View comments A daily wonder pill said to contain all five portions of fruit and vegetables has gone on sale today. The supplement, called Juice Plus+, is popular in America and has a string of celebrity fans including TV adventurer Bear Grylls and the German Olympic team. Juice Plus+ is popular with athletes and explorer Bear Grylls Two tablets a day: Juice Plus+ is popular with athletes and explorer Bear Grylls. However, doubts have emerged over its health claims The UK distributer Justin Dodd believes the pills, which come in three different blends, could help busy people hit their five-a-day. Mr Dodd, MD of specialist training firm Evolve Training UK, said: Juice Plus+ really is a wonder pill in every sense. It literally contains all five portions of your recommended minimum five-a-day, and can be taken on-the-move without any fuss. This means everyone can still get their intake of vital vitamins, regardless of how busy they are. WHATS IN THE PILLS? Juice Plus+ Orchard Blend: Apples, oranges, pineapple, cranberries, peaches, acerola cherries, and papaya. RDA per serving: Vitamin A: 110% Vitamin C: 320% Vitamin E: 70% Folate: 35% Calcium: 2% Iron: 2% Juice Plus+ Garden Blend: Carrots, parsley, beets, kale, broccoli, cabbage, spinach, tomatoes, and barley and oat fibers. RDA per serving: Vitamin A: 140% Vitamin C: 70% Vitamin E: 80% Folate: 70% Calcium: 4% Iron: 2% The pills contain no fat and less than 1 g of dietary fibre, protein and sugar . The wonder pill doesnt come cheap. A months supply costs £35.50 and a minimum order is four months. The U.S producer of the pills, Natural Alternative International, claims it is the next best thing to eating fruits and vegetables and say the supplements provide nutrition from 17 different greens and grains. They also say the pills can reduce the effects of a high-fat meal. The company points to 16 clinical studies that found the pill supported the immune system, boosted heart health and effectively increased antioxidant nutrients in the body. However, although the research was published in peer-review journals, most of it was funded by the manufacturer. The company say such sponsored projects are normal practice in the industry. Scientists at the University of California Berkeley have also shed doubt on the glowing testimonials for the product. They said it was impossible to deliver nutrients of five servings of fruits in several capsules weighing 850mg. They added in their Wellness Guide to Dietary Supplements: No capsules can substitute for fruits and vegetables, which contain the best balance of nutrients and phytochemicals. You cannot concentrate significant amounts of them in a capsule. They warned that the supplement was distributed through a multi-tiered marketing scheme that gave it an exaggerated value and cost. A fan: Adventurer and Chief Scout Bear Grylls said he has used Juice Plus + since he was a teenager A fan: Adventurer and Chief Scout Bear Grylls said he has used Juice Plus + since he was a teenager But writing on Juiceplusreviewed, Dr Isadore Rosenfeld from New York Hospital Weil Cornell Medical Center defended the product. He said: It is not marketed either as a fiber supplement or as a substitute for eating more fiber-rich fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Mr Dodd added today: Juice Plus+ has not been designed to replace real food because it is real food. That said, it should only be used as part of a healthy lifestyle - and fruit and vegetables should be very much on the menu. Only about a third of Britons are thought to eat their five fresh fruits and vegetables a day as advised by the Department of Health. Read more: dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2009809/Juice-Plus--Can-new-wonder-pill-really-contain-day.html#ixzz3FDQGf5hD Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Posted on: Sat, 04 Oct 2014 21:51:30 +0000
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