Q and A: Juice Plus+®

Juice Plus+^® products are made from the juice powder concentrates and oils from more than 45 different fruits, vegetables and grains. While Juice Plus+ isn’t a substitute for eating fruits and vegetables, our whole food-based products support a healthy diet by offering a much wider variety of naturally occurring vitamins, along with antioxidants and phytonutrients found in fruits and vegetables. Every Juice Plus+ product is made from quality ingredients grown farm fresh, providing the natural nutrients your body needs.

In contrast, vitamins are man-made chemicals that are often way off of nature’s balance, and do not have the natural synergistic effect of nature’s food.

You are better off eating healthy and taking Juice Plus+, than trying to compensate for a poor diet with isolated, man-made chemicals.  There is also a lifestyle program called Shred10 where you can find support and recipes to eat healthier, along with making other important changes.

Listen to Dr. Ray’s answer in this recording, or click here for a transcript of the talk.

Listen to Dr. Ray’s answer in this recording, or click here for a transcript of the talk.

Published clinical research on Juice Plus+ supports why Juice Plus+ is such a compliment to your overall health and wellness. Watch Dr.Richard DuBois video “Maintaining Health: A Personal Responsibility” to get a more in depth explanation of the research at https://healthylivingrevolution.com/previous-live-videos/

Juice Plus+ contributes to overall health and physical performance. You can read Dr. Ray’s article on Juice Plus+ and Exercise, or listen to her two-part talk.

Part 1 of Juice Plus+ and Exercise recorded call

Part 2 of Juice Plus+ and Exercise recorded call

Not any more it isn’t!

NSA states that Juice Plus+ products are manufactured for NSA by contract manufacturers. These products are regularly tested using the Tepnel ELISA methodology (AOAC method 991.19) for the presence of gluten. After the formula change that replaced rice bran for barley bran, the test results show JuicePlus+ contains less than 20 parts per million gluten. People who are gluten intolerant thrive on Juice Plus+.

For some gluten-free recipes plant-based recipes, check out Simple and Delicious: Recipes for Vitality.

Listen to Dr. Ray’s answer in this recording, or click here for a transcript of the talk.

When making Juice Plus+, an extremely temperature-sensitive proprietary process is used to evaporate the water from the juice mix such that heat-sensitive nutrients retain their biochemical activity – the process of going from wet to dry occurs in a matter of seconds!

Thus, when you take Juice Plus+ with water, you reconstitute real food with active, bio-available nutrients. We know this to be true because more than a dozen independent studies published in peer-reviewed journals have shown the incredible response that Juice Plus+ has in the body to improve the status of various systems, such as the immune system and DNA repair mechanisms.

Technically, sugar is not purposefully removed from Juice Plus+. However, the bottom line is that the daily ration of four Juice Plus+ capsules contains less than 1 gram of residual sugar, which represents less than 4 calories. This is insignificant from the glycemic standpoint, and also insignificant even in the most restrictive of diabetic diets.

The process of sugar removal that we have talked about in the past is basically a simplification of the proprietary process to reduce the stickiness of the powdered juices, which causes the sugars to be bound by the more complex carbohydrates. This technique decreases the “water-loving” nature of the powder, and improves flowability in the encapsulation process.

An added advantage is that this process allows us to retain some of the soluble and insoluble fiber from the fruits, vegetables and berries which also contributes to the benefits of Juice Plus+.

Yes! Safe and incredibly valuable. You can listen to Dr. Ray’s answer in this recording, or read her article, “Eating for Two”.

Yes! There is not a reason on earth to worry about Juice Plus+ and nursing. On the other hand, there are a million and one reasons to take Juice Plus+ during nursing. Nursing is almost as critical as in-utero as far as nutrition is concerned. Ask yourself when is nutrition not important? When would fruits and veggies become dangerous? The baby is not going to become colicky because of Juice Plus+.

