The brand that stated “all natural” was not really.  It did have some strawberries in it, but it was also high in fructose corn syrup and three different preservatives. Not very natural!  I then read the organic strawberry bottle and lo and behold it was 100% nothing added certified organic strawberry jam!

The contents look pretty much the same, but clearly they were not.  The organic jam may have cost more – but it was what I really wanted – real strawberry jam.

The other day we ran across a video that emphasizes the point even further.  “Blueberries found in blueberry bagels, cereals, breads and muffins are REAL blueberries right? Wrong! Award-winning investigative journalist Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, exposes the deceptive chemical ingredients and dishonest marketing of “blueberry” products from big-name food and cereal companies. The blueberries, it turns out, are made from artificial colors, hydrogenated oils and liquid sugars.”

This video really illustrates the point:

As you all know from our newsletters and website we try to push this message.  It really is important to know what you are buying.  Buying organic is very important.  This is why!

There are many companies marketing products that don’t contain what they appear to, based on the front label.  Much of the Goji, Mangosteen, Acai, Noni, Pomegranate, Maqui, Sea Buckthorn Oil,, Tamanu Oil, and Oregano Oil for sale are so much less than the pure product you should expect.  Many are significantly diluted versions of their former selves, containing only trace amounts of the ingredients listed on the label. Plus, a whole lot of other ingredients you don’t want.

It’s not just off-brands marketed on the web – it’s big name brands and retailers that are providing misleading information regularly.  We are not big fans of the Walmart’s, Monsanto’s and GNC’s of the world.  We like and do support small business that are the backbone of this nation.

This is why buying organic products is really worth the effort and the cost.  In order to be organic they have to be independently inspected, and additive free!  Its a way of really ensuring you are getting what you intend to get!

So read the label, buy organic when you can, buy natural when you can and live healthy!

Thanks,

CAOH

With the cold and flu season upon us it’s important to take some preventative, proactive steps.  We get reports from our customers coping with all stages of cold and flu symptoms — some from the first aches and pains to those with full-blown fever and congestion. Here are a few tips to help during the cold and flu season to hold off and combat colds and flu naturally.

First, it is important to make sure you’re doing everything you can to boost your immune system to prevent illness. Stay hydrated, and eat a healthy balanced diet that incorporates a variety of foods, get between 7-8 hours of sleep and perform some type of exercise, for at least 30 minutes, every other day.  Dr. Marcus Ettinger, with 21 years of treating cold and flu patients recommends taking a daily multi-vitamin and mineral supplement. By giving your body that needed nutritional support, you’re much better equipped to fight off seasonal sickness.

Want to nip symptoms in the bu**? Have some favorite products on hand at home, so when the first signs of a cold or flu appear you have them readily available. Researching what works best for you and your family in advance will also create a sense of empowerment.

Here are a few natural products that have worked time and again for many people:

1.    Vitamin C has been studied for many years as a possible treatment for colds, or as a way to prevent colds.

2.    Keeping up on your Multi-Vitamin and Mineral supplements:

A.   Liquids Power Multi V™ (for ages 12 through senior adults).

B.    Kidamins™ (for ages 1 through 12) (See below).

3.   Immune-Plus Elixir™ which includes the immune stimulating power of Black Elderberry, Red Raspberry, Pomegranate, Red Beet and Honey.  Great for helping with a cough!

4.   Liquid Immune Barrier Advanced Formula™ with the immune supporting power of Norwegian Beta Glucan and Echinacea.  This is great to take the minute you sense any kind of cold symptom to prevent worsening.

Some people also find oregano oil and Colloidal silver be helpful, whether they are experiencing a bacterial or viral infection.

A.   Oregano Oil: Note: Internally 1-4 drops 2-3 times daily. Use caution Very Strong – suggest mixing with another carrier oil, juice, shake/smoothie or water. When used externally – dilute and apply liberally.

B.   Colloidal Silver: Has a long history of use – that works great for many people.

The key to natural immune support is dosing every two hours. That’s why tincture formulas (liquid dropper formulas) are great — they can be added to juice or water, making it much easier to take more frequently.

Finally, rest, sleep, rest, sleep — staying hydrated and nourished. FYI: It’s OK and probably a good idea to take a day off work.  In most cases the flu is self-resolving with practiced wellness and resting.  Of course, if symptoms have progressed into the chest or symptoms don’t seem to improve, a physician should always be consulted.

Of course if you have specific questions please drop Dr. Ettinger a message at askthedoctor@caoh.com. Or give us a call at 800-643-7188.

Stay Healthy!

