Are superfoods, super juice more of supermyths?

Live healthy and long

Rizal Philippines
December 18, 2016

I just came yesterday from a product and strategic plan presentation of Acai Berry Juice distribution in the Philippines and was wondering about the claims made as to efficacy, active components that re beneficial to the drinkers/users.  At P1,800  per 500 ml container, the Acai Berry whose contents are made and exported from USA, and whose berries come from South America, are not cheap.  And yet the Noni juice contents seem to be similar with Acai berry and would be cheaper since Noni trees abound in the Philippines.  I came across a professor who from Los Banos, from UP formerly from FAO who manufactures and markets Noni Juice and other variants here and abroad.  Acai berry targets the health conscious AB and emerging C (middle class) Primary Target Market and employs premium pricing

Noni juice is more competitive and higher phytonutrients

The Noni juice looks like a value for money and would help the  local industries/Filipinos more.   But the Acai Berry is a P140 million business.

From immunehealth - mango, strawberry and grapes have higher anti oxidant content that Acai berry

 And yet these fruits have higher anti oxidants than acai berry:   mango, strawberry and grapes.    Why spend more

MX 3 which comes in various format and in affordable packages  like tea and tablets.   Acai Berry is in tablet and liquid form.

What are  they supposed to be good for:   1.  Increased energy   2. Increased circulations (as there is less inflammation of the blood vessels.  3.  Vs cancer since they are contain anti oxidants   4. For strengthening the immune system

I was warned by my family physician that a mangosteen extract capsules which retail for P20+ is absolutely worthless.  No effect at all for any symptoms, even for more energy and better sleep as claimed by a fellow senior citizen.  I tried it when I had painful eye infection and the Dr. was right.

The products which are marketed in processed form lose their high potency in fresh form, as the phytonutrients lose their potency as their molecules are processed.   Thus being organic and natural becomes a false claim.

We buy because of huge adspend and the spin

                                                Fresh fruits are better


From Naturally proven



Thus in this article, the anti oxidants content of wheat juice and Acai berry were compared with that of fresh brocolli and and red apple.  They had more beneficial nutrients and cost lower.  Many bought because of the spin and high ad spend.  (An ordinary orange has more Vit. C than Goji berries)

 The FDA (both US and PHL) are careful to ask them to put labels that there are no claimed therapeutic benefits from them (except Lagundi which FDA endorsed for URT infection including asthma)  But for most, the claimed benefits cure are anecdotal and not evidence based.

For anti cancer and anti oxidants biologicals, the Malunggay would seem to be better and cheaper.  Dr. Christine Gonzales found cures in using the Malunggay juice in making her cancer patients better. Malunggay is available everywhere is cheap, puwedeng mahingi. (But the processed variants may not be so effective)   The Indian Ayurvedic medicine depended heavily on Malunggay for ages

Spend less and get more from fresh vegies and fruits (or there could be cheaper alternatives)

Indeed in yesterday's presentation, it was seen that the Acai berry marketeres spent some P40 million in a network to feature and promote their product in a program that proclaims it as Organic product (the networks now are stealing business away from ad agencies by doing all the work for them -  preparing the campaign research, getting the celebs)