MARIA FIORINI RAMIREZ (MFR Inc.) on February 7, 2008 –  was judged to have the third most accurate economic forecast out of 60 participants in The Wall Street Journal's 2007 survey process. Has been an economic and investment strategist for Tokyo Stock Exchange, Wall Street and governments throughout the world. Impressed by the integrity of the management, scientific background  of the product and steady growth Maria Fiorini Ramirez has become member  of Mona Vie's ™ Board of Directors in January 2007/company was just 2 years old/.

 

 

 CHARLES H. ESSERMAN , president and chief executive officer of TSG, said that he personally embraces Mona Vie's mission of providing the best products that nature and science can create as well as an opportunity that allows people to pursue their dreams. TSG is more proud of its investment in MonaVie than any other company in its history. /$125M for 10% in equity/ "Since founding TSG, I have invested in many companies that I am very proud of, which have become enormous consumer brands," said Esserman. "With so many passionate and capable people working together, MonaVie™ has the potential to dwarf the growth of all of the brands we have participated in building. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for TSG, based upon the future outlook of MonaVie™ and its potential to help people on so many levels."/ please click the picture to visit the site. 

 

2010 trend forecast: Authentically ethical food

Manufacturers will need to appeal to consumers’ desire for ethically sourced, sustainable foods more than ever in the year ahead, according to trend predictions for 2010 from The Food Channel.

Consumer awareness of ethical issues in food production has risen rapidly in recent years, whether that entails the human and environmental costs of ingredient sourcing in other parts of the world, or the environmental and social costs of foods sourced closer to home.

“America in particular is just now learning how to be sustainable, and Americans are holding themselves responsible. They aren’t doing this to create an illusion – there are a lot of ‘green echo’ people out there trying to make it look like they are green. In 2010 we’ll see people and companies becoming sustainable for authentic reasons; they are doing it to make a difference.”

“America in particular is just now learning how to be sustainable, and Americans are holding themselves responsible. They aren’t doing this to create an illusion – there are a lot of ‘green echo’ people out there trying to make it look like they are green. In 2010 we’ll see people and companies becoming sustainable for authentic reasons; they are doing it to make a difference.” Another of its major trend predictions was an increasing interest in foods with added health benefits. The Food Channel describes this as a progression from functional foods which, in turn, were a progression from fortified foods.

“We’ve become used to food with calcium added, or vitamins identified, but this year we’ll see a stronger statement – we will be defining ‘good for you’ as, ‘includes specific vitamins and nutrients,’” 

 

ERNST AND YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR OF THE YEAR, 2009

 Dallin Larsen

MonaVie, a Salt Lake City-based producer of a nutritional drink made from the Brazilian açai berry and 18 other fruits, has demonstrated stunning growth since Dallin Larsen founded it in 2005. The company brought in $854 million in revenue in 2008, says the 50-year-old Larsen. But don't look for MonaVie on store shelves. The company uses a "network selling" or "multilevel marketing" sales structure, like Amway's or Mary Kay Cosmetics', where customers are actually independent distributors recruited to sell to friends and neighbors. Critics say this structure often misrepresents how much people will make and puts too much focus on signing up new salespeople. Larsen instead paints it as the most effective way to sell a product that needs a story or explanation behind it. He says more than 1 million people have signed up for MonaVie, which goes for about $40 a bottle, and the company has hundreds of thousands of active sellers. About 75% of them are actually buying MonaVie for personal use, he says, but others are making a small extra income and a select few are bringing in big bucks. "I never say this is get rich quick. It's not. This is hard work," he says. Some açai marketers credit the juice with miracle properties like anti-aging or weight-loss, but Larsen claims his product is simply an effective way to get antioxidants. "As a company, we don't make any claims that this product treats, cures, or mitigates disease."

 

 

 MONA VIE HITS INC. MAGAZINE'S TOP 500 LIST:

1ST IN FOOD AND BEVERAGE,

3RD IN REVENUE.

/SEPTEMBER, 2009/ Inc. magazine announced its 28th annual Inc. 500 ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in the United States. With over 27 million businesses registered in the United States, the Inc. 500 list represents the top-tier businesses in America today. Mona Vie topped the charts, reigning in at #1 in the Inc. 500 Food & Beverage category, #3 in Revenue, and #18 on the overall Inc. 500 list.

“This achievement puts MonaVie in rarified company,” says Jane Berentson, Editor of Inc. magazine. “The elite group MonaVie recently joined has, over the years, included companies such as Microsoft, Timberland, Intuit, Jamba Juice, Oracle, and Under Armour.”  

"If you want to know which companies are going to change the world, look at the Inc. 500. These are the most dynamic, fast-growth companies in the nation, the ones finding innovative solutions to problems, creating smart systems, and inventing products we soon discover we can’t live without.”
—Jane Berentson, Editor, Inc. Magazine

The 2009 Inc. 500/5000 list measures revenue growth from 2005 through 2008. To qualify, companies must have been founded, and must be generating revenue, by the first week of 2005, and be U.S.-based, privately held, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies. The companies of the Inc. 500 represent the top tier of the Inc. 5000, which can be found on Inc.com.

 

 

 

Dr. Stephen T. Talcott Joins MonaVie Scientific

Advisory Board

 MonaVie is pleased to announce the addition of Dr. Stephen T. Talcott to the MonaVie Scientific Advisory Board (MSAB).

Dr. Talcott is an Associate Professor of Food Chemistry in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science at Texas A&M University. Previously he was an Associate Professor of Food Chemistry at the University of Florida (Food Science and Human Nutrition Department). He received his PhD in Food Science and Technology from the University of Arkansas.

A leading expert on the acai berry, Dr. Talcott has been recognized for his significant contributions in expanding the understanding of the phytochemistry, stability, health benefits, and marketability of acai since 2002. He has published numerous articles on acai as well as over 55 peer-reviewed articles in top level food chemistry journals, over 50 technical abstracts, and six book chapters. Dr. Talcott also specializes in the stability and changes that take place in antioxidant compounds during post-harvest handling, food processing, and storage.

“I am impressed with the level of science and research that MonaVie puts behind its product portfolio and product development efforts,” Dr. Talcott said. “This level of commitment to food and nutritional quality sets MonaVie apart, and I am happy to be a part of an organization that has these factors as part of its core values.”

