The following comment was left below the post I had made titled "MonaVie vs. Sambazon - A Side By Side Comparison" on our Parents Under Construction website. Click here for the link to the post and comment. This post also exists on this website as well, you can click here to read it on MonaVie Training Guide.
"Superjuices don’t come close when comparing costs for antioxidants. Example: A day’s serving of MonaVie (4 oz.) is $7.20 ($45/bottle) or as low as $3.20 a day (at $20 – distributor’s cost) A single Delicious Red Apple costs about $0.75
For MonaVie,that gives you a ORAC of 2,698 umoles (29.57 ml per oz times 4 oz.times 22.81 according to AIBMR). That also gives you a total phenolics (all antioxidants) for the day, of 175 mg. for 4 oz.
The 22.81 ORAC and 1.48 mg phenolics are from the MonaVie-sponsored study by AIBMR Life Sciences.
Now compare it to a SINGLE Red Delicious Apple. Average weight 150 gms.
Total ORAC per apple: 6,413 umoles. (42.75 umoles times 150 gms)
Total phenolics (total antioxidants): 520 mg per apple. Apple data from USDA ORAC Table of Selected Foods – 2007
SUMMARY: ORAC: MonaVie: 2,698 Apple: 6,413
PHENOLICS: MonaVie: 175 mg Apple: 520 mg
COST: MonaVie: $3.20 to $7.20 per day Apple: $0.75/day"
In response to this comment, I just went straight to MonaVie's Product Support Department. Who better to respond to the question than MonaVie directly? The rest of this post is the direct response from MonaVie to the statement made above:
"The variety of the fruits in MonaVie has been chosen for their distinct nutritional assets. Açai, our star ingredient, is one of the world's most powerful antioxidants (Schauss, et al. Antioxidant Capacity and Other Bioactivities of the Freeze-Dried Amazonian Palm Berry, Euterpe oleraceae Mart. (Açai) J. Agric. Food Chem. 2006, 54, 8604-10) but is hard to come by outside the Amazon. In addition to acai, there are 18 additional body-beneficial fruits. Many of these exotic fruits cannot simply be picked up at your local supermarket. The cost of individually purchasing all of the fruits would be far greater than the cost of a bottle of MonaVie juice.
Phytonutrients are concentrated in the skins of many fruits and vegetables, and are responsible for their color, hue, scent, and flavor. It is the variety and content of phytonutrients—sometimes called phytochemicals—from the 19 fruits in MonaVie which make our juices so valuable. An added bonus of consuming a variety of fruits is a rich supply of Phytonutrients. Many of these phytonutrients provide significant health benefits. Phytonutrients are very powerful antitoxins. These substances will neutralize free radicals which can be detrimental to the body. When free radicals build up, they can give rise to premature aging. Considerable research has been focused on phytochemicals and their role in maintaining good health and well being those who consume them regularly.
Each fruit in MonaVie provides its own unique profile of phytonutrients not found in any other fruit. For example, grapes have resveratrol, which studies indicate may reduce the risk of certain chronic conditions, but they lack the unique phytonutrients found in acai, such as plant sterols, which have been shown to support heart health. A raw apple does have a small amount of essential fatty acids, but it has significantly less when compared to the acai berry. An apple is also void of plant sterols. In other words, simply eating an apple a day will only give you the nutrients specific to an apple. The complementary and synergistic blend of phytonutrients found in MonaVie would be impossible to find in a single fruit, vegetable, or other blended beverage.
Information on phytonutrient content cannot be added to a nutrition fact sheet or label since the RDA (or Recommended Dietary Allowance) for phytonutrients has yet to be determined. It will likely take many years for scientists to unravel the important effect of the myriad of phytochemicals found in foods. At this time, experts are suggesting that the most reliable way to obtain the phytonutrients necessary to promote good health, is by supplementing your diet with phytonutrient rich foods, such as MonaVie.
