Acai - Monavie - Anyone ever use?

[Nuriko]

The Acai fruit is something that grows exclusively in the Amazon and is apparently really healthy and full of anti-oxidants and all that. Monavie combines that fruit with 18 others and makes a juice out of it. Supposedly you drink about 4oz a day and after a couple weeks you feel healthier...More energy, sleep better, less/no joint pains, happier, better heart conditions (helps with blood pressure, cholesterol...), etc.

A couple of my friends are getting into this drink because they know some people who have overall felt a lot better in general after drinking it for awhile. The catch however (if it is a catch), is that Monavie is a Multi-Layer Marketing scheme as well. Normally, 1 bottle, which lasts a week if you drink 4oz a day, is $45. You join their network for $39 and now each bottle is $32.50. You sign up people under you and all the bottles you buy and the people under you buy, earns you points. Each week they send you a bank card for however much the points equals in cash.

I've been reading a lot recently and seen many claims screaming SCAM just because it's an MLM scheme. Others claim scam because they think it's all a placebo. The company has supposedly made 1 billion dollars in the last 4-5 years. People also testify that this juice has improved their life mentally and physically.

Honestly, after all the debates I've read from just google'ing "monavie scam" has made my head hurt and I don't know what to think anymore. So the obvious solution is appealing to the brilliant masses of BG General and hope for a more entertaining discussion on the subject.

Here are some links to help out:

Monavie Home: MonaVie Official Website
Wiki Acai: Açaí Palm - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Acai Home: Acai Berry Provides Disease-Fighting Benefits No Doctor Wants You to Know!
Random scam debate discussion: MonaVie Scam?

[Correction]

Um.

Is Amway a scam?
Is Herbalife a scam?

This is a nobrainer, mate.

[takethistoyourgrave]

I work at an exporter to Japan and one of our biggest customers is Monavie. As such, I get to drink it for free if I want to. We also learn about the background of the companies we ship for so I know a bit about the whole multi-layered thing.

First, about the drink, I did notice after drinking it for a while that my sleep was awesome. I go to sleep at a good hour without struggling to sleep, sleep through the night, and when it comes time to get out of bed at 7AM I usually just pop right out of bed. It used to be a pretty big struggle. I'm not sure about the other benefits of the drink, I haven't noticed much else.

About the marketing thing- it isn't a scam, but 98% of the people who get into these pyramid market schemes end up losing money. My brother got into another company similar to Monavie and didn't make anything. But if you think you have a lot of people to sell to, or if you think you could recruit a lot of people, you can make some money. The people who make all the money now though are the people who started when the company started.

[Tristam]

Yet another version of the magical antioxidant potion.

(it's bullshit)

A general rule of thumb is to regard anything harping on antioxidants with extreme suspicion. Testing something for anti-oxidant properties in a test tube is not the same as testing it in cell culture, which is also not the same as testing something in an animal or human. Many "antioxidants" are so reactive that they are immediately reduced upon exposure to air, making them practically worthless. If you are convinced that oxidative balance is the means to better health, it's probably true that there are other dietary issues that are financially easier to address than $30+/month on acai juice which would have better impact on oxidative balance.

But if you do go the juice route, and drinking fruit juice can be healthy for a variety of reasons, there are cheaper alternatives that are tested to be better than acai or whatever else there is that costs more than two bucks a bottle. Drink some grape juice.

Comparison of antioxidant potency of commonly consumed polyphenol-rich beverages in the United States.
Seeram NP, Aviram M, Zhang Y, Henning SM, Feng L, Dreher M, Heber D.

Center for Human Nutrition, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.

A number of different beverage products claim to have antioxidant potency due to their perceived high content of polyphenols. Basic and applied research indicates that pomegranate juice (PJ), produced from the Wonderful variety of Punica granatum fruits, has strong antioxidant activity and related health benefits. Although consumers are familiar with the concept of free radicals and antioxidants, they are often misled by claims of superior antioxidant activity of different beverages, which are usually based only on testing of a limited spectrum of antioxidant activities. There is no available direct comparison of PJ's antioxidant activity to those of other widely available polyphenol-rich beverage products using a comprehensive variety of antioxidant tests. The present study applied (1) four tests of antioxidant potency [Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), total oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC), free radical scavenging capacity by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP)]; (2) a test of antioxidant functionality, that is, inhibition of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation by peroxides and malondialdehyde methods; and (3) evaluation of the total polyphenol content [by gallic acid equivalents (GAEs)] of polyphenol-rich beverages in the marketplace. The beverages included several different brands as follows: apple juice (3), açaí juice (3), black cherry juice (3), blueberry juice (3), cranberry juice (3), Concord grape juice (3), orange juice (3), red wines (3), iced tea beverages (10) [black tea (3), green tea (4), white tea (3)], and a major PJ available in the U.S. market. An overall antioxidant potency composite index was calculated by assigning each test equal weight. PJ had the greatest antioxidant potency composite index among the beverages tested and was at least 20% greater than any of the other beverages tested. Antioxidant potency, ability to inhibit LDL oxidation, and total polyphenol content were consistent in classifying the antioxidant capacity of the polyphenol-rich beverages in the following order: PJ>red wine>Concord grape juice>blueberry juice>black cherry juice, açaí juice, cranberry juice>orange juice, iced tea beverages, apple juice. Although in vitro antioxidant potency does not prove in vivo biological activity, there is also consistent clinical evidence of antioxidant potency for the most potent beverages including both PJ and red wine.