 

 

 

Harvard paper spells out

importance of nutrient pairs

 

Researchers from Harvard Medical School have stressed the importance of consuming certain nutrients together, suggesting that consumption guidelines for individual nutrients form only part of the puzzle of good nutrition.

An article published in July’s 2009  issue of the Harvard Health Letter provides a selection of nutrients that “work in pairs”, in an effort to “inform some food choices - and give just a taste of the cruel complexity of the nutrition lurking behind guidelines and easy-to-read labels”.

“Nutrition guidelines and labels sometimes seem to have been written one nutrient at a time. But good nutrition – and the way in which our bodies absorb and process nutrients – is a much bigger puzzle than a nutrient-by-nutrient tally sheet suggests,” states the article.

“Most nutrients don't fly solo: They interact, join forces, cancel each other, jockey for position on metabolic pathways. One reason food is so often nutritionally preferable to pills or supplements is that food contains a mixture of nutrients, so we benefit from their interactions with each mouthful.”

 

 

 JACK CANFIELD  beloved originator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series, fostered the emergence of inspirational anthologies as a genre - and watched it grow to a billion dollar market. As the driving force behind the development and delivery of over 100 million books sold through the Chicken Soup for the Soul® franchise, Jack Canfield is uniquely qualified to talk about success."Love the Product, I love the Company". AND NOW HIS QUEST FOR THE MOST NUTRITIOUS FRUITS IS OVER- NO LONGER JACK HAS TO LOOK FOR EACH OF THE FRUITS SEPARATELY, INSTEAD THEY ARE ALL THERE IN CONVENIENT FORM    Please click on this link to see video interview with Mr.Canfield.

 

                                                                                                                                                                           LES BROWN a renowned professional speaker, author and television personality, has risen to national prominence by delivering a high energy message which tells people how to shake off mediocrity and live up to their greatness. It is a message Les Brown has learned from his own life and one he is helping others apply to their lives.   Les Brown is one of the nation's leading authorities in understanding and stimulating human potential. He is an internationally recognized speaker and CEO of Les Brown Enterprises, Inc., he is also the author of the highly acclaimed and successful books, Live Your Dreams, and newly released book, It's Not Over Until You Win. Les is the former host of The Les Brown Show, a nationally syndicated daily television talk show which focused on solutions rather than problems. Mr.Brown has been consuming Mona Vie since September, 2008.

 

 

 

 London based  NUTRA  reported on October 9th from Healthy Foods European Summit in London- Color foods /fruits/ are part of a health and wellness category analyst Ewa Hudson valued at $480bn (€350bn) in 2007, up 7% over 2006 and 42 % since 2002. Naturally healthy foods (33%) accounted for the biggest slice of this pie followed by functional foods and beverages (31%)- Mona Vie's primary segment in the marketplace/ better-for-you foods (30%), organic (5%). Organic foods grew fastest between 2002 and 2007 at 86%-/all fruits in Mona Vie's blend are wild or organic certified/.  Functional foods and beverages sales increased 48% and are expected to reach $170bn (€123.5m) by 2012. Functional beverages are set to jump 30% in the period, while functional foods are forecast to grow 17% North America and Western Europe are the dominant regions, with 35% and 31% market share respectively. 

 Raw plant sterol ingredient /present in recommended by FDA dosage in new blend from Mona Vie called Pulse/ sales surged 120% between 2002 and 2007, with 4,500,000 lb. being sold worldwide last year.Global plant sterol food sales in 2007 came in at just over $3.2bn (€2.32bn), of which $2.6bn (€1.89bn) occurred in Europe. The global health and wellness market will be worth $354m (€257m) in five years, Hudson said, a 22% increase. North America and Western Europe will continue to account for the bulk of sales at 34% and 30% respectively.

 

 Paul Zane Pilzer is world renown economist, forecaster, entrepreneur, author and former  economic adviser to 3 different presidential administrations.His newest book presents in simple terms the trends and market forces that will propel the growth within the wellness, as opposite to sickness. industry for the next decade, creating the wealth of unheard off proportions: "you have made your choice—the choice to either become one of, or help create more of, the next 10 million millionaire households that will be created in the next 10 years. 

The New Wellness Revolution explains why the majority of opportunities in wellness still await the individual entrepreneur or health professional, and how new management techniques and forms of business organization (like direct selling and franchising) can allow such individuals even better technology than if they were part of a large corporation. This will continue for at least another decade, until wellness is a mature industry and the majority of wellness consumers are not new to wellness.

 

 Donald Trump /no introduction needed/ - "Network Marketing has proven itself to be viable and rewarding source of income and the challenges could be just for you.There are some remarkable examples of success, and those successes have been earned through Diligence, Enthusiasm and Right Product, combining with Timing.

My nutshell advise about the network marketing is to do you research and put everything you have got into your product".

From New York Times bestseller- "Why We Want You To Be Rich".

 

 

 

 

 Robert Kiyosaki -author of the Rich Dad - Poor Dad - one of the most successful series of books published and franchised into the multimillion dollar empire, speaker, lecturer and entrepreneur: "A network marketing business is the B Quadrant business, because it meets several criteria I look for a business or investment.  Those criteria are:                                       LEVERAGE, CONTROL, CREATIVITY, EXPANDABILITY, and PREDICTABILITY.   A true network marketing business is the exact opposite of the traditional business model. A network marketing business is designed to bring you up to the top, not keep you down at the bottom. A true network marketing business does not succeed unless it brings people up to the top".

  From New York Times bestseller: "Why We Want You To Be Rich"

 

Consumers seeking

more from organics, analyst

By Jess Halliday, 03-Jun-2009

Organic certification alone no longer covers all the ethical and sustainable considerations of consumers, according to Organic Monitor, which says new ‘Organic Plus’ strategies are now emerging.

 The term organic refers to defined food production and farming practices, and consumer awareness of the term – and willingness to pay a premium for certified organic products – has soared in recent years. But according to the UK-based market analyst, the organic production method only partially meets consumers’ expectations. “They are increasingly looking at ethical sourcing, traceability, the carbon footprint, sustainability and corporate social responsibility”.