Common fruit juice found in grocery stores may have some nutritional value, however they also typically have a considerable amount of added sugar compared to MonaVie, which has no added sugar. Additionally, most supermarket juices are clarified. Clarification involves the removal of fats, fibers and other beneficial nutrients, which are the basis of MonaVie’s advantage over the competition. Through clarification the end product is stripped of a good portion of beneficial fats and other nutrients. With clarification, artificial colors and flavors are sometimes added to maintain product consistency. There may be some benefits to doing this for the manufacturing company, but the end product is nutritionally compromised. Maintaining the açai berry’s nutritional content is what makes MonaVie a superior product.
ORAC is a way to measure the antioxidant capacity of a food. Foods with high ORAC values are desirable for their ability to inhibit free radical activity. The ORAC measurement was developed by a scientist at the National Institute of Aging in 1992 and has proven to be a valuable tool in quantifying health benefits associated with consuming fruits, vegetables, and other antioxidant-containing foods and supplements.
ORAC is an excellent indicator of a substance’s ability to fight free radicals; however, it is just an indicator. The strength of an antioxidant in terms of how it can benefit your body cannot be measured by ORAC alone. If something tests high in an ORAC test, which is an in-vitro laboratory test, it does not necessarily mean it will have the same effect to fight free radicals inside the human body or in-vivo. For example, plant extracts which are commonly used in other juice blends, are not used in MonaVie—only whole fruits and juices are used. Plant extracts can cause a high ORAC reading in a test tube but there is very little scientific evidence that extracts derived from fruits will work equally as well in the body as whole fruits and juices.
To determine a product’s true antioxidant ability, it is necessary to conduct both in-vivo and clinical (human) studies. According to a study recently published (Jensen et al. In Vitro and in Vivo Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Capacities of an Antioxidant-Rich Fruit and Berry Juice Blend. Results of a Pilot and Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study, J. Agric. Food Chem., 2008, 56 (18), pp 8326–8333), individuals who drank MonaVie had an increase in the amount antioxidants and a decrease in the effects of free radicals. This study also identifies a variety of phytonutrients in the MonaVie blend. The studies can be viewed by visiting www.monavie.com/science.
This level of validation cannot be expressed in terms of an ORAC value. Additionally, the benefits of phytonutrients cannot be measured by ORAC alone since many of them provide benefits in addition to antioxidant protection.
Below is a description of each of the fruits in the MonaVie blends. The Phytonutrients in each of the fruits are highlighted.
Açai
Açai is a small, round, dark-purple berry with amazing nutritional properties. Its appearance is similar to that of a grape, but it has a smaller amount of pulp and a single large seed. Experts have referred to the açai berry as the most nutritious and powerful food in the world. Açai is rich in phytonutrients that include anthocyanins, phytosterols, catechin, cyanidin, quercetin, and plant sterols.
White Grape
The ancestors of modern grapes are all red; white grapes, however, have ancient origins. Although they are called “white” grapes, they actually have a green hue. White grapes contain beneficial polyphenol antioxidants, such as resveratrol and catechins.
Apple
The traditional apple being added to MonaVie is both delicious and nutritious. Apples are rich in antioxidant polyphenols and phlorizin—a body-beneficial phytonutrient.
Acerola
A bright red, soft, and juicy fruit, acerola has been eaten for centuries by the natives of the Antilles, Central America, and Northern South America. Also called the Barbados cherry, acerola is known for having high concentrations of ascorbic acid, or vitamin C, acting as an antioxidant and a natural preservative.
Aronia
Also known as the chokeberry, aronia is a glossy, bluish-black or red fruit with a slightly bitter to pleasantly sweet flavor. Because of its dark pigment, aronia is high in anthocyanins, a polyphenol antioxidant. Native to Eastern North America, aronia contains many other types of antioxidants and has a high concentration of vitamin C.
Purple Grape
Purple grapes belong to the Vitaceae family and are grown and harvested worldwide. They are abundant in cardio-friendly antioxidants such as anthocyanins, ellagic acid, and resveratrol.
