
The original article was specifically related to antioxidant content of various health products. "MonaVie" was mentioned ONCE out of over 700 words.
The ire from MonaVie defenders seems to stem not only from questioning the product but specifically calling their business a "pyramid system" - which brings with it a negative connotation. Which you yourself amplify that by saying "Only a fool or someone that was badly deceived would fork out $45 for a bottle of GARBAGE pyramid scam fruit punch."
To point out that the issue is not isolated to a single company or single industry is valid. The nutritional and pharmaceuticals industries are interrelated in many ways. In fact major pharma like Abbott own major nutritional brands. So to say that they are "NOT relevant" is irrational. (empowerher does a good job of covering these topics - posters not so much - but that's why we don't get paid!)
Seems you should have stated that YOU made this discussion about MonaVie - specifically the efficacy of it's juice product and it's business practices. At which point I would have to acknowledge your Anonymous powers.
June 10, 2009 - 11:44amThis Comment
Once again, pharmaceuticals are NOT relevant to this discussion and your rants on that topic would be best posted elsewhere.
June 10, 2009 - 11:12amThis Comment
> Monavie does not cure, treat, or heal anything so don't try to
> position this crap fruit juice as having medical benefits when it
> clearly has none.
I didn't say it does. I don't think that MonaVie says it does (if they do please provide a link to medical claims). I'm sure that there are distributors who say it does, but according to your logic about pharmaceuticals - it's ancillary - as you say you are discussing the corporation (or the product, you seem to blur that line).
Pharmaceuticals are relevant in that many of the points you make about MonaVie apply to them - only worse.
"According to Canadian researchers, approximately 32,000 hospitalized patients (and possibly as many as 106,000) in the USA die each year because of adverse reactions to their prescribed medications." (http://www.drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/30)
And for the record I don't drink MonaVie nor have I ever had a transaction either way with that company. I don't love their marketing practices as an overall and the product is way overpriced for me to even think about it.
On the other hand I did drink a shot of Xango once and I regrew a missing limb!
The original article was decent - it basically said there's no magic. Yet people will always WANT magic and so there will always be someone to promise it.
June 10, 2009 - 10:54amThis Comment
What pharmaceutical companies do is not relevant to this discussion. It is about as salient as if you were to start discussing the perils of land mines or not wearing a seat belt. We are discussing Monavie here.
Monavie does not cure, treat, or heal anything so don't try to position this crap fruit juice as having medical benefits when it clearly has none. Only a fool or someone that was badly deceived would fork out $45 for a bottle of GARBAGE pyramid scam fruit punch.
"Point is, there are plenty of people ripping us off and plenty of ways to get ripped off."
Yup, and Monavie is one of the companyies that's trying its damndest to rip people off. It's inexcusable.
June 10, 2009 - 10:37amThis Comment
What about the pharmaceutical companies?
They don't properly test all the drugs they bring to market. They shortcut FDA procedures by paying them. They have regulators look the other way. They advertise the heck out of their drugs while the general population is most unaware of serious side effects.
And last I saw, they were making a killing...
I don't think that MonaVie increases heart attacks, ulcers, suicide risk or any of the other things that have been associated with drugs pulled off the market in recent years due to insufficient testing.
Point is, there are plenty of people ripping us off and plenty of ways to get ripped off.
If a $40/bottle of juice makes you feel you spent your money well then God bless you. That's what a free society is all about.
June 10, 2009 - 10:27amThis Comment
It's not rocket science. Monavie is advertised, at the astronomically high price of $45 a bottle, as an ultra-healthy nutritious antioxidant-rich juice. In fact, independent tests showed that it had lower levels of antioxidants than plain old inexpensive grape juice and apple juice.
Monavie, unlike grape and apple juices, also contains sodium benzoate, a controversial preservative that has been linked to various adverse effects on health.
The reason why this nutrient-deficient overpriced juice is being hawked as being something special is because of the unchecked greed and dishonesty that characterizes MLM/pyramid scams of this type.
June 10, 2009 - 10:06amThis Comment