 It says that savvy food firms are marketing their organic products on these principles. Given that the organic market has seen reduced growth in the recession, delivering on the values that consumers are seeking out could help companies maintain good sales.  Organic Monitor says global organic food sales have been increasing by US$5bn a year in recent years – but this year they may, for the first time, see only single digit growth as consumers cut back on spending.

 The UK market is said to have been worst hit, with just 2 per cent growth reported in 2008.

 

 

 

 According to Nutrition Business Journal total value of supplement industry in USA  in 2006 reached $21 billion, global market being more than $66.0 billion, with 192 million people consuming supplements. Functional beverages and foods industry estimated to be $32-49 billion. Mona Vie competes successfully in both categories, with its patented and scientifically validated product line.

 

  Consumers look to health and

                  wellness in recession

                               By Caroline Scott-Thomas, 27-Feb-2009

Food industry research analyst Christopher Shanahan said that consumers are increasingly focused on ways to avoid becoming ill due to the economic downturn – and companies would do well to pay attention, in a web presentation on Frost and Sullivan’s global economic outlook for the food and beverage industries.He said: “There is a growing interest in health and wellness products. …We are seeing a lot of fortification of products that have relatively low shelf live. Looking ahead, we will see more applications of omega-3 products with longer shelf life. Those that fortify their products with health and wellness usually have done well amongst consumers.  With regard to what will convince shoppers to spend, Shanahan said: “There are two main motivations driving consumers: fear and greed. He said that companies are able to profit from consumer fear by reassuring them about familiar brands and recipes, ensuring that their brand has maximum exposure, and by emphasizing the health and wellness aspects of their products.   As for greed, Shanahan explained that this referred to consumers seeking “luxury and indulgence at affordable prices.”

 
How convenient: superfruits steal

 

By Shane Starling, 19-Mar-2009

 Young people are increasingly interested in getting their serve of fruit in a processed form and quickly turning away from whole fruits, according to author and editor, Julian Mellentin.  Speaking at the recent Nutracon conference in Anaheim, the New Zealand-based New Nutrition Business editor said superfruits were cashing in on changing consumer preferences, particularly among young people who seek convenience and so choose an acai juice over eating an apple of a pear.

 He noted that superfruit juices presented fruits in their most convenient form, a fact that allowed hefty price premiums to be charged due to the appeal to increasingly time-starved consumers. These same consumers were drawn to a juice product over a finicky whole fruit such as pomegranate, that can be time-consuming, messy and difficult to eat in its whole form.Superfruit juices offered cost savings for growers and producers as end-product appearance concerns were dispensed with. Mellentin quoted food marketing professor David Hughes of Imperial College in London who said:

Fresh products are not in the formats that meet people’s lifestyle needs. As a result the value that the fresh fruit industry should be capturing is being stolen by consumer goods companies. What form do you think people under 35 will eat fruit and vegetables? More than half – maybe much more – will be in processed formats.”

 

 

 

 Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN) survey results  show  that 79% of physicians and health care professionals recommend dietary supplements to their patients. Bone-33%, and joint-29%  /Mona Vie Active®/  are among the main health conditions for which US health professionals recommend dietary supplements to patients. Maintaining overall health and wellness-32%  / Mona Vie Original® and Active®/, heart health- 26%,  a healthy cholesterol level- 22%- /approved claims for Mona Vie Pulse®/ also figured highly in the survey that polled around 900 physicians and 300 registered nurses and nurse practitioners. Of the 72% of physicians who say they use dietary supplements, 87% used a multivitamin, 78% use vitamin C, 63% use B vitamins,  59 % use vitamin D, 58% use vitamin E as well as Nutritional Supplements in the US estimates the overall market was worth $6.1bn in 2007, up 7.5 percent from 2006. From 2003 to 2007, the market grew a total of 17.3 percent, with a compound annual growth rate of 40%

Factors that have helped drive sales growth despite a general climate of economic slow-down include a renewed focus on condition specific supplements. Baby boomers have also helped keep the market up, being a population segment with more disposable income and a high interest in health maintenance. Some 56 percent of US adults – or 121 million people – say they use nutritional supplements. This is up from 53 percent in 2003.

It is baby boomers and a strong interest in the preventive health benefits of supplements that will protect the market from a serious downturn resulting from the negative economic climate".

   The phytoalexin-enriched foods could soon be adding to the growing functional food market, expected to be worth about €175 billion by 2012, according to Euromonitor International data.

 In a global health and wellness market, the researcher puts at €450bn, functional foods are the fastest growing sector and second in value to naturally healthy foods (€155bn), both now and in 2012.  By 2012, better-for-you foods (€140bn) will be the third highest selling category, followed by vitamins and food supplements (€60bn); organic (€24bn); botanicals (€22bn); slimming products (€8bn); food intolerance products (€6bn) and sports nutrition products (€2.4bn).

 

 Harvard professor slams

supplements

         A member of the Harvard School of Public Health has told ABC dietary supplements will not provide the nutritional boost a poor diet requires. Only a change in diet and lifestyle will do that and fundamentally unhealthy people seeking dietary remedial action through supplementation are wasting their time, said Dr Eric Rimm, associate professor in the Departments of Epidemiology and Nutrition at Harvard.   Indeed dietary supplements used in this way may provide little more than "expensive urine", he said.

"A supplement is called a supplement because it's supposed to be supplementing a healthy lifestyle," he said.

Rimm's advice for consumers is: "Get yourself off the average diet and move to a healthier diet, and exercise three times a week."  He highlighted vitamin C  and folic acid as two nutrients that were readily abundant in the diet, even for the less healthy members of society, and where supplementation was rarely required. The US is one of the few countries in the world where folate fortification is mandatory.

 "We are already getting more foliate just from having hamburger buns and bread with our sandwiches," Rimm said.

 He also noted that while there was little evidence to suggest taking high doses of vitamin C was dangerous, there was equally scant data backing its purported health benefits. Rimm recommended oily fish as a source of omega-3s rather than supplementation despite the overwhelming evidence Americans don't reach anywhere close to the recommended weekly portions of oily fish.