Cranberry
Native to North America, this dark red, tart berry is packed with nutrients, including potent antioxidant flavonoids and other polyphenolic compounds.
Cupuaçu
This fruit originates in the south and southeastern parts of the Brazilian Amazon. It is strong and pleasant smelling, known for its volatile aroma. The endocarp is white and soft, the pulp having a sour and highly-flavored taste. The fruit contains essential fatty acids, such as Omega 3 and 6 as well as a unique type of polyphenols called theograndins.
Passion Fruit
Passion fruit is commercially important to Brazil. Native to tropical regions of South America, with a color ranging from yellow to purple, this round to oval-shaped fruit has soft to firm juice sacs inside. It is rich in body beneficial antioxidant carotenoids.
Prune
Prunes and their "juice" contain phytonutrients such as quercetin and dietary fiber which contributes to good digestive health. Prunes also contain essential vitamins and minerals.
Kiwi
Originally known as the Chinese gooseberry, kiwi is a rich source of vitamins and potassium. The skin is a good source of flavonoid antioxidants.
Blueberry
Blueberries have a diverse range of nutrients with notably high levels of manganese, vitamin C, vitamin K, and dietary fiber. Especially in wild species, blueberries contain anthocyanins, other antioxidant pigments, and various phytochemicals.
Pomegranate
Pomegranate is a good source of vitamins, potassium, and antioxidant polyphenols. Some pomegranate polyphenols have been shown to have potent free-radical scavenging properties. Many pomegranate phytonutrients have cardio-protective properties.
Lychee
Lychee is a tropical fruit, which grows primarily in Asia, Southeast Asia, and the Northern part of India. It is rich in vitamin C, potassium, and copper. Lychee fruit may be good for digestive health. Research has also shown that lychee fruit has many health protective phytonutrients.
Camu Camu
A low-growing shrub found throughout the Amazon, camu camu is round and red when young and dark purple when ripe. These fruits are about the size of lemons and contain a significant amount of vitamin C.
Pear
Originally from Europe and Asia, pears have a soft, buttery, and somewhat grainy texture. The white to cream-colored flesh of pears was once referred to as the “gift of the gods.” Juicy and sweet, pears may help promote cardiovascular and colon health. The phytonutrients in pears include catechin, and quercetin.
Banana
Bananas are typically grown in the humid, tropical region of South America and have very beneficial nutritional properties. They are a good source of vitamins and other nutrients including fiber and potassium. Some of the phytonutrients in bananas include alpha-carotene, gallocatechin, cyanidin, delphinidin, and leucoyanidin.
Bilberry
Bilberry is a perennial shrub, reddish purple in color and native to Northern Europe and North America. Bilberries are high in substances called flavonoids, which are found in many fruits and vegetables and are particularly abundant in citrus fruits and berries. Bilberry flavonoids are associated with good vision and eye function.
Wolfberry
Wolfberry is also known as the goji berry, dubbed a superfruit for its nutrient content and antioxidant capacity. Wolfberry contains polysaccharides, anthocyanidins and resveratrol. Almost half of all the harvested wolfberries come from China. With a nutty taste, the wolfberry is used as dried fruit; pulp and powders for juice; and in tea, wine, coffee, soups, and other various meal dishes."
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Saturday, August 1, 2009
MonaVie vs. Sambazon - The Debate Continues
I recently recieved a comment on our Parents Under Construction website explaining to me how Sambazon was better than MonaVie for a variety of reasons that I had not considered in my comparison of the two products. Click here to read the comparison I had written.
Although a number of comments the writer gave I know the answer to myself, there were a number of other comments that I decided to e-mail directly to MonaVie to find out the facts.
Below are the reader's statements with my answers as well as answers direct from MonaVie's Product Support group after the statement in blue:
"#1:Sambazon is a vertically integrated company meaning that they have total control from start to finish. They buy their acai direct from a co-op of growers (Mona-Vie does not, they go through a middle man which Sambazon used to have to do). The importance with this is the quality of acai varies greatly depending on the season, when it was picked, ect.
