Question: Dear CAOH Doc,

Can you tell me what kind of plastic are used for your Noni Juice. You’ve explained that they are “frosted” to reduce the UV radiation exposure and resulting “deterioration of the juice.” However, I would like to know just how stable this plastic is (say compared to glass bottles), and the contaminants and rate of contamination you expect from the plastic leaching into the juice over time. I appreciate the lengths you have gone to in order to provide a pure, organic product, for maximum health benefits, so I am hopeful you can provide for me a complete understanding of the container you have chosen for storing and distributing your Noni product

Answer: Dear Greg, We only use medical grade plastic bottles for our products. Our bottles will not leech into acid or basic solutions and perform as well as glass in regard to inhibiting product oxidation. Our will tolerate temperatures way above boiling and are practically unbreakable. Believe it or not, plastic is more expensive for us to buy than glass. The draw back to glass is that it breaks and the extra packing is very expensive also. With the amount of products we ship around the world we would be replacing quite a lot of broken bottles and/or spending a fortune on Styrofoam (not very earth friendly). We use a major company’s product with the highest reputation in the medical and consumer goods industry. All of our bottles are sterilized before any juice is put in them.

As a FYI: The majority of fruit juices you see packaged in glass are not done so because the manufacturer wants it to look good, it’s because the product is heat (hot) pasteurized. The bottles are then hot filled, put into boxes and stacked on pallets. There the box acts like an oven and the juice further cooks (in the residual heat), for sometimes up to 24 hours. This process can only be done with glass. If you tried this with our plastic bottle it would expand when hot than slightly collapse in on itself as it cooled down. It would now have an hourglass shape and the label would start to have problems too.
Heat pasteurization and glass packaging is done solely to increase the shelf life of the product, period. It’s a sad but true fact that the majority of juice manufactures who use this method make claims about their product from “raw ingredient data.” The finished product is not a good source for their wonderful marketing material, because the product inside is now dead.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.
 

This e-mail was sent to myself and five other top juice manufactures, Genesis Today and Dynamic Health being two of them.

Scroll to the bottom to read the wonderful testimonial Sam sent me.

Dear Sirs,

My concern as a lay person and customer of dietary supplements and Juices, I find that every supplier makes claims of purity and so on. The Internet allows anyone to make what ever claims that they want to about what is in their product and/or the amounts. I would be ready to jump on the band wagon to help keep dietary supplements and juices available and only buy from suppliers that their product carry the USP label on it, at least we would have the assurances that a third party such as the USP Verification Program has tested the product to verify what the supplier says is in it. My question is to any supplier, why don’t we see the USP Label on your products?

I had wrote the “USP Verification Program” and ask why we don’t see their USP label on more products.

Below you will find their reply to us.

I would like to hear your reply as to why you don’t have the USP label on your product?

Thank You

Sam Carpenter

Dear Mr. Carpenter,

For all the hoopla you are making over this I thought I would do some research of my own. What I found was that there are only 5 companies participating in the verification program. Not one of them is a company I would carry in my 18 year old holistic medicine practice (Q-gel sounds good though). I personally wouldn’t take most of the supplements from these companies either.

Standard Process, Metagenics, Thorne, Nutra-West, Simply Natural, Source Naturals, etc. Not one of the companies, I have carried for eighteen years, is part of this program. Why is that? These are the primary supplement companies found in most doctors offices throughout this country. Are these doctors having the wool pulled over their eyes by the companies because they don’t submit to USP? I think not. Are the above companies trying to get away with something, No way! If you knew of either Jeffery Bland Ph.D. (Metagenics) or Dr. Royal Lee (Standard Process) you would understand where I am coming from and reverse your opinion about the supreme importance you are giving to USP.

There must be a reason why 99% of the companies out there don’t get involved in this program. My reason is that I don’t want a government like agency having free reign over my products, files, facility, formula recipes, my vendors names, etc.