“Colic” is a term that doctors use when they can’t explain why babies are especially fussy, or in extreme discomfort. Quite often, babies have an intolerance or allergy to a food like soy, dairy, or wheat. It’s passed through breast milk or formula to the newborn, causing terrible pain or gas. Many pediatricians will chalk it up to “colic,” and never think to have the nursing mother go on an elimination diet to see which foods upset her baby. They’d rather try a prescription medication for the baby, or put the baby on formula.

One thing is certain: the fruits and vegetables in Juice Plus+ are extremely good for both the nursing baby, and the mother.

It is also useful for nursing mothers to eat whole ground flax seeds in order to get some “good fat” into her diet. Good fats and fruits and veggies make for the most nutritious breast milk.

Read more about JuicePlus+ and pregnancy.

Do not feed your baby cow’s milk. Goat milk is an okay choice until they are 2 years old, but of course breast milk is the best option.The World Health Organization recommends nursing up to two years of age or beyond. If nursing is impossible, you can find goat-milk-formula recipes online in order to make your own formula with a protein/fat/carbohydrate makeup that more closely resembles human milk.

Please read my article on Juice Plus+ and pregnancy.

B12 is not found in fruits and veggies. Some of the daily need comes from healthy bacteria making it in our gut, when one is eating a whole food, plant-based diet. I suggest 5 micrograms a day of a high-quality B12 supplement for strict vegans during pregnancy if you’ve been tested for deficiency.

The rest of us don’t really need a daily dose of B12. Once in awhile might be a good idea. Juice Plus+ doesn’t have any B12 because it is made entirely from fruits and vegetables. However, Juice Plus+ Complete does contain a good source of B12. This is the only source of B12 that my family and I consume, outside of what we get from the occasional bit of dirt still clinging to our root vegetables!

Juice Plus+ is made from the juices of fresh fruits and vegetables, and contains all of the vitamins and minerals present in the original juices.

There are literally thousands of different vitamins and phytonutrients in a single orange! This is in contrast to vitamin tablets that contain only a few vitamins in fragmented, isolated, and unnatural rations. Nowhere in nature will one find a food that has the vitamin content of a vitamin pill.

Bioavailability or synergistic effect found in fruits and vegetables is missing in the vitamin tablets. Such a comparison would be meaningless, and impossible.

The JuicePlus+ product was compared to juicing early on, and it took over a pint of fresh juice made from the same 7 fruits, and another pint of juice made from the same 8 veggies, to get the nutrient equivalent of Juice Plus+.

That brochure is not used anymore because the technology used to make the product has been improved at least twice since then, so the data would be better, but different (therefore, not scientifically accurate).

NSA chose not to reproduce that same result and they have now moved into efficacy trials – that is “Does the product work in the body?” – this goes beyond just showing what’s in it.

Learn more about the clinical research that supports JuicePlus+ efficacy.

Because Juice Plus^® contains such a rich variety of whole food nutrients from so many plant sources, there were no existing vegan capsules in the existing marketplace that had the chemical properties to protect all that nutrition. After years of investment into research and development, and market trials, the Juice PlusÒ Company finally has a great vegan capsule that works.

These vegan capsules are made from a polysaccharide called pullulan that comes from tapioca starch.

There is a very small amount of carrageenan used in the manufacture of the capsules (see the section of carrageenan if you have any concerns). The purpose small amount of carrageenan is to help the pullulan form in a way that keeps it pliable – so that it doesn’t get brittle and shatter like the earlier vegan capsule versions did, while retaining the ability to provide a barrier function for the capsules. Pullulan capsules have the best barrier against both moisture and oxygen of all of the possible polymers that capsules could be made from. Thus, pullulan helps keep away moisture and oxygen which is paramount to keep the nutrients in the capsules intact longer.

Why is there carrageenan in the new vegan capsules? I’ve read that it is not a safe additive.

Once again folks, food is politics and the negative articles about carrageenan began because ‘plant milks’ compete with the dairy industry. So suddenly Almond milk came under attack on the Internet and people came to think negatively about carrageenan. Let’s look at some facts.

