Acai Berry--What's the Deal?

[like2bike]

Looking for anyone knowledgeable on this...I googled it...Seems like a scam unless it's fresh off the vine (or close to it)....Anyone? Just curious...

[veespin]

Looking for anyone knowledgeable on this...I googled it...Seems like a scam unless it's fresh off the vine (or close to it)....Anyone? Just curious...

If it seems like one, it usually is.

If you Google acai berry under the MLM banner of Mona Vie you'll see that the internet noise is marketing quackery, not an example of the Wisdom of Crowds.

File it alongside Colon Cleanse and other blatent form of Woo!™

Vivienne

[veespin]

http://skeptoid.com/episodes/4086

Here you go.....check out the link to article on antioxidants (and the comment about personal trainers)

You've got to keep an eye on all these crackpot claims. They creep up all over the place and we can end up looking like fools, crackpots and charlatons ourselves if we repeat them indiscriminately

Vivienne

[DoctorD13]

I have to agree with Vivienne about crack pot claims. I'm the spinning pharmacist and I see a lot of high priced junk on my store shelves I would never touch or recommend.
I take one vitamin/day high in antioxidants. I'm the 2nd oldest instructor
in my 2 clubs, teaching 4 Spin classes and one Works class next week.
Don't need anything else
Avoid the high priced unproven!
Paul S

[like2bike]

Thank you Viv and Doc! Great advice! :)

[veespin]

I have to agree with Vivienne about crack pot claims. I'm the spinning pharmacist and I see a lot of high priced junk on my store shelves I would never touch or recommend.
I take one vitamin/day high in antioxidants. I'm the 2nd oldest instructor
in my 2 clubs, teaching 4 Spin classes and one Works class next week.
Don't need anything else
Avoid the high priced unproven!
Paul S


Paul.....do you ever get targeted by MLM-ers?

Every once in a while someone'll try to recruit me into their "downline" for some vitamin or nutritional supplement line. These companies are dead crafty......they don't make direct bogus medical claims themselves (reckon they'd be out of business in a heart beat if they did) but the distributors must be free to say anything they like because the cures that some of the products are supposed to make is enough to get you wondering how the human race has survived without their products.

The chiropractor down the hallway from me in my old medical building was seriously into Woo! in general and MLM schemes seemed to be his thing. He was a nice guy and welcome to drop in for coffee (he was such a gossip my office manager called him the Lord Mayor) but it was an embarrassment how gullible he was when repeating the marketing $hite that comes with some of these products......and insulting how he thought I'd be equally as gullible.

At least he didn't try to sell me any homeopathic remedies and his kids were immunised (or so he said!)

Vivienne

[like2bike]

...but it was an embarrassment how gullible he was when repeating the marketing $hite that comes with some of these products......and insulting how he thought I'd be equally as gullible.

Vivienne

Do you really think he was gullible, or was he actually a sly fox trying to prey on naive folk who could potentially make him wealthy? Many times people are much too trusting and willing to follow when they want desperately to believe....Sad how they get taken advantage of. Things that make you go "hmmmmm....."

[AC]

I would personally recommend the Acai product.

I also would like to notify all of you I have just inherited $25 million by a lawyer with the same last name as mine who won it in the Nigerian lottery. All we need is $5,000 to process the paperwork and apply for the documents we need to transfer the paymets to your checking account. Please don't delay.

[like2bike]

I would personally recommend the Acai product.

I also would like to notify all of you I have just inherited $25 million by a lawyer with the same last name as mine who won it in the Nigerian lottery. All we need is $5,000 to process the paperwork and apply for the documents we need to transfer the paymets to your checking account. Please don't delay.

Check's in the mail. I have also included my social security number, a copy of my birth certificate and my mother's maiden name in case you may need them.

[veespin]

Do you really think he was gullible, or was he actually a sly fox trying to prey on naive folk who could potentially make him wealthy? Many times people are much too trusting and willing to follow when they want desperately to believe....Sad how they get taken advantage of. Things that make you go "hmmmmm....."

Well, it always smells a bit when folk in professions that're traditionally knowledge, skill and ability based start to market *products* directly out of their office. Except, these days, with the phenomenal regulation in healthcare etc. costs of doing business are so high (especially somewhere like LI) that it's more and more common.

In truth, I fancy it was the chiropracty that went to his head. He was a *straight* chiropractor.....meaning he was into the traditional chiropracty Woo! of spinal subluxations and blocked energy passages as being the cause of all disease. Fixed my office managers back real well.....but then started pestering her to bring her 10 year old son for "adjustment". Kid was asthmatic and had autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease......chiro wanted to "help" reduce his need for medication.

Trouble is, I think he believed it all.....which in some ways is a bit more scary than a true charlaton. Fortunately she worked for me and was well used to my Weird $hit™ watching and actually shared in it a bit. About 10 years ago, I started to notice all the anti-science carpola on the Internet and made a bit of a study of it. I have a collegaue who was a transplant from Ann Arbor, Michigan which, in case you don't know, along with Boulder, Colorado is something of a mecca for every form of alt. med hogwash imaginable. He owned a medical building there with his ex-wife and had a load of tenants in such fields as homeopathy, reflexology, reiki etc. We developed something of a pissing contest but, whereas I could match him for quantity I fancy he had me beat on quality as his W-S collection was actuall business cards and marketing literature. What a hoot......but scary.

Behold, the Age of Unenlightenment.

Vivienne

[veespin]

I can hardly believe it.....but I had a daily dose of Woo! in class this am.

Newish member arrives and keeps blowing her nose so one of the others asks if she's got a cold. No...apparently she's doing a fast and a "colon cleanse" and one of the "side effects" of this miraculous treatment is that all the mucus in your body gets released. :o

I told her that a class today might not be wise since she's basically on a crash diet with laxatives......and probably has a cold coming on. Didn't like the sound of that since she believes in "holistic medicine" and these cleanses keep her from getting sick.