I don’t know if you have an agenda or if you legitimately feel USP is the answer to the world’s health supplement problems. The only problem I know of is that the FDA, backed by “Big Pharma”, is trying to get rid of us so that they can drug every last American and make trillions doing it).
I am glad you sent out the question, I like to rant sometimes.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.

Companies Participating in the USP Verified Program for Dietary Supplements (my comments in blue)

The manufacturers listed below have chosen to participate in USP’s verification program for dietary supplements and submit selected products for verification. Brands submitted for verification are listed under the manufacturers’ names.

Inverness Medical Innovations
Selected store and private-label brand supplements (They Make Stress Tabs) and a few other generic, basic products.
Leiner Health Products
Your Life® brand supplements
Selected store and private-label brand supplements (They also make a few basic products sold in markets and Rite-Aid)
Pharmavite LLC
Nature Made® brand supplements
Nature’s Resource® brand herbal supplements
Selected store and private-label brand supplements (Nature Made Vitamins. Again generic, basic supplements)
Tishcon Corporation
Q-Gel® brand supplements Q-Gel®, the 100% HYDROSOLUBLE CoQ10. (Just this one product)
Schiff Nutrition
Schiff® brand supplements
Selected store and private-label brand supplements (A pretty thorough product line but still just your basic A, B, and C’s)

Dear Sirs,

I want to thank those of you that took the time to reply to my question and concern that is shown below.
My only agenda as a consumer and lay person is to be as sure as I can be that I’m buying the best quality
available. It is difficult if not impossible to check out most makers of supplements for quality etc when the only means is to go by what they say about their own product, and ask them questions and then use your gut feeling whether to try and/or use their product. I am a business man myself and I do not get offended if anyone wants to question our service and/or the quality of our product. If I have offended anyone by my question and concern, I apologize. I’ve been in business sense 1974 and If anyone goes to our web site www.%%%%.com they would see how easy it is to check us out and/or contact references, we are also members of the local Better Business Bureau.

Again Thank You to those who replied.

Sam Carpenter

Sam,

I was definitely not offended and I understand where you are coming from. We are also members of the BBB and have a great reputation in the supplement community.

If you would like more information, check out my blog at http://caoh.com/liquid-vitamin-blog/

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.

Dr E,

I ordered this product and have used it twice daily. I am able now to walk and climb stairs. Before I was in a lot of pain, now very little. Your oregano oil has made my life much better.

Carmela

Your Noni juice has been superior to the product that I used to purchase from a pyramid co. It is great to not have to deal with the hassle.
I have been using the juice for about 8 yrs. I tried it then with the suggestion of a friend who thought it might help my ulcerative colitis….not only did it help but I no longer take any medication for it and it is in total remission.

Jana

Q: Dear Sir:

I have a few questions regarding your goji juice. Do you use the berry stems in your juice? Also, do you have polysaccharides in it, if so, how many? Also, what species of Goji berries do you use and where are they grown? Also, do you have any kind of guarantee with your juice? Also, does it have a spectral signature?

The reason I am asking so many questions is because I’ve been on disability 30 years for Lupus and have been told Goji juice could help me tremendously. But the people that tell me that are with the FreeLife Company. They have a 90 day guarantee and say there’s nothing else as good as there’s on the market for a number of reasons. Your product is much more reasonable; but, dealing with the health issue I have, I need good quality; but price is a big matter because of living alone and on disability for 30 years.

I would appreciate any information you can render. Thank you very much for taking your valuable time to answer my questions.

Sincerely,

Lesley S.

A: Dear Lesley,

It is mandatory that every multi-level-marketing product has to possess at least one “magical quality or property.” This “magical quality or property” is what makes their (MLM) product so unique amongst the masses and keeps the user prejudiced to their (MLM) product. In this way the MLM and their distributors can claim the stars and down-play the competition. FreeLife has their “Spectral Signature”. Below are two links that will help. The bottom line is this: our goji juice has a higher concentration of real goji (no stems), has all the same unique, master-molecule polysaccharides as FreeLife’s, is less expensive and doesn’t have any MLM strings attached.