Directly from MonaVie Product Support: "Our acai comes from a supplier. Independent certificates of analysis are issued for the raw ingredients and finished MonaVie product. A certificate of analysis accompanies each raw ingredient. Certificates of analysis validate and verify purity, quality, and safety." "The açai that MonaVie uses is not from a farm or plantation. It is from wild açai trees within the Amazon Rainforest. We do not buy from any type of farm. We choose to buy from the local Amazonians who literally climb the açai tree to the top and pick the berries."
#2: Sambazon is NOT freeze dried after it is bought. the skin and pulp is removed from the seed and it is immediately frozen in large drums to be sent to the
Direct from MonaVie's Product Support:
"Either way is fine. Freeze-drying acai is a different process from freezing. The studies we have are just on our freeze-dried acai. We use both acai puree and freeze-dried acai in our blends. There are many benefits to freeze-drying, such as:
Freeze dried açai:
MonaVie uses freeze-dried açai and is the first to use this form of Açai in a juice. This same form of freeze-dried Açai with its proprietary process and associated claims has applied for patent protection in the U.S and 10 international countries. While MonaVie is not the patent owner, the company has been given full access and rights to the patent’s intellectual properties.
Freeze drying benefits:
Low temperatures of freeze drying ensure that the powerful phytonutrients remain intact. Other processing methods destroy a significant portion of phytonutrients. Air drying destroys 55 percent phytochemicals and spray drying destroys 70 percent phytochemicals content of açai.
1. Retains original characteristics of the product, including:
- color
- form
- size
- taste
- texture
- nutrient
2. Cold storage not required
3. Reconstitutes to original state when placed in water
4. No waste
5. Shelf stable at room temperature
6. The weight of the freeze-dried products is reduced (70 to 90 percent) with no change in volume
7. The product is light weight and easy to handle
8. Saves on shipping; shipping costs are reduced because of weight and lack of refrigeration
9. Low water activity virtually eliminates microbiological concerns
10. Offers highest quality in a dry product compared to other drying methods
MonaVie has tested freeze dried Açai powder nine months after its production date and the nutrient levels were still at the same levels they were at when the freeze dried powder was tested after production.
Freeze drying process:
Once picked from the vine, enzymatic degradation deteriorates many valuable nutrients from the berry. The harvested berries are processed within 48 hours to preserve their nutritional content. The Açai fruit is then processed into a pulp containing 14 percent solids. The pulp solids are immediately frozen and placed on trays which enter a freeze drying chamber. This process has many benefits. By freeze drying the Açai fruit, the powerful antioxidants such as polyphenols are preserved."
#3: it's organic. mona vie is not."
Direct from MonaVie's Product Support:
"The acai used in MonaVie is wild crafted and comes directly from the forest, therefore organic certification would be unnecessary. MonaVie is not certified organic. However, to ensure safety the finished MonaVie products are regularly tested for dozens of pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides by an independent, third-party analytical laboratory. Each test performed has repeatedly found the products to be free of any of these potentially harmful substances. This added step in MonaVie’s quality control process ensures our consumers are getting a safe, pure, and high-quality product."
#4: it's sustainable..aka they only buy from growers that keep a natural ratio of acai palms to other natives on their property. if they start planting all acai, Sambazon won't buy from them anymore.
Direct from MonaVie Product Support:
"What ensures companies such as MonaVie to continue to harvest açai berries in the Amazon Rainforest?
Total consumption of the Açai fruit including what is consumed in Brazil is approximately 160,000 tons per year representing approximately 20 percent of the açai that is actually available for harvesting. The challenges are not in the amount available but in the effort that is involved in harvesting the berry. Açai grows wild and is harvested by climbing the açai palm tree and picking the fruit much like you would imagine picking coconuts from a palm tree.
Saving the Rainforest:
Thank you for your questions about MonaVie and its efforts to preserve the Brazilian Rainforest. MonaVie does all it can to promote and save the rainforest. Here are some astonishing facts about the Rainforest. Fourteen percent of the Earth’s land used to be covered in rainforest, today it is only a mere six percent.