 "Trends toward longer working hours, family schedules that are jam-packed with activities and a lagging economy are indicators that getting enough vitamins and minerals through nutrient-dense fresh fruits and vegetables and other foods will continue to be a challenge," Taylor added.

It is estimated that the US dietary supplements market is worth $22.5bn.

 

 

Baby boomers eat their way to health

and beauty.

By Sarah Hills, 12-Jun-2008

 Baby Boomers are trying to eat their way to a younger complexion with fresh, natural foods which offer "ageless health and beauty", a new report said.

The generation aged between 44 and 62 are seeking health and youth-enhancing effects from nutrient-rich foods, according to the report called Baby Boomer Attitudes and Opportunities: At Home, At Work and On the Road, from the providers of market research Packaged Facts. Boomers account for a third of the US population, spending about $2tn each year, with a growing proportion of spending on products that meet their desire for vitality.

 Refrigerated functional mini-drinks were described as "especially attractive" to baby boomers, while products that may help to lower cholesterol and improve heart health were in "particular demand". Functional foods, which encompass both fresh and processed foods claiming to have health-promoting or disease-preventing properties beyond the basic nutritional function of supplying nutrients, provide boomers with extra supplements to their daily diet, it said.

 People aged 45-64 will soon become the fastest-growing segment of the US population, as Census Bureau estimates project their numbers will swell from 77m in 2006 to upwards of 82m by 2030.

 Tatjana Meerman, publisher of Packaged Facts, said: "Baby Boomers are the largest demographic segment today. Despite new research that shows Boomers to be far more complex than once thought, one theme that continues to unify its members is that Boomers really do feel like their lives are just getting started and much of their disposable income is expect to be spent on luxury items." Previous market research found that baby boomers were more prepared to spend money on foods and supplements that can help them stay healthy for longer.

 This has made them a prime target for marketers of functional foods, such as products with plant sterols and antioxidants.

 

 Time to Communicate Açai

Benefits- suggests Mintel

By Lorraine Heller, 08-Apr-2009

 

The antioxidant-rich açai berry has steadily grown in popularity over the past five years, but analysts warn that manufacturers need to start communicating the fruit’s benefits if consumers are to continue paying the premium.

Açai berries (pronounced ah-sigh-ee) have long formed part of the staple diet of Indian tribes. With the appearance of a purple grape and taste of a tropical berry, they have been shown to have powerful antioxidants properties thanks to a high level of anthocyanins, pigments that are also present in red wine. Most often used in fruit juices, the berries have grasped consumer attention despite often selling at many times the price of more ‘regular’ alternatives such as orange, apple or pineapple juice.

Figures provided to NutraIngredients-USA.com reveal a 67 percent increase in new açai product launches between 2007 and 2008 – from 36 new products introduced on the North American market in 2007 to 60 products the following year.  This compares to just four new products in 2004, when açai had yet to be established in the market. In 2009 to date (through April 1), there have been 9 new product launches in the category.

 

explained that this market activity demonstrates a consumer “willingness to explore”. However, it said that increasing consumers’ awareness about the health benefits of Amazonian fruits such as açai is now the “main task” for manufacturers. One of the market leaders in the açai juice category, Sambazon, provides detailed information on its website about the health benefits of açai. The company notched sales of $25m in the US last year predominantly in powders and drinks, with its Sambazon açai juice said to have experienced double to triple digit growth- /Mona Vie has reported breaking  record of any company with 2 billion dollar sales figures- cumulative since 2005/.    “The challenging economic climate has made consumers savvier as to how they can get a bigger bang for their buck. Any product providing true health benefit, i.e. with claims backed by science, or affordable luxury has appeared to command premium prices as well as growth in consumer demand,” writes Mintel.

 

 Why "Wellness" sells?

By Shane Starling, 06-Apr-2009

 Wellness has firmly ingratiated itself in the minds of mainstream food and beverage companies, according to a leading UK branding consultancy.

“Not many years ago, ‘wellness’ was just for sandal wearing vegan hippies. Lately everyone is getting in on the act: wellness  tea, wellness spas, wellness cereal bars, even wellness pet food,” said Neil Cavalier-Smith, managing director of The Healthy Marketing Team in a recent article in Brand Strategy magazine.   He said people in western societies were becoming more and more interested in ideas of wellness, with nutrition playing an important part in a wider holistic discussion that encompassed ethical ideas about healthy living on both a personal and environmental level.  The effect of the environment on the self is also manifested in concerns about the presence of toxins in the food supply with HealthFocus finding 47 per cent of consumers rated the “accumulation of toxins in my body” as the number one health concern in 18 countries. “Concern about life-threatening issues (heart health, cancer etc.) is declining whereas lifestyle and short term concerns such as stress, tiredness and allergies are on the rise,” Cavalier-Smith said.

 Consultant and author, Peter Wennström, who works with The Healthy Marketing Team on branding initiatives, observed at the recent World Food Technology and Ingredient Forum in Rotterdam: “Brands which are active and take you by the hand and say, ‘yes it’s a tough world out there, let’s face it together’ will be the ones left standing when the dust settles”.

 

 

 

 

 Supplement tests find ‘problems’ with one third of products

By Lorraine Heller, 16-Apr-2009

 A recent ConsumerLab report that found “problems” with over 30 percent of vitamins, has already generated negative reports in mainstream media, renewing calls for vitamins to be avoided where possible.

WHAT FEATURES SHOULD a GREAT WHOLE FOOD MULTIVITAMIN CONTAIN?