Link -Is FreeLife Goji Juice the best?

Link – Goji Spectral Signature

Here are 10 Reasons Why Our California Academy of Health Goji Juice Is So Special:

1) The Goji berries and Camu-Camu fruit in our juice are hand picked when at the peak of ripeness, they are then cold pressed and flash pasteurized to preserve their freshness and the natural levels of all bioactive compounds.

2) Our Goji (Lycium barbarum) berries are grown in pristine and unpolluted farm land, and only pure snow run-off is the only water our goji plants.

3) Our growers personally pick out the best lots of Goji berries before the rest are taken to market. We pay a little more for our raw product but it’s worth it. The combination of superior raw ingredients, technical expertise, responsibility and ethics has allowed us to produce a Goji juice that is the “hands down” leader in the market place today.

4) Even though the practices used to grow and harvest the berries conform to stringent USDA Organic Certification criteria, we still have the berries tested for pesticides and heavy metals. Our Goji juice is produced in an FDA inspected laboratory. Note: The facility we use is presently in review for GMP certification.

5) Our Camu-Camu (Myrciaria dubia) fruit is grown along lush river banks throughout the Amazon rain forest. The fruit is wild-harvested by pickers standing in canoes because the fruits mature during the high water or flooding seasons in the Amazon. Our growers there take personal pride in their jobs and only pick the best fruit for us to use.

6) California Academy of Health Goji Juice is 60% pure Goji berry juice and 40% Camu-Camu fruit, fruit and berry blend. WE DO NOT ADD WATER to our juice, NOR DO WE USE CONCENTRATE; it’s just 100% pure fruit and berry juice.

7) Our Goji juice supplies 250mg of natural vitamin-C per fluid ounce.

All four unique Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharides (LBP) are in our Goji juice.

9) Our Goji juice is made from berries that are cold presses then flash pasteurized. The “flash pasteurization” method heats the juice to 160°F (71°C) for 15 sec, followed by rapid cooling to below 50°F (10°C). The juice can then be stored at room temperature. This process has a negligible harmful effect on the juices healthful properties. Note: Be aware that “all” non-pasteurized products require an FDA warning label stating that fact. A preservative free product = A heat pasteurized, hot (bottle) filled product = little nutritional value.

In addition, other products on the market are made from a dehydrated concentrate that is reconstituted with water. The dehydration process in and of itself is pasteurization and is far more harmful to the healthful properties in the fruit. This process also removes the living water that the fruit produces naturally.

Each Goji juice batch is tested for purity and contaminates. The product is produced in an FDA inspected laboratory. FYI – there is no such thing as an FDA approved lab

10) Lastly, we are the first company to bring such a unique product (Goji/Camu-Camu blend) to market with a 100% satisfaction guaranty.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.

Response: Dear Dr. Ettinger:

Thank you so very, very much for your prompt reply to my questions about your Goji juice. Something in my spirit didn’t feel right about the Free Life goji juice. It’s not that I didn’t think it was good (they have a 90 day guarantee), but I’ve always thought that any multi level company may have a good product but have to charge more for their product so they will be able to have the money to pay all their distributors. I would have had to have gone into debt to afford FreeLife’s goji juice because of my having been on disability for 30 years.

I plan to share the information you sent me with my podiatrist I am seeing tomorrow. He is a brilliant man that does a lot of research on a lot of different fields besides podiatry and also including nutritional things. He had been given the Free Life “line,” and he was encouraging people to purchase it and become distributors. Your information may not change his mind because of his heavy involvement at present, but you have helped change mine. I have been praying for weeks about what to do regarding the goji juice situation because I was diagnosed with systemic Lupus 30 years ago and know this product could help me, but couldn’t justify the expense verses my budget at present.

