In early 2005, a team of researchers and doctors released a unique formula under the brand name of MonaVie. It merged the Acai Berry’s diverse nutrient range with 18 other fruits chosen from a broad color spectrum(31) and containing catalogued, complementary phytonutrients and antiinflammatory components (31,40). The "Mona Vie Active", a very well received version of the formula includes glucosamine and Celadrin® for added anti-inflammatory support. The 19 ingredients and hundreds of benefits are:

THE SCIENCE OF MONA VIE
SCIENCE, FRUITS AND TODAY'S DIET

According to the UCLA Center for Human Nutrition, the four most consumed plant foods (fruits or vegetables) in America are:

French fries, ketchup, pizza sauce and iceberg lettuce!

Is it any wonder that obesity has become an epidemic and that even children are now afflicted with many of the "lifestyle" diseases once reserved for older people?

Yes, we all know we should eat more fruits and vegetables. But lives are busy. Quick meals are often a necessity. Fresh produce is expensive in many locales. We tend to get bored with apples, bananas and oranges. Parents don't have time to enforce healthy eating habits upon their children.

Because of the powerful phytonutrients from the broad color spectrum of nutrient-dense fruits in MonaVie, here at last is a product that might well make up for many of the diet deficiencies in countries around the world. The fact that it tastes delicious is purely a bonus!

Set aside the slices of pepperoni for a moment, and look at a "Slice of Life" as it relates to the American diet. Unfortunately, there are parallels in other nations as well.

OUR EATING SCOREBOARD

The 2005 USDA Food Guide Pyramid has increased the recommended servings of fruits to 2-4 daily and vegetables to 3-5 daily, spearheading the change with their "5 a day" campaign and noting that we are particularly deficient in consumption of fruits.

Current food consumption estimates for Americans

• Only 10% eat even 5 daily servings of fruits and vegetables.
• Average fruit consumption is only 1.4 servings daily.
• O nly 17% eat 2-4 fruits daily.
• Only 12% have what could be called a "good" diet.

Faculty members in the Harvard School of Public Health feel the revised government recommendations still fall short, are much too heavily influenced by powerful food lobby groups, and do not put into perspective the wealth of research conducted during the last ten years that has reshaped the definition of healthy eating. Their statement:

[If there's anything close to being "proved" in nutrition research, it's that eating lots of fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of heart disease, some types of cancer, and other chronic diseases. The U.S. government's "5 a day" campaign makes five servings of fruits and vegetables look like a goal when it should actually be a lower limit.]

THE PHYTONUTRIENT REVOLUTION

Phytonutrients have catapulted to the top of nutritional science research. "Phytonutrients Take Center Stage" was published in the December 1999 issue of Agricultural Research magazine.

Phytonutrients are a class of health-promoting, bio-active compounds with many sub-categories. By some counts, more than 100,000 phytonutrient compounds have already been identified and catalogued. Around the world, new discoveries are being continually made by health scientists. Some of the more common class names are Carotenoids and Flavonoids (Polyphenols).

Most known phytonutrients are strongly related to pigment. Dark red and blue pigmented flavonoids, with names like isoflavones, anthocyanins, flavinols, catechins and phenols are dominant in fruits. And richly colored fruits are considered the most potent source of anti-aging antioxidants of any commonly eaten foods!

(And no, this does not mean that drinking darker colored soft drinks is healthier than the lemon-lime varieties! We should banish them all from our diets!)

According to Dr. Ralph Carson, the company's Chief Science Officer and primary formulator of MonaVie, research shows free radicals may be largely responsible for chronic illnesses such as heart disease and cancer. Once the ORAC test (oxygen radical absorption capacity) was perfected, some companies touted high ORAC ratings to make their products appear better than others. Later research has shown that a higher ORAC value does not necessarily equate to better or more effective. On the contrary, too much of certain substances can have detrimental effects.

Perhaps most important to know about phytonutrients and fruits is that they appear to be far more beneficial and effective in promoting health when a combination of fruits (not just a single fruit) is consumed.

THE SIENCE BEHIND MONAVIE

Unlike many products that are rushed to market because someone spots a trend and tries to quickly cash in on it, MonaVie's entry into the Wellness arena came slowly and meticulously. Its creators spent many long months formulating MonaVie and making it palatable -- knowing that only if it tasted good would people be likely to try it and thus discover its profound benefits.

The scientific team's efforts were based upon and supported by more than two decades of nutritional science evolution related to the role of antioxidants and more recent years of discoveries about phytonutrients and the crucial roles they play in health.

The Medical Advisory Board agreed that a product that addressed chronic inflammation was MUCH needed and concurred that the use of fruits, glucosamine and a proprietary blend of fatty acids could target what has become a global health issue of pandemic proportions.

Balance, Moderation and Variety--Keys to Effectiveness

Fruits are an abundant source of many thousands of phytonutrients as well as at least 8 Vitamins and minerals -- including Vitamin C which is known to be a powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. According to Dr. Mary Ann Lila, University of Illinois, although the most publicized property of bioflavinoids is their antioxidant capacity, they also serve as anti-inflammatory agents.

Many of the 19 fruits selected for the MonaVie formula, starting with legendary Acai Berry from the Amazon Rainforest, have centuries-old traditions of being used as medicines by the indigenous people of their respective regions. More recent years of scientific research have validated the phytonutrient content and health benefits of these fruits. (Hippocrates was RIGHT!)

Because of the extremely powerful yet sensitive phytonutrients in the Acai Berry, MonaVie uses Acai as its headline ingredient--to keep intact all the health promoting characteristics of this wondrous fruit.

Most known phytonutrients are strongly linked to pigment, Mother Nature's way of protecting botanicals from intense sunlight and other harsh conditions. Health experts today agree it is best to consume a color spectrum VARIETY of fruits to gain greatest advantage from their respective phytonutrients.

The fruits of MonaVie give us this spectrum: Acai Berry, pomegranate, white grape, nashi pear, acerola, pear, aronia, purple grape, cranberry, passionfruit, banana, apricot, prune, kiwi, blueberry, bilberry, camu camu, wolfberry and lychee.