• Organic and pesticide free or eco-harvested whenever possible.
• No tablets! Capsules are the best and help us avoid chemical binders and fillers.
• No food coloring! If your multivitamin has food coloring in it, it is hype, or it is garbage. Phase it out and find a food coloring free alternative.
• Minimal excipients and stabilizers. Check the labels and see if there other artificial ingredients such as food coloring. These are typically the last ingredients listed.
• A full spectrum of all the colors found in nature. We need to “eat by the rainbow” to get the full spectrum of nutrients found in nature. The most important colors being green, purple, and the yellow/oranges found in the carotenoid family.
• No synthetics or synthetic isolates. I am obviously not a fan of synthetic vitamins, as the biochemist in me knows to only trust nature and never man, but I am also against the consumption of isolated nutrients taken in high quantities. Nature intended for us to get our vitamin C from foods like oranges and broccoli, not chewable candies. Whole foods come complete with bioflavonoids that further help vitamin C work to heal and repair damaged tissues. While a synthetic vitamin can promise you 1333% of the USRDA, it can’t promise you a dose of healthy nutrition that your diet is likely lacking. We don’t just need vitamins, we need nutrition. Obviously children and pregnant women need standardized doses of specific vitamins and minerals, but the majority of us looking to prevent disease, just need a comprehensive spectrum of daily nutrition to cover up for those inevitable times that we fall off the whole food wagon.
• No plastic bottles. In an effort to reduce the amount of plastics that are added to our environment annually, I will avoid recommending products that are packaged in plastic bottles when there are better alternatives such as glass bottles, and blister packs that minimize plastic waste put in landfills.

HOW ELSE MONA VIE BLENDS FITS INTO A PROFILE OF A PREFECT WHOLE FOOD NUTRITION

• Potent antioxidants. The formulators of this product have smartly taken all of nature’s finest superfoods and placed them in to two blends. An AM energizing/weight loss/antioxidant herbal blend or “Purple Pops” and an evening calming herbal food blend found in the “Green Pops.” Antioxidants are the foundation to every healing and anti-aging program.

• What they DON’T have: No food coloring. no sugar, no synthetic product stabilizers, no binders (easily avoided by purchasing only capsules.) Regardless of what multivitamin you choose to use, you should never be taking a daily dose of these artificial chemicals.

• Natural vitamins. These are not synthetic vitamins, or even vitamins isolated from foods. These are whole food nutrient concentrates, brought to us by nature’s finest superfoods, and in the form that nature intends that we take them. With that being said be sure to take this supplement with food so that the vitamins and minerals can be properly digested and utilized.

• More than just vitamins. Do you get confused about the latest new hot nutrient that scientists have “just discovered?” Well these nutrients have existed in nature for centuries, and just because a scientist discovers them in a lab, doesn’t mean that we need to suddenly start taking them in a high dose supplement. We should be taking these healing plant pigments, cofactors and coenzymes in our food on a daily basis, and if we don’t eat perfectly we should supplement with a whole food multi, not one that contains only the vitamins that scientists are currently capable of recognizing. Twenty years ago we only recognized about twenty vitamins and minerals as “essential,” but think forward to the next twenty years. The best way to ensure you have everything in your system that is “essential” is to take a whole food multivitamin, or start juicing. Or if you really want to feel awesome-BOTH!

• Enzymes aid digestion. You aren’t just getting whole food nutrients, you are getting plant enzymes that will help you digest, break down, and absorb your food better.
• You Need Purples! If you peruse all of my treatment plans you will see that a cup of frozen blueberries a day is recommended pretty consistently throughout, as blueberries are a featured food on the anti-inflammatory diet. In addition to fighting inflammation, purple plant pigments known as proanthocyanins are especially healing to the skin, blood vessels, and cardiovascular system. Be sure to eat a cup of purple/red/blue foods everyday!

Consider kosher and halal for wider appeal,

says market research.

 

The report, entitled Market Trend: Kosher- and Halal-Certified Foods in the US, resonates with a similar report from Mintel released earlier this year, which concluded that the majority of American consumers who buy kosher  foods do so for perceived quality and safety reasons, rather than for religious ones. The new Packaged Facts report is its first to analyze halal  foods – those that comply with Muslim law – at length, and its first to examine kosher foods in over a decade.

It suggests that companies should consider the marketing push and public perception of safety that comes with kosher certification and the far broader export opportunities that come with halal certification.

 The market researcher asserts that certification in itself brings publicity, as authorizing entities circulate press releases, not only to religious organizations, but also to trade associations and the press. The report also highlights the importance of the internet in publicizing the availability of certified products and where they can be found.

“Certification enhances the desirability of a company’s products to a broader customer base in the US – provided marketers ensure consumers are made aware of the third-party endorsement – as well as expanding export opportunities.”

 Packaged Facts estimates kosher food sales through grocery stores jumped from $142bn in 2003 to $211bn in 2008, growing twice as fast as the food market as a whole. But overall, kosher-identified brands are not growing, and the Jewish population is shrinking, so growth is due to more certification and more consumers seeking kosher products, it said. For specialist ethnic kosher food companies, this means they “must expand their sights in order to grow.”

 

 

 

 

Supplements are unregulated

                                                 "nostrums".

 Published in The Journal of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB), the editorial has already invited a formal letter of complaint to the journal’s managing editor from a food and supplement lawyer.

The article’s author, Gerald Weissmann, writes: “Unfortunately, the $24bn/year ‘dietary supplement’ industry peddles subprime concoctions that can only be recalled after someone blows a whistle.”

He goes on to state that since 1994 FDA “has had no effective regulatory authority over dietary supplements, unless these nostrums cause harm or are doped with prescription drugs”.

StarCaps case study

The editorial, which implies that supplements found to be adulterated are purposefully made with “hidden ingredients”, uses the recent high-profile StarCaps recall as an example.

StarCaps, a brand of weight loss dietary supplements, was in the news at the end of last year, after professional football players who had taken the supplement tested positive to the diuretic, bumetanide.

This prompted the product’s marketer Balanced Health to conduct further testing and to ultimately issue a recall.

“Omission of bumetanide isn’t the only flaw in the description of the capsules. StarCaps ads also failed to note that papain is an effective protease that can be absorbed topically, that valerian has proven soporific effects in humans, and that the magnesium salts contained in the capsule affect the gut,” wrote Weissmann.

DSHEA criticized

The editorial goes on to criticize the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), which was passed in 1994 to provide a distinct regulatory framework for dietary supplements.

Weissman states that DSHEA allows manufacturers to describe a supplement’s effects on the structure or function of the body without substantial scientific proof, and without being required to carry drug-style warning labels.

In addition, nutritional support statements made on supplement products to not need to be pre-approved by FDA, he wrote.

“That’s why you see so many claims for supplements that promote ‘joint health’, ‘breast health’, or ‘male vigor’ rather than more precise claims that would have to be validated by the FDA in following ethical pharmaceuticals.”