Thanks, again, so very much for your information.

Sincerely,

Lesley S

Q: Dear Sir, I have short bowel syndrome and constant diarrhea that can only be slowed with 20 drops of opium tincture three times a day. I have been approached to take mangosteen juice product made by Xango. My concern is if this product would make my diarrhea worse. I have no colon and a radiation damaged small bowel which has resulted in the short bowel syndrome. I have been advised to drink 4 oz. of mangosteen juice 3 times a day for 30 days but am afraid to try it because of my concern for diarrhea can you help me with my concern? Thank you, Rita

A: Dear Rita,

First, what was the rationale behind you drinking 12oz of mangosteen per day? Did a doctor advise you to drink that much or was it a neighbor, friend or co-worker who is selling that multi-level marketing (MLM) product?

Second, if fruit juice in general causes you to have increased diarrhea than so will the mangosteen juice. If fruit juice does not cause you to have increased diarrhea than the mangosteen probably won’t. The only way to truly know is to drink a little bit and see what happens, you can always stop. If you have a strong reservation about trying the mangosteen in the first place, then don’t. The emotion stress will out-way any benefit.

Third, please follow this link to read more about our Mangosteen Juice.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.

Q: What diet product would be right for me……I have a neuro problem and exercise is kinda outta the question…….Is there a product that would “Melt” the fat away.

Please advise,

Thank you,

Carolyn

A: Dear Carolyn,

First, I am not sure what you mean by “neuro problem”.

Second, as far as a “melt the fat away” product goes, I would be a multi-billionaire if I could come up with that product. It doesn’t exist. I am providing you with a link that is really the only sure fire way to lose weight and keep it off. It is not just for weight loss, it’s how we should eat every day.
Summertime Shape-up (fat Loss)

Third, here are a few links to C.A.O.H products that will make it easier for you to achieve your goal.
Whey Protein Isolate
Liquid Weight-Loss
New Energy Caps.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.

Q: How do I take your Total detox? There was a number of drops indicated in each bottle. Do we have to mix all of them in a glass of juice?

Secondly, I was diagnosed last year for a bacteria in my stomach that causes hyper acidity. As of now, I limit myself to drink one glass a day for citrus family juices or coffee to avoid pain in my upper abdomen. Can I use the detox product?

Thank you.

Rudy

A: Dear Rudy,

Yes, all the drops can be mixed in a glass of distilled water, preferably. You can mix it in juice if you must.

I don’t see any reason why you couldn’t use this product.

As far as hyperacidity goes, 99.9% of those who experience ulcers, IBS, GERD, heartburn, or gastritis are chronically dehydrated. Yes, you may have H. Pylori bacteria but dehydration was most likely there first. Coffee, tomato, milk, and alcohol in any amount are no-no’s. Vitamin A, L- Glutamine, carnosine, zinc, and acidophilus are great too for what you have going on. 64oz of distilled water is a must.

In my opinion, “the little purple pill”, Zantac, Tums, etc… only mask the symptoms leaving the underlying problem untouched. Hyperacidity is not the problem it’s a symptom or result of chronic alcohol consumption, chronic stress, chronic dehydration, or all the above.

I hope this helps.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.

Q: Hi,

I having been searching the internet for a while now for vitamins in liquid form and I came across your website. I am a chronic fatigue sufferer and take a couple of different formulas of vitamins in a high dosage tablet. What makes this a difficulty now is that I have had a Lap-Band operation for weight loss and after the last adjustment I can not swallow the tablets any longer. Can you please tell me if you ship to Australia? I buy a couple of items from Pro-Health/Immune Support for Chronic Fatigue but they don’t have anything in liquid form. Is your product suitable for Chronic Fatigue and which one or what combination of products? Your assistance would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Regards

Sue

A: Dear Sue,

I got your message forwarded to me. I have been using Liquid Power multi, in my practice, since 1999 when it first became available. I have given it to many CFS clients who have raved about it. Our liquid CoQ10 would be a nice complement to it. To save on shipping I would purchase a green food powder, liquid or powder acidophilus and whey protein isolate powder in Australia. Magnesium aspartate would be great too, but it only comes in tablets. You can mix it in a blender with water or juice. I hope this information is helpful. I have included the product links.