CAOH

“Selecting organic produce and organic processed fruits and vegetables will increase antioxidant levels by about 30 percent, compared to produce grown on otherwise similar conventional farms.”

There are two reasons why organic fruits and vegetables are higher in antioxidant compounds. The first reason is linked to what is called “pest pressure.”  Plants under stress from pests have to engage their natural defense mechanisms, called secondary plant metabolites or SPMs.  Most SPMs tend to be antioxidants and they’re also responsible for giving plants their bright colors and distinctive flavors.  When organically grown plants have to engage their defense mechanisms, they yield fruits and vegetables that are higher in SPMs and therefore higher in antioxidants.  This also explains why you can actually taste the difference between organic and conventionally grown produce.  Organic produce tends to have a much richer and fuller flavor in part because of those antioxidant rich SPMs.

The second reason has to do with using the natural growing methods on organic farms. Conventional farms speed up plant growth by heavily fertilizing plants and spraying pesticides to get plants to grow as quickly as possible. This actually shortens the growth cycle for plants and yields fruits and vegetables that are lower in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Organic farms, on the other hand, rely on slower/natural growth cycle to allow fruits and vegetables to mature naturally.  This leads to better tasting and far more nutritious produce.

Obviously this is good and good for you!

Foods with the most antioxidants per serving:

Acai and Maqui berries offer some of the highest antioxidant levels of all super fruits and berries.

Elderberries are also high in antioxidants and are related to blueberries and cranberries. Studies have also shown elderberries can be effective in boosting the immune system and helping reduce your risk of colds, flu and coughs. For more on elderberries and the benefits of elderberry juice in boosting your immune system naturally, click here.

But remember, a person can not live on just one fruit alone!  Variety is the spice of life, and that’s why it’s so great we have all these wonderful organic products to choose from.  Click here to see more great antioxidant rich fruit and berry products.

Compounds in Pomegranate may fight breast cancer!

Enzyme-blocking chemicals in pomegranates (phytochemicals) may reduce the risk of estrogen-fueled breast cancers, U.S. researchers said on Tuesday.

An acid found in pomegranates appears to block aromatase, an enzyme that converts androgen to estrogen, a hormone that plays a role in the development of breast cancer, the researchers wrote in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.

“We identified some of these chemicals in pomegranates that actually have properties that can suppress aromatase,” researcher Shiuan Chen, of the City of Hope cancer research and treatment center in Duarte, California, said in a telephone interview.

Many women who have had breast cancer take medicines called aromatase inhibitors — such as Pfizer’s Aromasin, Novartis’ Femara and AstraZeneca Plc’s Arimidex — to keep estrogen from feeding tumors.

Chen and colleagues studied whether compounds, or phytochemicals, in pomegranates can suppress aromatase and ultimately block cancer growth. They found that 10 natural compounds in the fruit may potentially prevent estrogen-related breast cancer.

Chen said the compounds would not be a replacement for aromatase inhibitors.

“We do not recommend people start taking this as a replacement for the AI’s,” Chen said. “They (pomegranate compounds) are not as potent as the real drugs so we think that the interest probably is more on the prevention end rather than in a therapeutic purpose.”

Other researchers not associated with the study told the journal that the results are promising, and suggested more studies involving animals and humans were needed to confirm the findings.

“It’s not clear that these levels could be achieved in animals or in humans because the (compounds) are not well absorbed into blood when provided in the diet,” said Gary Stoner of Ohio State University.

Dr. Powel Brown, an oncologist at the University of Texas, said in a statement that future studies should focus on testing pomegranate juice for its effect on estrogen levels, menopausal symptoms, breast density or even as a cancer preventive agent.

More than 400,000 women die from breast cancer globally every year. About 75 percent of breast cancers are estrogen-receptor positive, meaning they are fed by estrogen.

Previous research has shown that pomegranate juice is rich in antioxidants — vitamins and other substances — that may help prevent diseases such as cancer, heart disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

Pomegranate Products

Absolute Pomegranate Concentrate™ – Absolute Pomegranate Powder™

Acai-Max® – Mangosteen Elixir® – Maqui-Max™

I see you have some information of p-coumaric acid on you blog, I was just wondering if you know whether this chemical has GRAS status or if you are aware of any human clinical trials that have used p-coumaric acid? Do you have any supplements with just this compound in them?
 
Regards,

Arjan

Answer: Arjan,

That particular chemical is found in many different fruits (mangosteen, acai) and even peanuts. The issue is here is the actual percentage of the chemical found in each product. Unfortunately it’s in Parts Per Million (PPM). Until it is available in a standardized, stand alone form, it really is a non-issue in determining which fruit you should choose. My recommendation is to have as many dark colored (purple, blue, red) fruits as you can per day.