Source:
The Atlanta Falcon and Tono-Bungay: Dietary Supplements as Subprime Drugs
The FASEB Journal. 2009;23:1279-1282
Gerald Weissmann, Editor-in-Chief

 

 

 “News keeps getting worse for vitamins” – puts significant emphasis on Vitamin E, which is only just recovering from its previous media-bashing.

“The best efforts of the scientific community to prove the health benefits of vitamins keep falling short,” writes columnistTara Parker-Pope, in an article that has already attracted over 400 comments from consumers.

Pope lists numerous studies published over more than a decade that have linked vitamins (including vitamins E, C, A, and B, as well as beta-carotene and selenium) to negative health effects, or that have simply been found to have no benefit.

“Despite a lack of evidence that vitamins actually work, consumers appear largely unwilling to give them up,” she writes, adding that some people feel it is poorly conducted studies rather than the vitamins themselves that are the problem.

Negative results

The article highlights the negative results of numerous studies, the most recent of which include:

• A clinical trial (highlighted last week at the American Association for Cancer Research meeting in Washington, DC) of 15,000 male doctors taking vitamins E and C for up to 10 years found no effect on cancer rates, including prostate cancer.
• Another study (published in the Journal of the American Medical Association) on almost 15,000 male physicians found that vitamins E and C have no benefit for heart disease.
• A SELECT trial on the ability of vitamin E and selenium to lower prostate cancer risk was halted early amidst fear that the supplements were doing more harm than good.
• Researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York found that vitamin C may do more harm than good as it may protect cancer cells.

To read the full New York Times article,click here please.

 

 

Vitamins get ‘F’ in cancer prevention – suggests that such findings leave consumers confused and frustrated at the health benefits of vitamins and the proper communication of these.

A table adjacent to the article lists seven studies published since November 2008 that have found no prevention benefits of vitamins – including vitamins C, E, D, B, folic acid, selenium, beta carotene and calcium – on cancer or heart disease.

To access the article, please click here

Diet over vitamins

Although the USA Today article did not directly criticize vitamins, it highlighted the difficulty in demonstrating specific benefits, quoting researchers who suggest that diet and exercise are the surest way to maintain health.

“Health-conscious consumers should focus on getting their vitamins from plant foods, such as vegetables and whole grains, which contain precise mixtures of hundreds or even thousands of compounds. Many of these compounds may work better in the combinations selected by nature,” the publication quotes Peter Gann of the University of Illinois-Chicago as saying.

An adjacent article also provides a Q&A break-down of which studies consumers should listen to.

It lists the different types of nutrition studies that can be conducted, and states that the strongest studies are randomized clinical trials. 

 By Liz Szabo USA TODAY.

 

 

Antioxidants  in supplements may ‘block’

benefits of exercise:

By Stephen Daniells, 12-May-2009

 Supplements of antioxidant vitamins after exercise may decrease the benefits of the workout by blocking the positive effects of reactive oxygen, says a new study.

Researchers from Germany and the US report in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences that a combination of 1,000 mg per day of vitamin C and 400 IU per day of vitamin E adversely affected insulin sensitivity, and thereby increase the risk of type 2 diabetes. Participants, both trained and untrained, underwent 85 minutes of exercise five days per week for four weeks.    “Based on the evidence derived from the current study, we here propose an essential role for exercise-induced reactive oxygen species formation in promoting insulin sensitivity in humans,” wrote the researchers from the University of Jena, German Institute of Human Nutrition, University of Leipzig, and Harvard Medical School.   “Most importantly, […] changes in gene expression and the increase in insulin sensitivity following physical exercise are almost completely abrogated by daily ingestion of the commonly used antioxidants vitamin C and vitamin E.

 Thus, antioxidant supplementation blocks many of the beneficial effects of exercise on metabolism,” they added.

 Useful, useless, or harmful?

 Lead author Michael Ristow  said that a number of studies have already shown that antioxidant supplements have no benefit, and his new study suggests that “such supplements may be harmful in regards to glucose metabolism and endogenous ROS defense capacity”.    A significant number of studies have shown that fruits and vegetables promote health, while antioxidant supplements do not. This insinuates that fruits and vegetables are healthy despite their content in antioxidants, and that other compound contained within these are responsible for these health-promoting effects of fruits and vegetables,” he added.

  Dr. Alexsander  Schauss antioxidant expert  PhD, from AIBMR Life Sciences, a nutraceutical products consultancy. says that he would be surprised to learn that an exercise trainer would advocate such an intense training programme, and limit the supplementation routine to daily intake of 1000 mg of Vitamin C and 400 IU of vitamin E.

 “There are far more nutrients and phytochemicals found in the diet and available supplements and antioxidant-rich foods and juices that would be needed to anticipate the degree of oxidative stress an individual would experience with such an exercise program,” he said.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Published online ahead of print, doi: 10.1073/pnas.0903485106
“Antioxidants prevent health-promoting effects of physical exercise in humans”
Authors: M. Ristow, K. Zarse, A. Oberbach, N. Kloting, M. Birringer, M. Kiehntopf, M. Stumvoll, C.R. Kahn, M. Blüher

 

 

Supplements Industry Worth $61 billion to US Economy

 

By Shane Starling, 01-Jun-2009

An industry-funded report that looks beyond the checkout as a means of determining an industry’s value has come up with a figure of $61bn for the US dietary supplements industry – nearly three times its annual sales Of $23.7bn in 2007.

Commissioned by the Natural Products Foundation’s Dietary Supplement Information Bureau and compiled by Washington D.C.-based health care consultancy, Dobson, DaVanzo & Associates, the Economic Impact Report looked at the broader impact of the dietary supplements industry including its contribution via labor, materials and technology.