Sincerely,

Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc.

Synergy – the Essence of Health!

Marcus Stewart Ettinger DC, BSc.
Chief Science Officer (CSO)
California Academy of Health

Copyright © May 23, 2006, By Dr. Marcus Ettinger and California Academy of Health, Inc.

A 100% pure, nothing added, nutritional juice or nutritional supplement sounds great when advertised and looks good on paper but the plain truth is, it’s not as impressive as it looks or sounds. For one thing it lacks synergy.

Synergy or synergism (from the Greek synergos meaning working together) refers to the phenomenon in which two or more discrete influences or components acting together create an effect greater than the sum of the effects each is able to create independently. Synergy can also mean: A mutually advantageous partnership where the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Synergy is one of the most powerful forces in the universe.

I am asked on a daily basis, “is a 100% juice or supplement better than a blend?” Here is the long answer: in relation to a nutritional juice, such as a mixture of say Goji and/or Mangosteen or a vitamin supplement such a B-Complex, all of the component parts aid and enhance the overall benefits of the complete product. A 50/50 Goji and Mangosteen mixture for example, is synergistic and thus more beneficial than a 100% Goji or Mangosteen product is alone. A B-Complex supplement is more synergistic than say B-1 or B-2 is alone, thus it is better utilized and ultimately more beneficial.

Our bodies can’t thrive and flourish with the consumption of a single vitamin any better than it will on a single mineral, amino acid or antioxidant. Our complex organism known as the human body requires vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and essential fatty acids – A through Z. That’s synergy!

It would be close to malpractice for me as a doctor to say that an individual would only require or need one of the above to stay healthy and disease free.

As far as antioxidants go; xanthones are great, flavonoids are fantastic, phenols are terrific and polysaccharides are phenomenal. So are Vitamins A, C, E, sulfur containing amino acids and thousands of other natural substances. They are all amazing in their own right and only with synergy will they produce their truest benefits.

Most experts agree that consuming a variety of fruits and vegetables everyday is the best way to insure that we are getting a full spectrum of vitamins, minerals and antioxidant-phyto-nutrients (xanthones, flavonoids, phenols and polysaccharides). If an individual consumed a salad made of just celery or apple, it would leave his or her body wanting for more life sustaining nutrients.

Markers of nutritional juices and supplements would love for us to believe that purchasing their highly touted and advertised 100% nothing added products are the only way to go and the most advantageous for us, the consumer, to buy. It is totally false and at best it’s only this way for a small percentage of consumers: the rich and those seeking only that one specific product and not interested in the concept of synergy.

For the rest of us who are truly interested in staying healthy and getting the biggest bang for our buck, it’s all about synergy. As an example: a fruit salad made with 10 different fruits will yield more health benefits than a salad made with just one, that’s synergy! Or a freshly juiced vegetable blend made with 5 fresh vegetables will yield more health benefits than a juice made from just one, again that’s synergy!

It is disingenuous for any producer of a nutritional product or products to advertise or claim their 100% nothing added product as a panacea, (A remedy for all diseases, evils, or difficulties; a cure-all). No one product has ever been or will ever be such a thing. Only through synergy can we ever come close.

Ultimately, it is the educated consumer who will reap the benefits from the products that possess synergy and it will be the easily led or the rich who will spend their hard earned dollars on many unique 100% pure, nothing added products that could have been gotten with fewer products utilizing synergy.

Authors note: I am not saying that a 100% pure, nothing added product is bad or has no health benefit. There is a time and place for everything. What I am saying is that if I had the choice of a 100% pure, nothing added product or a blend, I would choose the blend.