Here is a link on p-coumaric acid

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.

Related Products

Mangoteen Elixir
Absolute Mangosteen
Acai Max
Absolute Acai
Pomegranate Concentrate    

Thank you,

Nancy Schempp

Answer: Dear Nancy,

Timely question; I just returned home 5 hours ago from spending 8 days in Belem, Brazil. This area is where all of the acai comes from.

The pit is never used and comprises from 88-90% percent of the berry. The remaining 10-12% is skin and pulp. Acai Max is 60% acai with pomegranate, red raspberry, black elderberry, and Amazonian camu camu. We are not like Mona Vie as we are not an MLM, we “DO” state the percentage of acai in our juice, and all of the fruits in our juice serve a purpose, not just there for taste or thickening purposes.

Kids can drink either Mona Vie or Acai Max.

I hope this helps. Look back to the Acai Max page in the coming days for a written and picture – show and tell – from our trip.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.

9/19/2007 Question: I recently contacted the Dr. from the forum on the quality of Acai Max as opposed to Monavie. In comparing the two products (Monavie or Acai-Max), I am trying to get the best product for the best price. Can you let me know what you think about the difference in processing. The Monavie people claim they flash FREEZE the berries within 24 hrs. of picking. Is your Acai Max processed the same way?

Thank you,

Nancy Schempp

A note to me from my friend.

Just a heads up , All of what was stated in that email is NOT 100% accurate. Monavie is the ONLY juice company that FLASH FREEZES the berries within 24 hours of picking them. The reason for this is because Fruit starts to lose its nutrition and ORAC value within 24 hours. The ORAC value ( Oxygen Reduction Absorption Capacity) started in the U.S. in 1991. It is the FDA’s way of measuring the nutrition in fruit. Before the ACAI berry was discovered Cranberries were the highest with 93 ORAC. ACAI from Monavie has 1027. Also, Monavie did tons of extensive research to pick the 19 Fruits they chose for the juice, it is not for thickening the juice only.

Also, the heart for Monavie and the MLM is to get your juice for free by enrolling 2 people on each leg. Then your juice is free. Otherwise yes it comes out to about $3 a day BUT it is the BEST juice out there and highly ironic that ALL the other juice companies compare themselves to Monavie. It’s totally up to you but it is clearly a choice between GOOD and BEST. Monavie is the best and highest ORAC, antioxident values out in the market .If you want more info please go to this site juicedocs.com

Answer: Nancy,

“It is processed 100% exactly the same.” Your friend has been indoctrinated into the MLM religion and only speaks the MLM propaganda. I could critique and correct many parts of her comment (ORAC & the FDA, Mona Vie is the only one, Extensive research on the 19 fruits, and Not for thickening) but that’s not the point here. I just returned from Brazil yesterday and 2 MonaVie reps were at the same factory as us checking out the operation (processing method and acai berries). Check back to our Acai Max page in the coming days for a complete debriefing of our trip with tons of acai pictures and lots of true data about acai.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.

Nancy: Thank you thank you thank you

Dr. E: You are welcome.

9/19/2007 From Nancy: I Ordered 24 bottles about two hours ago………The only thing I didn’t fully grasp is why Monavie has 19 fruits & Acai-Max has 5? They also claim that a lot of the nutrients are in the pulp/skin & seeds. I have been taking 220 mg of pure grape seed for over 10 years now and never get a cold or sniffle. I know it’s the seed that has a great deal of the nutrients. Of course if I could drink a lot of wine, that would do it too. LOL

The bottling of the Movavie is great, keeps it very cold, I just don’t know if I buy that it is necessary and I am really not interested in doing a pyramid with people paying for my juice. I feel if it is so good for people, make it affordable for everyone. What would we have done if Dr. Salk wanted to keep his price high on the polio vaccine? I want to see people healed of diseases that attack their bodies and I know the human body was made to heal itself. Stress is the biggest factor next to the contaminants we ingest. We have so many pollutants that work against us so we need nutritious supplements.

Thank you again for getting back to me.

Nancy

9/19/2007 From ME: Nancy,

That’s great and I know you will be very satisfied! Acai has a giant seed. 88-90% of the berry is seed and it is not used at all, totally discarded. The similarity between a red grape and acai is in the high polyphenol content in the skins.
Mona Vie, as a quick example, contains: banana puree, white grape juice from concentrate, apricot juice from concentrate, and pear puree. I know those fruits taste good (and as with most fruits and vegetables contain potassium) but I’ve never read, ever, where any of them have been used for specific therapeutic purposes. For the most part they help you get you daily serving of fruits.