 “For every dollar spent by the dietary supplement industry, the economic contribution to the US economy is $2.71,” the researchers said. For every one job created by the dietary supplements industry, 2.29 jobs are created in the US economy. The firm is the first to conduct such a report on the dietary supplements industry and it estimated more than 450,000 jobs and $10bn in taxes was paid by the industry in 2006.  “Most industry assessments primarily focus on sales, but this is really just the tip of the iceberg,” said Tracy Taylor executive director of the Natural Products Foundation in an  Natural Product Foundation statement.  “The labor, materials, and technology necessary to move each product from a raw material to the final sale cause a whole spectrum of economic consequences.”  The researchers found the dietary supplements industry has consistently been growing faster than regular inflation of 2-3 percent and was more like five percent.  “The dietary supplement industry is a significant economic engine that powers businesses in communities in every state across the country,” said Taylor. “And the fact that the industry has been growing steadily at a rate that exceeds inflation for more than 10 years, even in unstable economic times, bodes well for the future.”

 

 

 

 

Aging Population May Boost Sales

of Healthy Foods

Foods that are perceived to bring added health benefits are forecast to be among the fastest growing market trends over the next decade, according to a new report from the NPD Group.

The report, A Look into the Future of Eating, suggests that organic and low-calorie foods in particular will experience a surge in popularity as the baby boomer generation gets older.

The report’s author and director of product development at NPD Ann Hanson said: “As the population ages, levels of concern regarding food and nutrition are expected to rise. For this reason, ‘better for you’ food options are forecasted to grow strongly over the next ten years.”  But even more than low-calorie and diet options, it is the organic sector which is predicted to experience to strongest growth – 41 percent over the next decade, compared to 18 percent for light/lite/diet/low-calorie labels.  “As they grow older, people are more likely to be overweight, to diet, and to have medical conditions.-said Hanson  Attitudinally, they are more likely to be concerned about certain things…There is a growing awareness among consumers in general about healthy eating. People are becoming more sophisticated.”

 Older consumers are also expected to show an interest in ingredients for health and wellness, so as their numbers swell, so will sales of foods with added health benefits. “Even though obesity is not expected to outpace population growth – we expect that nearly half of our population will continue to be overweight or obese and, tied with the aging of the population, will bring rising medical concerns,” said the report.    “Healthy options for ‘heart health’, for diabetics, for weight control or loss, and to address other health-related needs should also represent a growing opportunity.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of Americans aged 65 or over is expected to more than double by 2030 compared to 2000 levels, from 35m to 71m. 

 

 

Addressing Health Through Nutrition:       

Top Consumer Priorities.

 

Heart health, weight loss and cancer protection are the top three health concerns that Americans try to address through their diets, according to a new survey.

The International Food Information Council (IFIC) survey, conducted on a regular basis over the past decade, also found a “significantly” increased awareness of the health benefits associated with specific food components.

“Americans’ consumption of functional foods or food components parallels their awareness of food/health associations. When prompted with a certain food or food component and a corresponding health benefit, consumers report they are already consuming specific foods or components related to some of their top health concerns, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, weight management, and bone health,” wrote IFIC.

The online survey of 1,000 American adults, conducted in May by Cogent Research on behalf of IFIC, asked participants to rate their top three health concerns.

Almost half of respondents (48 percent) listed heart health, 31 percent listed weight, and 24 percent listed cancer. Diabetes (17 percent), lung/respiratory health (7 percent), and arthritis (5 percent) also made the list of top concerns.

Participants were provided with a list of health benefits, and asked if they believed specific foods or drinks could provide these. The results were as follows:

• Improve heart health (85 percent)
• Contribute to healthy growth and development in children (83 percent)
• Improve energy or stamina (82 percent)
• Improve bone health (82 percent)
• Maintain overall health and wellness (82 percent)
• Contribute to healthy body weight (81 percent)
• Improve digestive health (81 percent)
• Improve immune system function (80 percent)
• Contribute to healthy circulation (78 percent)
• Contribute to healthy pregnancy (75 percent)
• Provide a feeling of fullness for a longer period of time (73 percent)
• Improve overall appearance (73 percent)
• Reduce risk of getting a specific disease (73 percent)
• Improve eye health (73 percent)
• Improve mental performance (72 percent)
• Diminish effects of current health problems (68 percent)

“Consumers are most aware of food/health benefit associations related to their greatest health concerns of cardiovascular disease, weight maintenance, and cancer, as well as those that have been well-established and promoted over time, such as calcium for bone health,” said IFIC. 

 

 

Antioxidant-rich Fruit, Vegetables 

May Prevent Lymph Cancers.

International Journal of Cancer  21-Aug-2009

 Increased intakes of antioxidant-rich fruit and vegetables may reduce the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma, says a new study from the Mayo Clinic.

 Intakes of vitamin C, alpha-carotene, and proanthocyanidins were associated with reductions in the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma of 22, 29, and 30 percent, respectively, according to findings published in the International Journal of Cancer.

From a food perspective the researchers, led by Dr James Cerhan, report that yellow/ orange and cruciferous vegetables, including broccoli, were found to confer the greatest risk reductions. However, despite identifying individual nutrients, Dr Cerhan and his co-workers noted that the benefits would most likely be from dietary sources of antioxidants, and not from supplements. “Most studies have not shown an association with supplemental intake of antioxidant nutrients, suggesting that any association is likely to be mediated through foods,” they wrote. “This has mechanistic implications (potential synergies between antioxidants; other anti-carcinogenic compounds in these foods) and also suggests that prevention approaches will likely need to be targeted towards foods and food groups and not individual nutrients, particularly taken as supplements.”

In collaboration with scientists from the University of Minnesota, the Mayo Clinic researchers examined data from 35,159 Iowa women aged between 55 and 69 participating in the Iowa women's health study. Diets were analyzed using a validated semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Over 20 years of follow-up, a total of 415 cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma were documented. Intakes of 204 or more servings per month (about 7 servings per day) of all fruit and vegetables were associated with a 31 percent reduction in NHL risk, compared to intakes of less than 104 servings per month.  High intakes of yellow/orange vegetables (14 or more servings of per month) were associated with a risk reduction of 28 percent, as were four or more broccoli servings per month, compared to people who are no broccoli.

Considering the nutrients, in addition to the risk reductions associated with increased intakes of vitamin C, alpha-carotene, and proanthocyanidins, increased intakes of manganese from dietary sources was also associated with a risk reduction of about 40 per cent.  “These results support a role for vegetables and perhaps fruits, and associated antioxidants from food sources, as protective factors against the development of NHL and follicular lymphoma in particular,” they concluded.