1. Derived from red seaweed commonly found in the Atlantic Ocean, carrageenan is a gum used to thicken foods and emulsify liquids. It’s a plant-based substitute for gelatin and binds together ingredients in nondairy milk alternatives, preventing the product from separating as it sits on shelves. So if you want vegan capsules that work to hold Juice Plus^Òpowders, carrageenan is a very good choice. And there is 1.2 mg of carrageenan per capsule.
2. There are actually two different kinds of carrageenan (which is derived from red algae): degraded and un-degraded carrageenan. And believe it or not, they’re actually very different compounds and should be treated as such. Un-degraded is approved for human consumption while degraded (also known as poligeenan) is not.You see, the 2001 animal studies showing the link with cancer used the degraded version, poligeenan, in high doses, thus giving un-degraded carrageenan a worse wrap than it should.*

Adapted from: Huffington Post Article

So, there are no human or animal studies using un-degraded carrageenan as harmful. Un-degraded carrageenan is what is used in food products such as plant milks and Juice Plus.

3. Last April, the Natural Products Association (NPA), the oldest and largest trade association in the natural products industry representing over 1,400 members accounting for almost 10,000 retail, manufacturing, wholesale, and distribution locations of natural products, including foods, dietary supplements, and health/beauty aids, sent a position paper to the National Organics Program (part of USDA).  Here is a summary from NPA.

Executive Summary

• Carrageenan should be permitted in organic foods and organic infant formula because it is a safe direct food additive when used at levels presently found in foods
• In the May 3, 2013 proposed rule from USDA AMS, carrageenan was allowed as a non-synthetic substance permitted in organic foods
• USDA AMS rejected the NOSB’s attempt to exclude carrageenan from organic infant formula in the proposed rule
• Carrageenan has a long history of safe use in foods
• Carrageenan is allowed under the 21 CFR 172.620 as a direct food additive
• Carrageenan is considered Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) in accordance with 21 CFR 182.7255
• The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the nation’s leading authority on food safety issues, has never prohibited the use of carrageenan in infant formula. The FDA’s Office of Nutrition and Labeling permit it for use in infant formula.
• The World Health Organization’s (WHO) Joint Expert Committee of Food Additives
• (JECFA) concluded it is safe for food use and that it is not necessary to specify an acceptable daily intake (ADI) limit
• Carrageenan has received the highest rating granted by JECFA for any food ingredient
• The European Economic Community recognized carrageenan for its safety and utility as an approved emulsifier, stabilizer, thickening and gelling agent
• Carrageenan is a natural product and is not carcinogenic, inflammation-provoking, nor significantly absorbed by the gut
• Oral feeding studies using non-human primate animal models (baboons) have shown no adverse effects when raised from birth to 112 days on infant formula containing up to 5-fold the level of carrageenan typically present in human infant formula

Download This Article HERE:

Listen to Dr. Ray’s answer in this recording, or click here for a transcript of the talk.

Eating a whole food plant-based diet is the best way to protect your chances of preventing thrombosis and embolisms (fancy words for formation and migration of blood clots).

Coumadin is marketed as an anticoagulant to prevent thrombosis and embolisms (also sold under brand names Warfarin, Jantoven and Waran). Like most pharmaceuticals, it is a synthetic derivative of courmarin which is naturally found in plants. They were developed as a way to kill rats and mice and still used for this purpose. Since the 50′s, they have also been prescribed as anticoagulants, provided a patient is monitored with frequent blood testing to make sure that the dosage of this poison is within “safe limits” and the patient is also avoiding foods high in Vitamin K, and many other medications which interfere with these anticoagulants.

Patients are usually asked to not eat leafy greens such as spinach because of high vitamin K content, and because if one day they have spinach and the next day they don’t, their blood thinner dose would have to be monitored daily.

Because a person would be taking the same amount of Juice Plus+ every day and therefore get a consistent amoun of vitamin K in their diet, it is usually the case that a person can safely take Juice Plus+ with these blood thinners.

Fortunately, those patients who are so motivated will often eliminate taking blood thinners since improving circulation through all three blends of Juice Plus (orchard, garde, and vineyard) might be a more intelligent answer to the challenge at hand.