Didn't bother to point out that I wasn't doing a cleanse and I didn't have a cold to show for it.

You have to wonder......this stuff seeks me out!

Vivienne

[like2bike]

...she's basically on a crash diet with laxatives......

I trust she wiped her seat down after class. :wink:

[veespin]

Just to make you wonder if there's anything to superstition and things happening in threes, my copy of Vitacost's most recent brochure arrived today......yes acai berry is in there along with a ton of other stuff that fills up 117 pages and makes you wonder how on earth you're surviving without it all.

Right there on page 5 is an ad for a colon cleanse kit.....

"When do you feel most beautiful......after a bubble bath, a long run an internal cleanse??" (this stuff almost writes itself)

If you haven't considered the latter option you should apparently consider the restored vitality, more mental clarity, stronger immune system, looking and feeling better than ever....

Teh Stoopid....it burns!

Vivienne

[like2bike]

LMAO!

[sandy]

I think people who are looking to "cleanse" are really looking for weight loss. Alot of these products seems to sell their shakes as colon cleanse drinks with the benefits of weight loss.
My workout partner ( who doesn't have an extra ounce of body fat) told me yesterday that she was detoxing with the Isagenix products. I have seen this product marketed in various chiropracters offices but don't really know to much about it. My guess is that she feels gulity about holiday eating and thinks this is some kind of way to "purge".

[veespin]

I have seen this product marketed in various chiropracters offices but don't really know to much about it. My guess is that she feels gulity about holiday eating and thinks this is some kind of way to "purge".


First of all it works by cleansing and lightening your wallet....gua-RON-teed it's an MLM product.

Then it works on the psyche...... I think taking a good dump is a proxy for ridding the body of all unwanted guilt, mischief, angst etc.

You get on the scales and, lo, you've "lost" a few pounds....which you usually do if you move the bowels good, deplete glycogen and associated water etc.

Gotta love "cleansing" on all levels.

Vivienne

[Todd S]

Wouldn't this do the same thing for just a couple of bucks?

http://www.drugs.com/cdi/fleet-phospho-soda-solution.html

[like2bike]

.... I think taking a good dump is a proxy for ridding the body of all unwanted guilt, mischief, angst etc.


Viv you are killin' me here! :D:D:D

[AC]

Wouldn't this do the same thing for just a couple of bucks?

http://www.drugs.com/cdi/fleet-phospho-soda-solution.html

Ah, the New Year rolls around and the very timely reminder for the colonoscopy.

[veespin]

Wouldn't this do the same thing for just a couple of bucks?

http://www.drugs.com/cdi/fleet-phospho-soda-solution.html

Not on the psychological level no.

See, you have to see the "evidence" of all the detritus that's supposedly caking yer innards. Mucoid plaque, it's called.

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&q=mucoid+plaque&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&resnum=5&ct=title (not for the squeamish)

The bowel prep solutions don't do what the bentonite clay and herbs and whatnot do....it's just not plausible enough for the cleansing cultists.

I tell you, this writes itself.

Vivienne

[Todd S]

Ah, the New Year rolls around and the very timely reminder for the colonoscopy.

Thank god they told me I'm good for another 5 yrs.

[Todd S]

Ah, the New Year rolls around and the very timely reminder for the colonoscopy.

Always reminds me of my lab pulling a Marley and not realizing the difference between a fresh water lake and the ocean.

Ocean water cleans him right out. (think fountain or garden hose)

[NJspin]

Heck if you need a cleaning.. Why not this
Drain Rooter PH The Drain Rooter PH comes equipped with a variable speed power cable feed and motor which makes drain cleaning jobs faster, cleaner, and overall easier.

This Drain Cleaner Features: Pneumatic foot switch (http://www.plumbingsupply.com/images/general-wire-foot-switch.jpg) with no electrical contact between pedal & motor
Heavy gauge stamped aluminum drum w/ inner drum to prevent cable tangling
All ball-bearing reversible motor w/ variable speed control
Pneumatic foot pedals to control speed
Capacity: 50ft. of 1/4" or 5/16" cable; 35ft. of 3/8" cable
22 lbs (without cable) http://www.plumbingsupply.com/images/generalwire-drain-rooter-ph.jpg

[AC]

Won't the Acai berry also perform the colonoscopy? It is the beverage recommended by the Credit Default Swap Assn. of America.

[veespin]

Won't the Acai berry also perform the colonoscopy? It is the beverage recommended by the Credit Default Swap Assn. of America.

Only if mixed with all the other stuff that makes it a "Colon Cleanse" rather than a laxative. Judging from some of these cleansing web sites, you can diagnose all manner of ailments just from inspecting what the cleanse produces.

And remember......your doctor (shackled as he/she is by the medical establishment and...you know....education and experience) doesn't know this!!!!

I bet Paul Chek cleanses.

Vivienne

[veespin]

If Acai isn't your cup of tea.....there's always Goji, Mangosteen or Tahitian Noni.....

....or Grape Seed, Green Tea, Red Wine in a unique combination of standardized extracts (that's a relief.....I wouldn't trust them in any old amounts)

...what about Fucoxanthin with Pinnothin™if you want to "feel satisfied" (sorry folks....it's a weight management product)


...and my personal faves, homeopathic remedies (still no warning of overdose if you take 'em with too much water......must be some conspiracy at work!)

Vivienne

[DanielleF]

Must say I have 2 different women in my class taking ACAI from Mona Vie, and they have both lost 10 pounds. Supposedly haven't changed anything about diet or exercise, just the 2 shots a day of the juice....

Danielle