Source: International Journal of Cancer

Accepted Article, available online
“Antioxidant intake from fruits, vegetables and other sources and risk of non-hodgkin lymphoma: The Iowa women's health study”
Authors: C.A. Thompson, T.M. Habermann, A.H. Wang, R.A. Vierkant, A.R. Folsom, J.A. Ross, J.R. Cerhan

 

 UK professor says:

Supplements Are a Waste of

Time.

The likes of vitamin A and vitamin C are a waste of money for most people and can even be detrimental to health, a UK-based nutrition professor has told the British Science Festival.

Professor Brian Ratcliffe, the program leader of nutrition and dietetics at the Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland, told the Festival many food supplements were ineffective for the majority of people and overuse of vitamin C for example, could lead to stomach problems. Vitamin A was singled out as easily exceeding recommended levels if a consumer was to combine multivitamin use with a fish oil supplement. Potential side effects included headaches and nausea, osteoporosis, and eye and liver damage.  “Vitamins and supplements are generally regarded as a non-essential spend,” Mintel said in a May report. “People are finding alternative ways to fight fatigue or maintain nutrition through food and drink.”   “High levels of NPD targeting specific lifestage needs (notably childhood, menstruation, pregnancy and the menopause) have served to focus people’s minds on trading up to dietary supplement formulations that will better meet their needs.”  Functional foods are also taking patronage from the food supplements sector, as they rose in popularity.

However, fellow analyst Euromonitor puts the UK food supplements market at €938.1m in 2008 compared to €911.2m in 2007. "People who take multivitamin supplements are probably just wasting their money and boosting the profits of vitamin companies,” Ratcliffe said at the annual Science Festival.

"It's a whole new area. We haven't had a significant proportion of the population taking all these supplements before. They should certainly speak to a doctor or dietician or nutritionist. I think they'd be better off investing time in trying to choose healthy items for their diet rather than thinking you can bolt on that safety margin by just taking a supplement."

A study published in the June edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found the cells of multivitamin users had a younger biological age than those who didn't use supplements.

 

Boost Vitamins With Diet, Not Pills -

- Harvard tells public

By David Visick, 06-Oct-2009

 In light of the recent attacks on supplements both in the US and Europe, NutraIngredients-USA.com takes a look at the position of one of the most respected sources of nutritional advise for consumers: Harvard Medical School.

According to Harvard's advice papers on nutrition, people who are not getting enough vitamins and minerals would do better to adjust their diet to include more nutrient-rich foods rather than take supplements.

In its Healthy Eating: A Guide to the New Nutrition, Harvard Medical School (HMS) urges consumers not to rely on supplements which do not contain all the other healthy food components. “There are likely many more beneficial components of healthy foods than the ones scientists have identified so far, as well as synergistic effects among them,” it says.

Antioxidants from food - not pills

“Vegetables and fruits are chock-full of the phytochemicals,” the authors say. “Eating enough vegetables and fruits not only helps prevent vitamin and mineral deficiencies, but can actually stave off a variety of other health conditions as well.”

“It appears unlikely that taking antioxidants in supplement form will help protect against heart disease or cancer,” it says. “It could be that it’s the orchestration of antioxidants naturally present in foods, rather than one or two vitamins in high doses, that can lower your risk of serious illnesses."  “So it’s worthwhile to include antioxidants in your diet, but get them from foods – such as oranges, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, broccoli, whole grains, and nuts – and not from pills.”

Harvard Medical Publications said the guidelines, published last year, reflected its general opinion on nutrition.

Vitamins: Doubt or benefit?

In a separate advice paper for the public, ’Vitamins: Benefit of the doubt vs. doubts about benefit,’ HMS tell consumers: “Added vitamins have lost their sheen, and there are more doubts than ever about taking them in pill form. Large doses of single vitamins aren’t a good idea: the benefit is doubtful, and some can cause harm.” It points out the exceptions of vitamin D, and folic acid for young women. In its advice for women, issued in July this year under the title Getting your Vitamins and Minerals through Diet, HMS refers to a Cochrane Collaboration review found that people in trials who were given supplements of vitamin A, vitamin E, and beta carotene had a higher death rate. “A person taking a multivitamin can easily exceed the recommended total intake, and maybe even the safe upper limit of 1,000 mcg,” it says. “These findings raise questions about the use of multivitamins as a safety net. Experts agree that the best way to get the nutrients we need is through food.”

 FDA consumer advisory

Last week, the US Food and Drug Administration issued a consumer advisory on vitamin supplements, which stated that certain supplements “can be useful” and “there are many good reasons” to consider taking them.

“Supplements can be useful when they fulfill a specific identified nutrient need that can’t be met by food or is not being met through normal food intake,” said Barbara Schneeman, PhD, director of FDA's Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling, and Dietary Supplements.

 

 

 The Slow Change to Better Nutrition

 

 

Consumers are moving toward healthier products for both themselves and the environment according to a new US market survey from researcher, HealthFocus International.  Key areas of interest are brain health, heart health, stress, fatigue, bone and muscle health, skin health.

“Omega-3, fiber, calcium, whole grain, and antioxidants continue to be some of the ingredients of highest interest to shoppers,” HealthFocus wrote. Omega-3 and probiotics were identified as, “rising stars”. “This trend means that shoppers are asserting themselves by demanding changes to brands to incorporate more healthful ingredients, demanding scientific advances that allow things like lower fat and sugar, without sacrificing taste,” the report says.

It found that 57 percent of 50-62 years olds are suffering from one or more of the following: high cholesterol, cancer, diabetes, high glucose, high blood pressure, or some other form of cardiovascular disease. For over-65s the rate rises to 71 percent.Healthy foods had also improved to the point where they no longer were equated with poor taste. More than half of Americans now think health food tastes better, compared with 25 percent in 1996.

“Health is now part of the equation, expected to be delivered with taste,” HealthFocus wrote.

Consumers are also more knowledgeable about health issues, with the rise of blogs and the internet being cited as a primary cause in this. More generally: “Two trends that seem to counter one another, but are both growing in the same direction, are that of a growing interest in the functionality of foods and beverages and a growing interest in freshness, purity and simplification of foods.”