Remember that we cannot play doctor and we can only help those that are willing to look at the information “>and be in charge of their own health. So this information is for those few people – make sure you ask first if they are willing to take a closer look at what they are choosing to do before sharing this information. Ask questions before you jump to giving people answers they aren’t looking for.

Here is the official NSA info from Dr. Madero: We have many Juice Plus+ customers who take Coumadin. People who take coumadin are asked to keep their intake of vitamin K consistent (The information sheet the patient gets with their Coumadin has a section entitled “Information For Patients”, and it states “Eat a normal, balanced diet maintaining a consistant amount of vitamin K”) You can also look at the following link from the National Institutes of Health

http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/cc/coumadin1.pdf

Please notice that the goal is to keep the intake of vitamin K consistent, not to eliminate it completely from the diet. Two capsules of the Garden Blend contain approximately 10 micrograms of Vitamin K. Orchard and Vineyard Blend do not contain any measurable amounts of it. A serving of Complete contains 20 micrograms of Vitamin K. We recommend our customers to discuss these numbers and facts with their doctor or pharmacist before starting on Juice Plus+.

Our intent here is not to contradict any doctor’s orders, but for patients to have some facts to discuss with their doctors to make a more informed decision about Juice Plus+ and the rest of their diet.

Best regards,
Carlos F. Madero, Ph.D
Director, Technical Support
NSA, the maker of Juice Plus+
140 Crescent Drive
Collierville, TN 38017
901 / 850 2885

Though we cannot promise that JuicePlus+ will cure any illness or health condition, this is what I can say: MS is an autoimmune challenge that Juice Plus+ can make a difference with, in time. It may take double the dosage, however, if the MS is severe.

The immune study shows that B-cells become less hyperactive with Juice Plus+, i.e. make fewer antibodies against the body itself, which is the problem with all autoimmune disorders. Autoimmune disorders show up in different ways in different people, manifesting symptoms based on our own unique genetic weaknesses.

Instead of focusing on the name of the disease, if we can go back to the cause of all autoimmune diseases – a trigger-happy immune system – then we do better. Juice Plus+ makes the immune system less trigger-happy.

We don’t make claims to cure or even necessarily help any specific disease or problem that a person may have.

What is clear is that Juice Plus+ has been proven to strengthen the immune system, and both Epstein Barr and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome are immune related. People can live with the Epstein Barr virus and never show any signs of fatigue, lesions, weakness, sore muscles and so on. These people tend to have a stronger immune system.

It is important to know that anyone who doesn’t work on their immune system (via diet and lifestyle) will still be trying to “treat” these conditions years from now. When someone has CFS, they tend to continually “wear down” due to lack of proper rest. When your body isn’t given the proper fuel to repair and replenish itself, this fatigue will remain a vicious cycle and rest will continue to be hard to come by.

Yes. Fruits and vegetables are actually alkaline in our bodies. You can listen to Dr. Ray’s answer in this recording.

You can listen to Dr. Ray’s answer in this recording, or click here for a transcript of the talk.

Juice Plus+ is simply fruits and veggies. It is safe (and, in fact, critical) to eat fruits and veggies during chemo. Here are several studies and articles to support this:

 Antioxidants do not interfere with Chemotherapy

 Antioxidants and Cancer — MD Anderson Cancer Center Research

 Antioxidants and Cancer Treatment

 Broccoli and Stem Cells

 Eating Fruits and Vegetables Boost Ability to Fight Cancer

 Preventing Cancer – Food for Thought

 The Gonzalez Therapy: Pancreatic Enzymes in Cancer

Crohn’s is a digestive disease, and since Juice Plus+ is bio-available, it does not need to be digested. It is simply absorbed. This greatly increases the chance of getting nutrition into the system.

Work slowly up to an adult dosage, starting with taking 1 capsule of garden one day, orchard the next day, and vineyard the next day. After a week, try taking 2 garden one day, 2 orchard the next and 2 vineyard the next. If tolerated, increase to 1 of each kind each day for a week, then 2 of each kind the next week. Eventually, you can double the adult dosage of 2, 2 and 2 of each kind for faster healing.

Click here for a transcript of Dr. Ray’s talk on Juice Plus+ and kidney stones.