In 2005 alone 10,088 square miles of the Amazon Rainforest were destroyed. Many of the pharmaceutical drugs used today were originally discovered in the Amazon Rainforest. Because of the abundance of plant life, this area of the world is called appropriately the “lungs of the planet.” We need to do all we can to preserve this section of land and prevent further destruction.
MonaVie has taken great efforts to help preserve this essential area of the world. The açai that MonaVie uses is not from a farm or plantation. It is from wild açai trees within the Amazon Rainforest. We do not buy from any type of farm. We choose to buy from the local Amazonians who literally climb the açai tree to the top and pick the berries.
Many of the locals that we buy from have used in the past the açai palm tree specifically for the hearts of palm. The hearts of palm is a section of the trunk popularly used in salads. When the hearts of palm is removed from the açai palm, the açai tree will inevitably die. We have chosen to use many of the same hearts of palm harvesters to now help harvest the açai berry. This helps decrease the production of hearts of palm and destruction of the rainforest.
We pay the harvesters substantially more to harvest the açai berry than they would otherwise to harvest the hearts of palm. Also, the education we have given to the harvesters of the hearts of palm has shown very beneficial results. Many of these harvesters have begun planting more açai trees when one has died. In this way we have contributed to the preservation of the rainforest and helped the economy in these regions.
In addition to this, when an açai tree dies naturally (they will live about 100 years), about five seedlings are replanted. The açai berry can be harvested within a few short years. In 2007 alone, we have already helped to preserve over 1,000 acres of the Amazon Rainforest.
Total consumption of the Açai fruit including what is consumed in Brazil is approximately 160,000 tons per year representing approximately 20 percent of the Açai that is actually available for harvesting. MonaVie is the largest consumer of açai in Brazil. The amount of açai in the rainforest is overwhelming, but we still feel it necessary to continue to preserve this abundant supply.
Does harvesting the açai berry destroy the Amazon Rainforest?
No. In fact, MonaVie is helping to preserve the Amazon Rainforest by harvesting the açai berry. Each week, poachers illegally chop down 5,000–10,000 palm trees to obtain and sell a 12-inch section of the palm known as the “palmito.” As a result, the entire tree dies. On the other hand, by harvesting the açai berry, the palm tree continues to thrive and the natives have an incentive to preserve the açai-bearing palm tree."
#5: it's fair-trade. mona vie is not. they pay the growers a higher than average pay for their acai as well as support many side ventures for others in the community."
Direct from MonaVie's product support:
"MonaVie seeks to conduct its business ethically and responsibly and expects its independent distributors to do the same. MonaVie has implemented the practices and policies for ethical conduct required by the US Direct Selling Association (http://dsa.org/ethics/) and the World Federation of Direct Selling Associations (http://wfdsa.org/world_codes/index.cfm?fa=modelCodeLanguage). These ethical codes and MonaVie's policies and practices are consistent with fair trade laws and regulations in all jurisdictions in which it operates."
In terms of giving back to the local community, click here to read about The MORE Project, a project whose operational costs are funded 100% by MonaVie.
"#6: as you said, THE PRICE!!! $2.99 for FRESH, ORGANIC acai juice in most major retailer across the country. i live in southern
- The price is not comparable when you look at it on a per serving basis. The nutrient claims for both products are based on a per serving basis, so to not compare the price on a per serving basis does not make sense. Click here to review the cost per serving from the original post. MonaVie Original's retail per serving cost (keep in mind you can purchase it for even cheaper as a distributor for wholesale and even cheaper for bulk pricing) is around $1.56/serving, Sambazon is $2.30/serving.
- In terms of being easily accessible, MonaVie will show up at your front door step. I don't think you can get any more accessible than that.
"#7: there is no water in sambazon. yes, some of the juices are blended with other fruit concentrates...just like mona vie, but once again, these are ORGANIC fruits that are healthy for you."