Our 5 fruits all have peer reviewed journal articles in which they are referenced and all of them have a long track record in holistic medicine.

E-mail me any time and it was a pleasure to share thoughts and ideas with you.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.

A: Doris,

Here is a lot of easy to read data on the pomegranate – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pomegranate

As far as cancer goes: Research suggests that pomegranate juice may be effective against prostate cancer^[14][15] and osteoarthritis.^[16] In 2007, six clinical trials in the United States, Israel and Norway have been approved to examine the effects of pomegranate juice consumption on parameters of prostate cancer or prostatic hyperplasia, diabetes or lymphoma ^[17].

Both acai and pomegranate are high in unique/different polyphenols, so both together would be better than each one separately.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.

Thank you

Teri P.

Answer: Dear Teri,

Our concentrate is 15:1, so 2 tablespoons will be about equal to two 8oz glasses of juice. Yes, you can mix it with juice or water.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.

Below is an excerpt from Fruits of the future.

Apples, oranges and bananas are super fruits, but not superfruits. These conventional fruits have laudable nutrient profiles and will always be great, healthy options, but they may soon be competing on a large scale with more exotic fruits. “The term superfruits has gone from being a catch-all phrase used by manufacturers to refer to new, exotic fruits with high antioxidant properties to being an accepted category of products on the retail and consumer level,” said Alex Moffett, president of Renaissance Herbs.

Discussion of superfruits in the health arena has centered on their antioxidant capacities, numerically referenced as ORAC values, and the potential role they may play in chipping away at diseases great and small. Research on these compounds’ effects on the oxidization of cholesterol continues to mount, and manufacturers are meeting increasing market demand for these antioxidant-rich ingredients. Exotic sources such as pomegranate, mangosteen, goji, acai­, noni, camu camu and others are gaining acceptance because of promising research.

Superfruit Tutorial

Pomegranates’ (Punica granatum L.) antioxidant potential has been explored for more than a decade and, according to Paul M. Gross, Ph.D., pomegranate has been the subject of 35 medical research studies since 1990, including 27 reports within the past six years. The antioxidant compounds in pomegranate pericarp are known as punicalagins. Gross explained: “Chemically, punicalagins are considered tannins, which hydrolyze during metabolism to yield ellagic acid, a flavanol of the phenolic superfamily.” A 2006 study documented the anti-oxidative effects of pomegranate consumption on apolipoprotein e levels and cellular uptake of oxidized lipids in relation to atherosclerosis development in mice.1 Consumption of whole fruit pomegranate byproduct resulted in a significant reduction in atherosclerotic lesion size by up to 57 percent. Also, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol uptake was reduced by up to 19 percent. More recently, pomegranate antioxidants are being studied for their ability to help the body fight cancer. By tally of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), three studies on the efficacy of pomegranate consumption are in the recruiting stages; two will explore prostate cancer, and the third enlarging of the prostate.

Another exotic fruit generating interest is mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana). As with other superfruits, varying parts of the fruit provide health benefits. According to Gross, “The purple pericarp [of the mangosteen], which is not considered edible, is a rich source for extracting antioxidant phytochemicals, whereas the interior flesh is valued as a juice or pulp product.”

Two primary xanthone extracts “garcinol and mangostina” have “potential as anti-inflammatory agents with preliminary evidence for inhibiting cyclo-oxygenase (COX) enzymes and carcinogenic effects,” he said. A 2004 study explored the antiproliferative, apoptotic and antioxidative properties of crude methanolic extract (CME) from the pericarp of the mangosteen on human breast cancer cells.2 Researchers “found that antiproliferative effect of CME was associated with apoptosis on breast cancer cell line by determinations of morphological changes and oligonucleosomal DNA fragments”, and that the extract “has potential for cancer chemoprevention.”

Wayne Geilman, Ph.D., senior research scientist at Pure Fruit Technologies, added to the list of mangosteen’s abilities: “We found the xanthones in mangosteen are COX-2 inhibitors,” he said. If you stop that enzyme, you don’t get inflammation, and if you don’t get inflammation, you don’t get pain.” Other uses of mangosteen components include appetite suppression, and use in topical skin care products.

Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum), also referred to as “Goji“, has also come to the forefront of exotic health foods for an extensive nutrient profile. Clinical trials involving wolfberry are spotty, but animal trials suggest potential benefits for humans. A 2006 study found the antioxidant polysaccharides in wolfberries reduce the risks of lipid peroxidation accelerated by free radicals in aged mice.3 Another 2006 study noted the fruit’s nutritional value in Chinese culture for addressing liver, kidney and vision problems, and found extracts of the fruit to have cytoprotective effects against reducing stress on the endoplasmic reticulum.4 Because the berries are originally from China and have been part of Chinese diets for thousands of years, indigenous literature regarding myriad health benefits of the berries has given formulators the initiative to bank on the berries’ nutrient profile, said Gross.

Noni fruit, from Southeast Asia, also has limited clinical research to date. However, the fruit’s use in Polynesian medicines for hundreds of years has been the catalyst for research. Despite being approved as a Novel Food by the European Commission in 2003, liver toxicology issues have been a marketing hurdle for manufacturers. A recent study found – no link between adverse effects on liver and consumption of Noni juice,” but cautioned that, “clinical data are essentially lacking.”5 The other significant issue with noni fruit (Morinda citrifolia) is its foul taste. Tannins in ripened specimens impart a strong taste and odor to the fruit, so companies have developed processes for removing the tannins to enhance product taste.

Acai berries (Euterpe oleracea Mart) aren’t known for foul taste but, as with wolfberry, clinical research is limited. Two recent studies have, however, assayed the antioxidant capacities of both acai­ fruit and seeds. Both measured total oxidant scavenging capacity (TOSC), the first reporting: “The antioxidant capacities of all purple acai­ samples were found to be excellent against peroxyl radicals, good against peroxynitrite and poor against hydroxyl radicals compared with common European fruit and vegetable juices”;6 the second noting:

“The extracts exhibit good antioxidant capacity against peroxyl radicals, similar to the capacity of the pulp.”7 The study showed the antioxidant capacity against peroxynitrite and hydroxyl radicals to be even higher, but concluded much of the antioxidant capacity of the seeds came from yet unidentified compounds. Camu camu (Myrciaria dubia) has been spotlighted for its high vitamin C and anthocyanin levels. Like several other superfruits, trials involving camu camu are scarce. Research on the bright orange berries has increased as companies have addressed consumer demand for all natural vitamin C sources and attempted to capitalize on innovative antioxidant source demand.

As with most of the fruits under the superfruits canopy, camu camu has much potential for scavenging free radicals, ultimately combating oxidation of cholesterol.

References

1. West BJ et al. “Noni juice is not hepatotoxic.” World J Gastroenterol. 2006 Jun 14;12(22):3616-9. http://www.pubmed.gov/. Rosenblatt M et al. “Pomegranate byproduct administration to apolipoprotein e-deficient mice attenuates atherosclerosis development as a result of decreased macrophage oxidative stress and reduced cellular uptake of oxidized low-density lipoprotein.” J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Mar 8;54(5):1928-35. http://www.pubmed.gov/ . Rosenblatt M et al. “Pomegranate byproduct administration to apolipoprotein e-deficient mice attenuates atherosclerosis development as a result of decreased macrophage oxidative stress and reduced cellular uptake of oxidized low-density lipoprotein.” 2006 Mar 8;54(5):1928-35.

2. Rosenblatt M et al. “Pomegranate byproduct administration to apolipoprotein e-deficient mice attenuates atherosclerosis development as a result of decreased macrophage oxidative stress and reduced cellular uptake of oxidized low-density lipoprotein.” 2006 Mar 8;54(5):1928-35.2. Moongkarndi P et al. “Antiproliferation, antioxidation and induction of apoptosis by Garcinia mangostana (mangosteen) on SKBR3 human breast cancer cell line.” J Ethnopharmacol. 2004 Jan;90(1):161-6. http://www.pubmed.gov/

3. Li XM et al. “Effect of the Lycium barbarum polysaccharides on age-related oxidative stress in aged mice.” J Ethnopharmacol. 2006 Dec 28. http://www.pubmed.gov/

4. Yu MS et al. “Cytoprotective effects of Lycium barbarum against reducing stress on endoplasmic reticulum.” Int J Mol Med. 2006 Jun;17(6):1157-61. http://www.pubmed.gov/

5. Potterat O and Hamburger M. “Morinda citrifolia (Noni) Fruit – Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, Safety.” Planta Med. 2007 Feb 7. http://www.pubmed.gov/

6. Lichtenthaler R et al. “Total oxidant scavenging capacities of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Acai) fruits.” Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2005 Feb;56(1):53-64. http://www.pubmed.gov/

7. Rodrigues RB et al. “Total oxidant scavenging capacity of Euterpe oleracea Mart. (Acai­) seeds and identification of their polyphenolic compounds.” J Agric Food Chem. 2006 Jun 14;54(12):4162-7. http://www.pubmed.gov/