[Correction]

About the marketing thing- it isn't a scam, but 98% of the people who get into these pyramid market schemes end up losing money...The people who make all the money now though are the people who started when the company started.

So if there's only a marginal chance at breaking even, and no chance of making money, how is it not a scam?

Here's a pretty decent article on Herbalife, just to scare the shit out of anybody remotely thinking about sinking their funds into a MLM scam. Stay away from this cancer like you'd stay away from Scientology.

http://www.cockeyed.com/workfromhome...romhome_s.html

[takethistoyourgrave]

I just meant it wasn't a scam in the sense that if you do what you are supposed to do, you will get paid for it. They aren't cheating you in any way as far as what they say they will pay you if you do so-and-so.

Also, not that it matters much, but the main ingredient in Monavie is grape juice.

But, in short, it is way too expensive and probably doesn't really do anything, so you should spend that money on something that would actually help you.

[Dimmauk]

My parents drink Monavie, and they swear it works. I've never tried it.

[Elesirdur]

My parents drink Monavie, and they swear it works. I've never tried it.

Replace it with a placebo (without their knowledge of course) and see if they feel any different.

[ZarakiKujata]

Just drink some green tea/grape juice/pomegranate juice and you can buy various products that have acai berries/goji berries that are cheaper/guaranteed not to be a scam at the grocery store.

[Alvinho]

I've personally never heard of Monavie, but Açaí is very real. Down here in Brazil, people normally consume it like this, before workouts, and I know it can be found in some major US cities with a large enough Brazilian population to have a Brazilian mini-market (Most of South FL, NY, NJ, CA, GA, CT, MA, etc.).

Unrelated, but an uncle of mine lost 80+ lbs. using Herbalife; it works.

[guartz]

I can get you a bottle for 20$.

[Sanoske]

I have an uncle who sold this for a while, gave us 2 bottles to try. Me and my buddy drank one, didn't notice much of a difference though. The other one has been sitting on a wine rack in the basement for a year or so. Might have to crack it open and give it another go.

[MisterBob]

God, people are so stupid, I love it.

[Tristam]

God, people are so stupid, I love it.

I swear people will buy anything, part of me wishes I was crooked enough to make a fantasy elixir and sell it, like alkaline water for example.

Alkaline Water

[Powell01]

Thank you for sharing your information. Monavie's essential ingredient is acai berry, where Acai berry fruit is rich in antioxidants, amino acids, essential omegas, fibers and protein. The intake of Acai Berry Capsules is therefore beneficial for weight reduction, boosting sustained energy level, healthy cholesterol management, improvement of digestive system, strengthening of immune system among others.

[Stilzkin]

Thank you for sharing your information. Monavie's essential ingredient is acai berry, where Acai berry fruit is rich in antioxidants, amino acids, essential omegas, fibers and protein. The intake of Acai Berry Capsules is therefore beneficial for weight reduction, boosting sustained energy level, healthy cholesterol management, improvement of digestive system, strengthening of immune system among others.

Do you work for them?

[Ikith]

Calling bot spam on the 1 poster .

[Dense]

Acai is a great superfood. Not as good as Goji, but it's definitely up there. It's not a necessarily placebo. However, it does take a well-rounded diet in order to see any benefits (as with anything else)...

[Gryffes]

I have some viper extract oil to sell people. PM for details.

[Sylvrdragon]

Couldn't (easily) find a streamed copy of it, but download Penn and Teller's Bullshit, season 1, episode 2. Congratulations, you are now smarter.

Edit: and season 6, episode 2- Oh hell, just watch the whole fucking series. Pretty much all of them are entertaining and educational.