Direct from Distributor Support:
"MonaVie fruits are purees and concentrates. This is shown on the ingredient label.
MonaVie Original Juice Ingredients: Proprietary blend of açai (freeze-dried powder and puree); Fruit juice from concentrate (white grape, apple, acerola, aronia, purple grape, cranberry, passion fruit, cupuaçu, prune, kiwi, blueberry, wolfberry [goji], pomegranate, lychee, camu camu); fruit purees (pear, banana, bilberry); natural flavor, citric acid, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate.
Concentrating is a way to remove the water from a product for ease of shipping."
In regards to the organic issue, here is more information direct from MonaVie's Product Support:
"The acai used in MonaVie is wild crafted and comes directly from the forest, therefore organic certification would be unnecessary. MonaVie is not certified organic. However, to ensure safety the finished MonaVie products are regularly tested for dozens of pesticides, insecticides, and herbicides by an independent, third-party analytical laboratory. Each test performed has repeatedly found the products to be free of any of these potentially harmful substances. This added step in MonaVie’s quality control process ensures our consumers are getting a safe, pure, and high-quality product."
#8: they use agave nectar as a sweetener which is much for your body than cane sugar used elsewhere."
Direct from MonaVie Product Support:
"MonaVie doesn’t use sweeteners in Active, Original, Pulse, and Kosher. The corn syrup solids help emulsify the plant sterols in Pulse.
Corn syrup solids are very safe. They are used as a carrier in the emulsification process of plant sterols. By emulsifying the plant sterols, they are more easily dispersed into MonaVie Pulse and MonaVie Pulse Gel. This process guarantees you will receive the correct amount of plant sterols in each serving you consume.
Each serving of MonaVie Pulse contains about 200 mg or 0.2 grams of corn syrup solids, which equates to 0.2 grams of carbohydrates or less than 1 calorie. This is a very small amount. Corn syrup solids should not be confused with high fructose corn syrup, which is often added as one of the first ingredients in sodas and fruit drinks for sweetness and flavor."
Also, as far as the sugar goes per serving in your comparison, look at the serving size. For Sambazon it's the entire 10.5oz bottle, some of which contain 30 grams of sugar per serving and a serving is 8 ounces! So that's over 30 grams of sugar in one bottle. MonaVie's serving size is between 1 - 2 oz./serving depending on which drink you are drinking and the range in grams of sugar/serving is between 3 -7 so even a diabetic can, in most cases, safely drink MonaVie.
MonaVie's serving size offers a comparable nutritional value in one to two ounces compared to Sambazon's 8 ounces for a comparable nutritional value (i.e. ORAC units/serving).
"#9: and last but not least...i could go on for days, acai is EXTREMELY perishable, hence all of sambazon's products, minus their suppliements need to be refrigerated or frozen and have about a 3mo. shelf life. think twice when you buy that bottle of 1-2yr old mona vie."
I have to agree with you here, I too would not want to be drinking a one year old bottle of MonaVie or a 3 month or older bottle of Sambazon. This is the shelf life of the product however, it does not in any way imply that you will be drinking 3 month old Sambazon or 12 month old MonaVie, it is simply stating that after this period of time it is not recommended for consumption. So obviously the sooner you drink it the better.
To the writer of these comments: I just want the answers, like you, and I am tired of researching all over the internet listening to people pull facts of nowhere that have no references whatsoever. This is why I started this blog in the first place and why I refuse to post anything that came from a source other than MonaVie corporate or wikipedia.
I am responding to your comments in the form of a post so that we all can benefit from all of the hard work and time and research you and I have dedicated to learning more about these products. I have no problem with Sambazon, I like their products, although I do find their juices to be way too sweet for me. I feel that Sambazon and MonaVie are fairly comparable products for the most part, however Sambazon will never pay me to drink their product and MonaVie will. Sambazon will never give me the wholesale price as a regular consumer, MonaVie will. Sambazon will never allow me to get a bulk order discount as a retail consumer, MonaVie will.
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